For over 140 years, the purest, best tasting peppermint oil in the World was processed and sold by the H. G. Hotchkiss Essential Oil Company of Lyons, NY. In 1828, continuing their family business, brothers Hiram and Leman Hotchkiss gained experience in running the general stor in Phelps, NY. They also were in the milling business, operating grain mills in Seneca Falls, Phelps, and Newark. Hiram and Leman were teenagers at the time.

Richard Kelley standing in front of his award winning exhibit at the recent Rochester Show

One day, a peddler, Arch Burnett of Junius, discovered mint growing wild in the area. He distilled some mint oil and offered it to Hiram and Leman for merchandise from their general store. Soon, area farmers started cultivating the mint plants, extracting mint oil, and trading it with the Hotchkiss brothers. The mint oil was stockpiled until 1200 lbs. was accumulated. In 1837, Hiram traveled by boat on the Erie Canal to New York City, in an attempt to market his mint oil. This was a long journey from Lyons to Albany, and then down the Hudson River to New York City. At the time, most old standard mint oils came from European countries, with Hamburg, Germany the main distribution center for mint oils. Brokers refused to purchase "domestic" mint oil from Hiram. Hiram returned to Phelps with no intention of giving up. Mint oil samples were sent to Hamburg, Germany, for evaluation. Chemists tested and declared Hotchkiss peppermint oil the purest and best tasting in the World. News spread fast, and in 1838, Hiram and Leman gave up their other business interests to concentrated exclusively on peppermint and other essential oils.

The H. G. Hotchkiss Essential Oil Company started in Phelps, NY in 1839. In 1841, a second location near the Erie Canal was opened in Lyons, NY. As orders poured in and their fame spread, Hiram Gilbert Hotchkiss founded the Peppermint Industry in Lyons, NY and was revered as the "Father of The Peppermint Oil Industry," and as the "Peppermint King." Mint became the biggest cash crop in Wayne County, NY. H. G. Hotchkiss and other area farmers grew a variety of mint plants including peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, tansy, sassafras, pennyroyal, and even wormwood. Later, wormwood was outlawed in this country. Hotchkiss essential oils were to win seventeen Prize Medals at World Expositions, starting in London in 1851, to Chicago in 1893. These medals are stored in the Cornell University archives. Hiram established prime markets here in the United States, and in Europe, Russia, Japan, Egypt, and Chili. The company name would change to H. G. Hotchkiss International Prize medal Essential Oil Company.

In 1855, there was strief between Hiram and Leman. Leman in Phelps, NY, formed his own company, and competed against Hiram. His bottles are green in color, from olive green to aqua. Leman launched a company that boasted European and American Exposition Prize Medal mint oils that eventually would win five prize medals internationally.

1862 New York City - 1867 Paris - 1873 Hamburg - 1876 Philadelphia - 1877 Paris

Leman also was a banker and exchange broker in Phelps, NY. In 1867, Leman built the Phelps Hotel. He also owned a main interest in the early Clifton Springs, "Air Cure." Leman Beecher Hotchkiss died in 1844. Hiram also established a private bank in Lyons, the Peppermint Planters Bank, and a second private bank under the name H. G. Hotchkiss Co. The H. G. Hotchkiss Essential Oil Company made Lyons, NY the Peppermint Capital of the World. Hiram established an international market for essential oils, gaining the respect of customers and leaders of nations. Hiram died in 1897.

Peppermint became a tradition in the Hotchkiss family, as Hiram's sons Calvin and Hiram Gilbert (2nd), were Presidents of the company from 1897 – 1920's. From 1920's – 1960's, Hiram Gilbert (3rd), was President followed by his daughter Anne Dickerson Hotchkiss, President from 1963 – 1982. In 1982, the company was sold to William Leman Company of Bremen, Indiana. They operated the company in Lyons until 1990, shifting operations to Bremen. As customers in the USA and Europe insisted on Hotchkiss peppermint, the Wm. Leman Company had to provide it, with the Hotchkiss tradition continuing for many more years. Anne Dickerson Hotchkiss retired in 1984. In 1987, the Hotchkiss Building was named to the National Register of Historic Places. The Hotchkiss Building is the only building of its kind, (Mint Industry) on the National Registry of Historic Places in the USA. In 1991, with great expectations, Anne donated the building to WAYNE COUNTY, NY. Our annual celebration, "Peppermint Days," is a reminder of our Mint Heritage in Lyons, NY.

For more information, look at website www.mintstills.com. My email address is kelleye719@verizon.net or phone (315) 946-6316.

Editor's note: As noted above, this article was written by Richard Kelley who is a member of the Rochester Club. Copies of this article were available at the recent Rochester Show. His huge exhibit at the show of beautiful peppermint bottles and go-withs was a testament to his many years of collecting this category.