William H. Calbreath (July 29, 1850 – May 26, 1944, age 93) claimed to have been the model for the Cream of Wheat trademark, [1] one of the most enduring images in the history of American advertising. [2]
Early years
Calbreath was born in Detroit, Michigan, to a former slave who had been freed about 15 years before the outbreak of the American Civil War. [1] Several years after the war, he took a position as a cook at a Detroit restaurant. From there, he served as a chef at Put-in-Bay, Mackinac Island, the Detroit's Star Island clubhouse. [1] His skills as a chef also earned him a stint at New York City's famed Delmonico's. [1]
Contested claim
Calbreath claimed that he served as the model for the original Cream of Wheat trademark, which was used by the company from the early 1900s to about 1925. [3] At that point, the original trademark was modified. [3] Calbreath's claim has never been officially confirmed, though it has been widely reported in newspapers in northeastern Ohio, where he settled later in life. [1]
Later years
Calbreath spent his last years in Struthers, Ohio, a town located near the industrial center of Youngstown. Until his retirement, he was employed as a coal dealer. [1] Calbreath died at the age of 93, surviving his wife, Addie, and a daughter, Mrs. B. Graves, of Detroit. [1]