The Kelloggs: The Battling Brothers of Battle Creek

Ever wonder how Battle Creek became the breakfast cereal capital of the world? The story of the creation of corn flakes and the subsequent growth of the breakfast cereal industry revolves around the story of two brothers, John Harvey and William K. Kellogg. As a young man, John Harvey earned a degree in medicine, and along with the leaders of the Seventh Day Adventist Church developed the legendary Battle Creek Sanitarium in the latter part of the 19th century. At the time, it was a premier medical institution that attracted patients from across the nation. Many of them were specifically seeking relief from various maladies using the innovative and, in some cases, bizarre therapies espoused by doctor Kellogg. William K., the younger brother, is credited with the development of the Kellogg breakfast cereal empire and for the creation of the charitable foundation which bears his name. Before embarking on his career as a cereal manufacturer at the turn of the 20th century, he worked as the operations manager during the early years of the sanitarium under the supervision of John Harvey. However, this relationship proved to be intolerable for William. This familial tension eventually led to a legal battle between the brothers over the right to use the family name to sell flaked cereal and caused a permanent rift that would last for the rest of their lives. This book is a great read for those interested in Michigan history.