Background
He was born December 25, 1837 (according to most records) in New York, New New York
He was born December 25, 1837 (according to most records) in New York, New New York
Birth and relatives
He had three female children who lived to adulthood, Mymie (My-me) (16 May 1868 in Brooklyn, New York- 28 May 1958 in Pasadena, California) who married the Reverend William Morrison (5 October 1863 - 4 January 1915) who was the priest at Trinity Church in New York, Lucille (16 December 1873 in Brooklyn, New York - 29 February 1956 in East Orange, New Jersey) who married George Howard Betts (5 August 1871, Brooklyn, New York - 8 July 1940 in Pinehurst, North Carolina) who was a cosmetics manufacturer (New York Times, July 9, 1940, p21, Colonel 2), Ettye (Et-East)(25 November 1870 in Brooklyn, New York - 7 December 1929 in Orange, New Jersey) who married Albert Bryant also had large roles in the Centaur Company and Sterling Products later known Sterling Drug. Albert Bryant"s sister, Sara Cone Bryant, was a well-known children"s book author His house still stands and is privately owned on Berkeley Avenue in Orange, New Jersey.
The house has seven full bathrooms.
Business career
As a boy of 13, Fletcher went to work for a proprietary medicine company. In 1872 he managed to save enough to buy from a physician, Doctor Samuel Pitcher, the formula of the laxative Castoria.
Originally marketed as Pitcher"s Castoria, the product has had several names, notably Fletcher"s own. A little known fact is that he was sent South before the Civil War to collect debts by Demas Barnes.
He returned (successfully) just before Fort Sumter was attacked (so shortly before April 12, 1861 he returned north).
Partly due to this success (and others both before and after), Demas Barnes backed him in forming The Centaur Company. " probably the largest proprietary medicine concern in the country, if not in the world. Mr. Fletcher"s name has become so identified with the product of the company that it is known all over the civilized world."
"Charles H. Fletcher.. signature is perhaps better known that that of any other man of his day.." The signature is shown here
Charles Henry Fletcher died Sunday April 9, 1922 in Orange, New Jersey He was interred in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New New York
See New York Times, April 10, 1924, p46,C8.
In 1884, The Centaur Company offered to pay for the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty when the Pedestal Fund Committee found itself short of money in return for placing "Castoria" on the base for one year. The offer was declined.