E. W. GROVE HIGH SCHOOL, 1906-1958

CHAPTER II

BACKGROUND

"The city of Paris can take just pride in the distinctions that have come to her through her citizens that have achieved fame in both the professional and business worlds" (Green, 1900, p. 37). One of her former citizens, Dr. E. W. Grove, will be remembered forever for his contributions to the small city and Henry County in which it lies. An article about this great man and noble benefactor, as related in The City of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee published in 1900, appeared as follows:

    This article is especially devoted to the notice of one of the most remarkable achievements of the age, which had its inception and first stages of development in Paris, and which has grown world-wide in its fame and business scope, the product of one man's genius, sagacity, and perseverance.

    In 1874 E. W. Grove came to Paris, a young man fresh from a school of pharmacy, and entered the drugstore of Dr. S. H. Caldwell as a clerk and prescriptionist. He soon won the confidence of his employer by his industry and superior qualifications, and was admitted to a partnership. b a short time he bought the entire stock and became the Sole proprietor of the business. In the early days of his clerkship he was constantly engaged in experiments in chemistry and pharmacy, and often discussed with his employer the possibility of rendering quinine tasteless and the revolution it would cause in the use of the drug.

    He experimented on that idea for years before his efforts were rewarded with success. He at last accomplished his purpose, and there upon organized the Paris Medicine Company, with the assistance of a few friends, on a small capital, for the manufacture of his preparation.

    Such in brief is the history of the beginnings of the Paris Medicine Company. Now of world-wide fame, and whose preparations are on the shelves of every drugstore in the United States, if not the civilized world. The stock in the company, which at its inception was grudgingly taken, is now unpurchasable. Those who had the courage or fortune to invest in its first stock have realized fortunes from their investments.

    The Paris Medicine Company became the proprietor and manufacturer of Dr. Grove's remedies, and under the able management of its founder, entered upon a most phenomenal career of prosperity.

    In 1889 the business of the company had become 80 enormous that, in order to meet conditions, its laboratory and manufactory were removed to St. Louis, Mo. Here a complete and fully equipped plant was installed, adequate to the importance and need of business (pp. 37-38).

"In 1899 the business of the company reached the enormous figure of close to half a million dollars" (p. 38).Even though the firm was no longer located in Paris, Dr. Grove tried to hire only Paris men for salesmen (Watkins, Interview, 1960).

The article further related:

    The preparations made by the Paris Medicine Company are Grove's Tasteless Chill Tonic, Laxative Bromo Quinine, Febriline or Tasteless Sirup of Quinine, and Porter's Antiseptic Healing Oil.

    Dr. E. W. Grove makes his home at Asheville, N. C., which place he adopted as a residence on account of his wife's health; but he still clings with a strong attachment to his old home and the friends of his early life, and no event is looked forward to by him with more pleasure or enjoyed more keenly than his occasional visits to Paris.

    Dr. Grove takes a deep interest in all that concerns the welfare of his home city, and is a generous contributor and potent helper in every enterprise for the religious, educational, and social upbuilding of Paris.

    In personal character Dr. Grove unites the qualities of an unassuming, modest citizen to those of a serious, consistent Christian (Green, 1900, p. 38).

CHAPTER III
FOUNDING AND DEVELOPMENT


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