John B. Curtis

Biography

John B. Curtis was an inventive mind whose ingenuity gave rise to one of the nation’s enduring treats. Through careful experimentation and unrelenting attention to quality, he founded a chewing gum enterprise that brought pleasure to countless families while demonstrating the strength of American entrepreneurship.

He held fast to the values of his native Maine, supporting local charities and encouraging the next generation of makers. When he died in 1897, Evergreen Cemetery became the place of rest for a businessman whose industrious spirit inspired those who followed him in commerce.