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Gustav Goelitz was born in 1845 in Osterode am Harz, Germany.
He was part of a wave of German immigrants who came to America in the mid-19th century looking for a better life. Many of these Germans also wanted political freedom after the failed German revolutions of 1848.
He arrived in the USA in 1866 at age 21.
Goelitz settled in Belleville, Illinois, a town with many German-speaking immigrants. This made it easier for him to maintain his cultural ties while he worked on achieving the American dream.
Goelitz founded his candy business in 1869 in Belleville, just three short years after arriving in America.
He saw a lot of potential for success in the candy industry.
Leveraging his German business contacts, Goelitz quickly learned the candy business.
America had a growing sweet tooth at the time, so this was a great business to enter. He established his company under those premises.
To make things more fun, he hired some of his German-speaking friends. He was also big into participating in German clubs. His life was a lot of Old World meets New World.
One of his biggest successes was popularizing buttercream candies in America.
The most notable contribution is the widespread production and distribution of candy corn.
A notable Halloween treat was likely invented in the 1880s by George Renninger of the Wunderle Candy Company. However, the Goelitz Confectionery Company perfected and mass-produced it, especially in the early 1900s.
Gustav Goelitz’s original candy business was established in 1869 but was destroyed by the devastating Panic of 1893.
This was one of the worst economic depressions in American history. Americans wouldn’t experience anything similar until the Great Depression.
The severe economic downturn was triggered by a series of bank failures and a run on the gold supply.
It led to widespread unemployment.
Many businesses had to close their doors.
It also caused a sharp decline in consumer spending across the United States.
For Goelitz, like many other entrepreneurs of the era, the economic upheaval proved insurmountable.
The panic forced him to sell his business to satisfy debts.
It ruined him financially.
Gustav Goelitz died in 1901. He was only 55.
Goelitz’s life was cut short, possibly due to the stress of his business failure during the Panic of 1893.
Despite this personal setback, his dreams would be lived out by his kids.
His descendants persevered and built upon his confectionery legacy.
They eventually created the internationally recognized Jelly Belly brand. He would have been so proud of what Jelly Belly has become.
His sons founded the Goelitz Confectionery Company in 1898.
The family business thrived.
They expanded to North Chicago in 1913 to increase production capabilities.
Gustav’s son Herman ventured westward in 1924 to establish his candy company in Oakland, California.
This California offshoot eventually evolved into the Jelly Belly Candy Company. The brand gained worldwide fame for its innovative and flavorful gourmet jelly beans.
You can even go visit their candy factory today.
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