Businessman. He was a co-founder, along with his brother Gilbert Ganong, of Ganong Brothers, Limited, the oldest candy company in Canada. It was the first company to introduce a heart-shaped box of chocolates in North America, originally used for presents over the Christmas season before it became successful on Valentine's Day. The oldest of six children, his father was a farmer and merchant who was a descendant of Huguenot exiles that fled religious persecution from La Rochelle, France in the second half of the 17th century and emigrated to the Dutch colonial settlement of New Amsterdam (present-day New York City, New York). Following the American Revolutionary War, his descendants, who were loyal to the English cause, relocated to New Brunswick (then part of Nova Scotia), Canada in 1783. In 1873, after working as a shopkeeper and traveling salesman, he and his brother Gilbert moved to the Canadian border town of Saint Stephen, New Brunswick on the Saint Croix River across from Calais, Maine, establishing a grocery business and within a few years added a bakery and confectionery manufactory. In 1878 the brothers, in partnership with Freeman H. Todd, built the Saint Croix Soap Manufacturing Company but dissolved it in 1884, and he operated the soap factory while his brother retained the store, bakery and confectionery business. The soap-making business continued to profit and became widely known for its Surprise Soap brand that eventually was distributed across Canada. He became involved in community affairs and served as mayor of Saint Stephen. He died unexpectedly at the age of 47 and his son, Edwin Ganong, took over the Saint Croix Soap Manufacturing Company.
Businessman. He was a co-founder, along with his brother Gilbert Ganong, of Ganong Brothers, Limited, the oldest candy company in Canada. It was the first company to introduce a heart-shaped box of chocolates in North America, originally used for presents over the Christmas season before it became successful on Valentine's Day. The oldest of six children, his father was a farmer and merchant who was a descendant of Huguenot exiles that fled religious persecution from La Rochelle, France in the second half of the 17th century and emigrated to the Dutch colonial settlement of New Amsterdam (present-day New York City, New York). Following the American Revolutionary War, his descendants, who were loyal to the English cause, relocated to New Brunswick (then part of Nova Scotia), Canada in 1783. In 1873, after working as a shopkeeper and traveling salesman, he and his brother Gilbert moved to the Canadian border town of Saint Stephen, New Brunswick on the Saint Croix River across from Calais, Maine, establishing a grocery business and within a few years added a bakery and confectionery manufactory. In 1878 the brothers, in partnership with Freeman H. Todd, built the Saint Croix Soap Manufacturing Company but dissolved it in 1884, and he operated the soap factory while his brother retained the store, bakery and confectionery business. The soap-making business continued to profit and became widely known for its Surprise Soap brand that eventually was distributed across Canada. He became involved in community affairs and served as mayor of Saint Stephen. He died unexpectedly at the age of 47 and his son, Edwin Ganong, took over the Saint Croix Soap Manufacturing Company.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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