Albert M. Todd

Albert May Todd (June 3, 1850 – October 6, 1931), known as "The Peppermint King of Kalamazoo," was an American chemist, businessman, and politician from the state of Michigan. A philanthropist and advocate of public ownership of utilities, Todd made his fortune as the founder of the A.M. Todd Company, a world leader in the production of peppermint oil and other botanical extracts. Todd was also a renowned bibliophile. Much of his large book collection is now scattered throughout the holdings of several American universities. He served one term in the United States House of Representatives from 1897 to 1899.

Biography

Early years Albert May Todd was born June 3, 1850, near Nottawa, Michigan, in St. Joseph County, the tenth and last child of Alfred and Mary Ann Hovey Todd, who had come to Michigan from upstate New York. The Todd family were farmers of extremely modest means, supporting themselves on 45 arable acres of an 80-acre homestead.

Todd received his primary education in one-room schoolhouses before attending and graduated from Sturgis High School in the neighboring town of Sturgis.

In 1875, he marketed the "Crystal White" brand of peppermint oil, with his own name featured prominently on the label as an assurance of quality. Todd's predominance in this field earned him the popular moniker "The Peppermint King of Kalamazoo."

To provide a ready supply of raw mint for extraction, Todd established two gigantic plantations, called "Mentha" in Mentha, MI, which is now known as Pine Grove Township and "Campaignia" near Fennville.

Political career Pinback campaign button from Albert Todd's 1896 campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Todd's father was a supporter of the Republican Party even running an unsuccessful campaign for Governor under that party's banner in 1894.

Todd won just under 19,000 votes in the 1894 Gubernatorial campaign, discouragingly finishing in fourth place behind the candidates of the Republican, Democratic, and People's parties.

Defeat Todd's days in Congress would prove to be limited, however, as in 1898 his bid for re-election would be narrowly defeated at the polls by an energized opposition in the predominantly Republican district. Two of Albert M. Todd's sons — Albert J. Todd and Paul H. Todd — served as mayors of Kalamazoo.

The A.M. Todd Company would remain in Kalamazoo and stand as a leader in the production of mint oil for more than a century, ultimately being sold in 2011 to Swiss flavoring giant Wild Flavors GmbH.

Footnotes

Works Federal Operation of Transportation Systems: Extracts from Hearings Before the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the House of Representatives, Sixty-Fifth Congress, Second Session on H.R. 8172: Statement of Hon. Albert M. Todd, President of the Public Ownership League of America. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1918. Municipal Ownership, with a Special Survey of Municipal Gas Plants in America and Europe; Comprising a View of the General Principles of Public Ownership; Its Relation to the Public Welfare: with a Special Study of Gas Works in American and European Cities under Both Public and Private Ownership; a Comparison of Efficiency, Costs, and Rates of Charge; and the Influence of Public Ownership on General Prosperity, Good Government and Democracy. Chicago: Public Ownership League of America, 1918. Public Ownership of Railroads: Statement of Hon. Albert M. Todd, President of the Public Ownership League of America in the Hearings Before the Committee on Interstate Commerce, United States Senate, 65th Congress, Third Session, February 21, 1919. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1919. "Relation of Public Ownership to Democracy and Social Justice," Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science in the City of New York, vol. 8 (Jan. 1920), pp. 218–247.