The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-04-27
a E vIRGINIAN
Tho ln'onior of Rough on Rats-A Nor.
gnntown Boy Who Has Become II MIL.

s"" D"S "ho inns Decuuie u hlli'
liona,ro.
Movdntorn Sev Dominion.
Who Is 1t that las not heard Of
Rough on Rats?" Not only to stu.
dcnts'of 0arins inscriptions on barns,
dead walls. fences and 80 OH IL this
name q familiar one, but Its use Is
almost universal by all classes and cor.
ditions who have vetmin to trouble and
to cxterminate. There is hardly a ham.
let on tho civilized globe where this
known specific OF tho Norway" euro is
not sold in largo quantities. In Nor.
gantown people have used it, and would
occasionally look ut the wrapper, per.
haps, and note indilIcrontly that the
famous eradlcator was prepared at tho
N. j.
But iower have connected this man
with tho "Eph" Wells, who went to
school and played trnant with many OF
tho boys many long years ago, but in
reading this there are doubtless many
WHO will exelaim, "Why, it amt our old
Eph, Is 1t %
Well, it Just is, and ho is now proba.
bly,. as wealthy as any OF tho Numerous
ones who have left their native Monon.
galta home to battle with the world aud
become Hictors. Mr.. Wells is one Of
these, and his career, skctched briefly,
Is interesting, and shows his guiding
star to SUCCESS TO have been advertising
judiciously.
Ephraim and Moses Wells, both now
deceased, were residents OF Morgan-
town from their infancy, uutil Ephraim
moved TO Uniontown, Pa; when his
son, Ephraim jr., was six years old.
Moses lived till his death, which oc-
CURED ON twelve years ago, in tho
house now occupied by his widow and
son, Edward, in the northern extension,
but formerly its location was described
as being on the Ices ferry pike.
Young Eph was IL years old when
the family moved to Jersey City, hay.
ing remained in Uniontown but aislort
time. The boy secured q position in n
drug store in New York, and'by correct
habits and pluck, 4 good combination
and worthy OF emulation, he had
enough money in a few years to 90 into
the drug business on his own account,
and he opened up Il store in Jersey
City. Ephriam, sr., died in q few years
thereafter.
Mr.. Wells kept in tho drug business
Tor many years without meeting with
any marked financial success, making q
good living, but not 4 great deal more.
lie for years looked for IN opportunity
to make money moro rapidly. He SEEM
cd to banker for quick action. lilo got
tired OF arising at all hours OF the night
to I'LL ten.cent prescriptions. He had 10
work pretty hard.
Meantime he had been troubled with
rats around his place OF business and he
prepared a powder which would make
thcm seek water, and then the chemical
action would kill them while out OF a
building. He told some OF his neigh
bors about it and sold them big doses
for their rats. After 4 time he was kept
busy by people who wanted to buy some
OF his rat poison.
1t occurred to him in 1854 that no
would get 4 patent on tho stuff. He got
it. Then 1t was the final part OF tho same
intention to 90 into the manufacture
OF 1t on q large scale. He had no money
but what was in the drug store, and us
the rat poison idea was but experiment
tai, though he knew its good qualities,
he didn't want to risk his little all on it.
y New York nan of means was afraid
to 90 into it with him, and Mr.. Wells is
now glad he didn't. He wanted money
to advertise. He failed to Get it.
Finally he went to the Tribune, Her
AID. Times and World and stated the case
clearly; that he had no money, but he
wanted to contract for 81, 900 worth OF
advertising in each one for this new
terror to the "details; that he would
pay them so much every thirty days.
He had ! good face, This story was be.
loved and the advertising began to up.
pear.
lie went home, and was soon in bed,
but he was kept awake for hours think.
Ing OF q name. Twelve o'clock came,
one, two, and he was finally getting
into o half unconscious and exhausted
state. when he remarked in q sort. OF
conciliatory way, that it "Was pretty
rough on rats, whatever it was" He
became inspired by.his own unthink.
ing words, "Rougi, on rats he. re.
peated, "why that's just the name it
shall go by" To the failure to find q
name may be attributed the happy hit
finally made.
He got orders from the start, and Mt
the end OF the first month he was barely
able to pay Oft his advertising bills and
other expenses. But he renewed the
same contracts. At the end OF the sec.
ond month he had more money. BY
the end OF tho third he had to hire
hands to help compound tho stuff. 1t
kept on getting better, and inside OF
six months Rough on Rats was being
sold in every state in the union. The
drug storo was sold out, and in its
place stands a large factory where
Trough on Rats" and many other
"Roughs," applied to various insects
and pestilential animals, are made.
Mr.. Wells has cleared over $1,000 900
by the sale OF his patented "Roughs."
q late he bus devoted q great deal OF
his time to fine stock, and his farm
near Newark, n. j., has many fine
horses in its stables. He was married
some years ago III Jersey City and lives
in q luxuriously appointed mansion,
with its concomitant surroundings and
belongings. He and his family expect