New Englanders buy enough of these marshmallow chicks to rank as one of the top three Peep-eating markets in the United States. Nationwide an estimated 700 million are sold each spring.
The lowly Peep had humble beginnings. Most folks know that in 1953 the Just Born Inc. company purchased the Rodda Candy Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. What is frequently forgotten is that Roscoe E. Rodda was the confectioner behind the Rodda Candy Company, and he probably produced the original marshmallow chick that we call a "Peep."
Roscoe Rodda was born June 1862 in Michigan near Lake Superior, the son of Simon & Elizabeth Rodda. Roscoe's father was a copper miner from Tywardreth, Cornwall Co. England who immigrated to the United States between 1842 and 1870. From 1879 to 1887 Roscoe Rodda was a candymaker in Detroit Michigan working for Gray, Toynton & Fox. From 1891 through 1900 Roscoe ran his own company in Cincinnati, Ohio, calling himself a confectioner. He married and had several children. By 1910 he had moved to Lancaster, PA where he owned the Rodda Candy Company. By 1920 he had removed to Baltimore, Maryland, but in 1930 was a widower having moved back to Lancaster PA. Still a candymaker he lived with his widowed sister, Kate, and no doubt died there.
To some, Peeps are more than a treat. Reportedly during the 1984 summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Carl Lewis, Olympic medal winner, lived entirely on a diet of peeps. Lewis said this week he owes all of his success to peeps. "If you were to take an honest picture for the magazine covers, you'd probably hang all four of my medals from the neck of one of those little guys," Lewis admitted to reporters. "There is no doubt that a half-dozen peeps in the morning and another half-dozen at noon helped me in all the events, especially the long jump." [Lehigh Montville, Boston Globe]
But how did giving marshmallow chicks become popular? I remember that back in the 1950s (and before that) the gifting of real yellow chicks at Easter time was a usual tradition. The problem was that those cute little chicks grew up into roosters and chickens that presented a "disposal" problem to some. I'm not positive, but I suspect that once my own chicks grew up, they eventually ended up on our dinner table.
Current-day Peeps are certainly an improvement over the potentially salmonella-producing chicks, not to mention saving parents from a situation--how to explain the disappearance of the family poultry. An added bonus, Peeps are gluten free.
Janice
P.S. This is a repost of an article originally published April 19, 2007 on this blog.
**ADDITIONAL READING**
-Origin of marshmallow candy-
-Candy Blog-
-Peeps FAQ-
-History of Just Born, Inc.-
-Wikipedia: Peeps-
-Genealogy or Looking For One's Own Peeps-
**FAMILY TREE OF ROSCOE RODDA**
Benjamin Rodda, son of Benjamin & Anne (Symons) Rodda, b. 14 Oct 1777 in Perranuthnoe, Cornwall England. He married Grace Ralph.
Children of Benjamin & Grace (Ralph) Rodda:
1. Benjamin Rodda, b. 29 Oct 1797 in Crowan, Cornwall, England
2. Grace Rodda, b. 1799 in Crowan, Cornwall, England
3. Honour Rodda, b. 4 Sep 1804 in Crowan, Cornwall, England
4. Jennifer Rodda b. 1806
5. Martha Rodda, b. 1812
6. +Simon Rodda, b. 1815 [see below]
Simon Rodda, b. 1815 in England, son of Benjamin & Grace (Ralph) Rodda, married Elizabeth --. She b. abt 1821 in England. Sometime prior to 1870 they immigrated to the United States. They probably first settled in Michigan, as that is where their children were born. By 1870 they are found living in Coventry, Summit Co., Ohio. Simon was a miner.
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Census > UK Census Collection > 1841 England Census > Cornwall > Tywardreth > District 4
Simon Rodda 25 copper miner
Elizabeth Rodda 20
Martha Rodda 2
William Rodda 2 months
Mary Gray 10 Coppermine Lab
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Census > U.S. Census > 1870 United States Federal Census > Ohio > Summit > Coventry
Rodda Simon 55 M W Miner England [b abt 1815]
Rodda Elizabeth 50 F W keeping House England [b abt 1820]
Rodda Elizabeth 17 F W at home Michigan
Rodda, Catharine F W 14 at home Michigan
Rodda, Rosco E 9 M W Michigan
Scandlebury Wm 29 M W Miner England
Simmons Wm 27 M W Miner England
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J.W. Weeks & Co.'s annual directory of the inhabitants, business firms, incorporated companies, etc., of Detroit, for 1874-75
Roda, Charles, lab, h w s German bet Chene and Dubois
Rodda Rosteina, cigarmaker, h German bet Chene and Jos Campau ave.
Rodda Samuel J, machinist, h 100 Jay.
Rodda Simon Sr., engineer, h 12th nr Grand River ave.
Rodda Wm H., founder and machinist, n w cor Atwater and St. Antoine, h 129 Adams ave e. [in 1876 shows clk, bds s s McLean, bet 10th and 12th] [in 1886, Rodda Anna, wid Wm H, h 20 Henry. [1876 states Marine, Stationary and Portable Engine mfr]
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Detroit city directory for 1879
Rodda, Roscoe E., candymkr Gray, Toynton & Fox bds 259 McLean [same for 1886, but called confectioner]
Rodda, Simon J. engr, h. 100 Joy
Rodda Wm H. mach n e cor Atwater and St. Antoine, h 129 Adams ave e
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U.S. Census > 1880 United States Federal Census > Michigan > Wayne > Detroit > District 298
Rodda Simon W M 65 Laborer England Eng Eng
Rodda, Elizabeth W F 61 Wife keeping house Eng Eng Neg
Rodda, Kate W F 23 dau works in seed store Lake Superior, Mich, Engl Eng
Rodda, Roscoe W M 19 son works in candy store , Lake Superior Mich, England, England
Bartholick, Julia W F 65 Boarder on don't of money VT VT VT
Johnson, Charlotte W F 40 dau keeping house NY NJ VT
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Cincinnati, Ohio Directory, 1890-91
about Roscoe E. Rodda
Name: Roscoe E. Rodda
Location 2: boards 61 W. 9th
Occupation: candy maker
Year: 1890, 1891
City: Cincinnati
State: OH
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Children of Simon & Elizabeth (--) Rodda [may be other children]:
1. Martha Rodda, b. abt 1821 England
2. William Rodda, b. abt. about 1841 in Twardreth, Cornwall Co. England
3. Catharine/Kathryn Rodda, b abt 1856 in Michigan; m. -- Lang
4. +Roscoe Rodda, b. abt 1861 Michigan; he m. Lula M. --. Had children.
Roscoe Rodda, son of Simon & Elizabeth Rodda, was born June 1862 in Lake Superior, Michigan. He married about 1886 to Lula/Luella M. --. She was born July 1868 in Illinois. He was a confectioner, candy maker, first producer of a marshmallow treat we now call "Peeps."
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U.S. Census > 1900 United States Federal Census > Ohio > Hamilton > Cincinnati > District 12
Rodda, Roscoe Head W M June 1862 35 married 14 yrs MN Eng Eng Confectioner
Rodda Leula/Lula wife F W July 1868 32 married 14 yrs 4 ch 3 living IL England NY
Rodda, Grace, dau F W June 1887 single Mich MN IL at school
Rodda, Emmons son W M Feb 1891 9 single IL MN IL at school
Rodda, Charlotte dau F W June 1898 1 single Ohio MN IL
Bosse, Emma servant W F Feb 1892 single Ohio Ger Ger house maid
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Pennsylvania 1910 Miracode Index
Name: Roscoe E Rodda
Birthplace: Minnesota [should be Michigan]
State: PA Age: 49 Color: W
Enumeration District: 0062 Visit: 0095
County: Lancaster, Lancaster
Relation: Head of Household
Other Residents: Relation Name Age Birth Place
Wife Lula/Loula M 41 Illinois
Daughter Grace A 22 Michigan
Son Emmons A 19 Illinois [mn Alger, b. 24 Feb 1891 Chicago IL, d. 2 June 1972 Cape Coral, Lee Co. FL]
Son Lawrence C 07 Illinois
Son John A 05 Illinois
Daughter Charlotte E 10 Ohio
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Census > U.S. Census > 1920 United States Federal Census > Maryland > Baltimore (Independent City) > Baltimore Ward 15 > District 255
Rodda, Roscoe E. Head M W 60 married Mich Engl Engl Confectioner Wholesale
Rodda, Lula M. wife F W 50 M IL Engld NY
Rodda, Charlotte E. dau F W 20 single Ohio Mich IL Teacher
Rodda, Lawrence C. son M W 17 single IL Mich IL no occup
Rodda, John A. Son W M 15 single IL Mich IL
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Census > U.S. Census > 1930 United States Federal Census > Pennsylvania > Lancaster > Lancaster > District 65
Lang, Kathryn Head 6000 F W 72 widow MN Engl Engl no occupation
Rodda Roscoe Brother W M 68 widow Michigan Engl ENgl confections Manufacturer
Palmer, Bessie, niece F W 35 single PA PA PA saleslady department
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Children of Roscoe & Lula/Luella M. (--) Rodda:
1. Grace Rodda, b. June 1887 in Michigan
2. Emmons Alger Rodda, b. 24 Feb 1891 in Chicago Illinois, d. 2 June 1972 Cape Coral, Lee Co. FL; In 1917 his WWI Draft card shows him a superintendent at the R.E. Rodda Candy Company in Lancaster PA, and that he had a wife and child at that time. (He also notes a physical disability). His 1942 WWI Draft Registration shows him living at East Falls Church VA working for the U.S. Navy Dept. in Washington D.C. He married 20 Sep 1941 in College Park, Prince Georges Co MD to Rita Anna Johnson, daughter of Elza Charles & Ada May (Mershon) Johnson. She b. 22 Feb 1905 in Maquoketa, Jackson Co, Iowa, and d. 10 Dec 1964 in Sarasota FL. (She had married 1st) 27 Oct 1927 in NY NY to Johannes/John B. Nicholson). They had one child, a son. He ?married 2nd, Frances E. -- who was b. abt 1906.
3. Charlotte Rodda, b. June 1898 in Ohio
4. Lawrence C. Rodda, b. abt 1903 in IL
5. John A. Rodda, b. abt 1905 in IL; In 1930 lodging in Baltimore MD with his sister Grace, in the family of W. J. & Caroline Latch. At that time John was a Railroad clerk.
