William Heston moved who had learned the miller’s trade under tutelage of Schumacher in Akron, moved to Ravenna. Heston and four others organized the Quaker Mill Company in Ravenna. His partners were Henry D. Seymour, Francis B. King, John B. King and Henry H. Stevens.
The company came into being on May 3, 1877. Henry D. Seymour and William Heston registered the Quaker trademark on September 4 1877. Seymour said he came up with the idea after reading an article about Quakers in an encyclopedia.
He was struck by the similarity between the religious group’s qualities and the image he desired for oatmeal.
Not long afterward, Seymour also Heston sold their oat-making venture to an entrepreneur and philanthropist, Henry Parson. In 1888 Quaker Oats combined with other Midwest oat companies to form The American Cereal Company.
Henry D. Seymour of Quaker Oats
