Kiss, Max (09 November 1882–22 June 1967), pharmacist and businessman, was born in Kisvárda, Hungary, the son of Illes Kiss, a lumber merchant, and Regina Schwartz. In 1897, after finishing high school, Kiss left home and came to the United States via Hamburg, Germany. In later years he would recount that he had heard from a cousin that “everyone in America shoveled gold right from the streets,” and Kiss wanted to shovel....
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Kiss, Max (1882-1967), pharmacist and businessman
James D. Norris
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Walgreen, Charles Rudolph (1873-1939), pharmacist and chain store executive
Thomas S. Dicke
Walgreen, Charles Rudolph (09 October 1873–11 December 1939), pharmacist and chain store executive, was born near Galesburg, Illinois, the son of Charles Walgreen, a successful farmer and real estate broker, and Ellen Olson. Walgreen’s parents were Swedish immigrants. The family moved to Dixon, Illinois, in 1887. Walgreen’s start in the drugstore business came by accident. While working in a shoe factory in Dixon he cut off the top joint of a middle finger. His doctor—frustrated that the physically active Walgreen would not let his hand heal properly—arranged for him to apprentice at a local drugstore in hopes of keeping him off the baseball diamond. Walgreen stayed with the job for a year and a half, when he was fired or quit during a disagreement with the owner....