Quaker Mill Company facts for kids

The Quaker Mill Company was an American company from the 1800s. It made rolled oats, which are used to make oatmeal. The company was located in Ravenna, Ohio. In 1901, it joined with three other companies to form the Quaker Oats Company. Today, Quaker Oats is part of a bigger company called PepsiCo.

How the Quaker Mill Company Started

Henry D. Seymour and William Heston started the Quaker Mill Company. They built it in Ravenna, Ohio.

Choosing the Quaker Name

On September 4, 1877, Henry Seymour got a special name for the company: "Quaker." He chose this name after reading about Quakers in an encyclopedia. Quakers are also known as the Religious Society of Friends.

The encyclopedia said that Quakers were known for being honest, pure, and having strong values. Henry Seymour thought these were great qualities for his company's breakfast cereal. This was especially important back then, as people worried about how clean and pure their food was.

Growing Big in Ravenna

By 1888, the Quaker Mill Company had grown quite a bit. It employed 83 people. This made it one of the biggest employers in Ravenna, Ohio, tied with the Ravenna Glass Company.