Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-12-27
WHO SHE WAS
Sketch of the, Life of Lydia E. Pinkhan
And True Story of How the Vegetable Compound
Had Its Birth, and How the 'Panic of 49, Caused
it to be Offered for Public Sale in Drug Stores

The three sons and the daughter, with
their mother, combined forces to restore
the family fortune. They argued that
the medicine which was so good for their
women friends and neighbors was equally
good for the women of the whole world.
The Pinkhams had no money and little
credit. Their first laboratory was the
kitchen, where roots and herbs were
stepped on the stove, gradually filling a
gross of bottles. Then came the question
of selling it, for always before they had
given it away freely. They hired job
forth the merits of the medicine, now
called Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable
Compound, and these were distributed by
the Pinkham sons in Boston, New York
and Brooklyn.
The wonderful curative properties of
the medicine were, to great extent, self
advertising, for whoever used it recon-
mended 1t to others, and the demand
gradually increased.
In 1877, by combined efforts, the family
had saved enough money to commence
newspaper advertising, and from that time
the growth and success of the enterprise
were assured, until to-day Lydia E. Pink
ham and her Vegetable Compound have
become household words everywhere, and
many tons of roots and herbs are used an
nually in its manufacture.
Lydia Z. Pinhham herself did not live
to see the great success OF this work. She
passed to her reward years ago, but not
till she had provided means for continu-
ing her work as effectively as she could
have done it herself.
During her long and egentful experience
she was ever methodieal in her work, and
she was always careful to preserve a record
of every case that came to her attention.
The case of every sick woman who applied
to her for advice and there were thou
sands received careful study, and the de-
tails, including symptoms, treatment and
results, were recorded for future reference,
and to-day these records, together with
hundreds of thousands made since, are
available to sick women the world over,
and represent a vast collaboration OF in-
formation regarding the treatment oil
woman's ills, which for authenticity and
accuracy can hardly be equaled in any Ii
brary in the world.
With Lydia E. Pinkham worked hel
daughter-in-law, the present Mrs. Pink
ham. She was carefully instructed in al
her hard-won know ledge, and for year.
she assisted her in her vast correspon'
dence.
To her hands naturally fell the direction
of the work when it's originator passed
away. For nearly twenty-five years sh,
has continued it, and nothing in the worl
shows when Lydia E. Pinkham dropped
| her pen and the present Mrs. Pinkham
| now the mother of a large family, took i
up. With women assistants, some as cap
| able as herself, the present Mrs. Pinkhan
/ continues this great work, and probabl,
| from the Office of no other person have s.
many women been advised how to regain
health. Sick women, this advice is ''Your
for Health, freely given if you only writ
| to ask for it.
| Such is the history of Lydia E. Pink
hams Vegetable Compound; made fror
simple roots and herbs; the one grea
medicine for womens ailments, and tn
litting monument to the noble woma
whose name it bears.