Gum Factory

From "Lexington" by Mary Wilson and Sharon Y. Asher, published sometime after 1975.

ASA M. FITCH*

The cross currents of life very often carry a man far from his life's work as he planned it. No better illustration of this fact could be found than the career of the late Asa M. Fitch of Indianapolis. He began his business life as a general merchant in a small town and would undoubtedly have continued as such but for the fact that a few simple experiments conducted in the kitchen of his home opened to him a new field of endeavor which was destined to make him one of the most widely known manufacturers in the United States.

Asa Fitch was born in Charlestown, Indiana,on February 22, 1850. He received his education in the public schools of his home community and began his business career in Lexington, Indiana, where he had a general store. He was the inventor of chewing gum as a confection, the manufacturing of which has become one of the most thriving industries in the United States.

In 1870, after much experimenting and mixing of the ingredients in a tea cup in his own kitchen, he produced a chewing gum which he believed to be satisfactory and which he placed on the market under the most discouraging circumstances. The durggists of the time were not interested in anything like chewing gum and did not believe that such a product would ever become a big seller. The lack of trademark laws at that time caused many difficulties for it was exceedingly hard to prevent unscrupulous manufacturers from infringing on ones's rights.

Mr. Fitch first perfected and produced a gum known as "Taffy-Tulu" and he traveled throughout the country during the years of 1870 to 1882 introducing his product. The business grew so rapidly that the factory at Lexington could not accomodate its needs. On September 28, 1882, the boiler in the factory exploded, instantly killing the General Manager George Harding. Although many others were in the building at the time, no one, except Mr. Harding, was injured. After the explosion Mr. Fitch moved his enterprise to a new factory in Seymour, Indiana, where the business grew to such an extent that by 1890 it was valued at $30,000.

The Company grew to national proportions until a fire occurred in the adjacent building to the factory and which ultimately destroyed the A. M. Fitch Company. It is an ironic quirk of fate that the fire could not be controlled because the town's water works were undergoing repairs at the time of the fire.

This disastrous fire occurred in the days of wildcat insurance and Mr. Fitch was able to collect only a small portion of the insurance carried on the plant. A suit to recover damages was taken to the Supreme Court of the United States and the decision, Water Works vs. Individual Liability which was handed down, established a precedent for similar cases throughout the country.

During the year 1891, Mr. Fitch gave his attention to the introduction of his attachment for plows. His first invention of this nature, which ran on wheels and which regulated the depth of furrows, was exhibited by the government at the Worlds's Fair of 1892. These plows were manufactured and sold throughout the United States and Canada. After successfully placing them on the market, Mr. Fitch again turned his attention to the manufacture of chewing gum.

He established a new plant in Indianapolis at 66 South Pennsylvania Street. The business grew with such rapidity that he soon had to purchase a newer building located at 715-17 Ft. Wayne Avenue in the city, which he remodeled into one of the best chewing gum factories in the country. He continued operations in this factory until 1918 when he retired, selling the business to the A. M. Fitch Manufacturing Company.

Many people still remember the Fitch chewing gum. Although his company made several types, the most famous were the Tulip and Blackstrap gums. The Tulip line included Spanish Tulip, Turkish Tulip, Mint Tulip, Fruit Tulip and Pepsin Tulip.

He also ventured into the medicinal field. He concocted Fitch's "Infallible Cough and Consumption Cure" which was in great demand at the time. In fact, the liquid tasted so good that his son Robert says, "We kids liked it so well we drank it all the time."

Among his other specialties was a children's game called Fitch's Game of Natural History. It was one of those things that every child then had to have. It was not only entertaining but also educational.

In 1872 Mr. Fitch married Josephine Harlan and they had three sons: Dr. F. M. Fitch, Charles G. Fitch and Robert V. Fitch. Dr. F. M. Fitch married Dr. Emma Collop and they had three children: Josephine, and Frank M. Fitch, Jr. Charles G. Fitch married Jessie G. Barkley and they presently reside at 2317 North Delaware Street, Indianapolis. Robert V. Fitch married Margaret C. Cooper and they had two sons: Richard C. Fitch and John C. Fitch.

The Fitch family is one of very old origin and traces its line back to Germany where the family name was first spelled "Fytche" and the family bore the coat of arms with the motto, 'Spes Juvat."

Asa M. Fitch died on October 20, 1923, and, with his passing, Indiana lost one of its ablest and shrewdest businessmen.

*Taken from "History of Indiana From Its Exploration to 1922's by Logan Esarey, PhD. and an article by William H. Keenan in the Sunday Magazine of the Indianapolis Star of 1960.

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