Despite its drama, the story of two brothers, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg and Will Keith Kellogg, is as true as the box of Corn Flakes in the kitchen pantry.
The Kellogg Brothers: Opposites Don’t Attract
John and Will were polar opposites. John was a graduate of New York University’s Medical School in 1875. That same year, Will was a salesman at his father’s broom making business with a sixth grade education.
After medical school, John returned to his home in Michigan, and became the superintendent of the Battle Creek Sanitarium. The hospital became famous under John’s watch for its success as a holistic health center. John became somewhat of a celebrity. He became to busy to run the hospital operations, so he hired his underachiever brother Will to run the hospital.
The job turned into 15 hour work days for $6 a week. During Will’s tireless work, Dr. John enjoyed the notoriety for his famous hospital. This situation planted the seeds of discord that would not subside until the end of their lives.
Two Brothers’ Faith Leads to Flakes
The Kellogg brothers were both Seventh Day Adventists. Their faith put great emphasis on health and a vegetarian diet.
Will assisted John in researching healthy whole grain foods for patients. One day Will boiled some wheat because John suspected this preparation would make it easier for patients to digest. Will accidentally left out the boiled wheat for hours until it became dry. John and Will decided not to throw it out but to put it through the regular baking process.
The first step: the roller. Each wheat berry flattened out into wide flakes instead of one contiguous sheet of bread as traditionally prepared wheat would do. Will decided to bake these flattened wheat kernels and the result was a light, tasty, easily eaten flake.