My Great Grandfather Was A Snake Oil Salesman
My great grandfather was a medicine salesman who had business connections in China (aka "foreign devil"). He sold "Snake Oil," Chinese medicine to relieve joint pain. it was so effective that competitors started a massive disinformation campaign to combat it and sell their own less effective patent medicines. It was a foreshadow of subsequent disinformation campaigns used by industry, government, and the CIA. Snake oil is still effective for relieving joint pain. Needless to say, my great grandfather saw what kind of wealth could be amassed with patent medicines and went in that direction himself.
(The wealth was squandered by his fun-loving playboy son, best known for marrying a 19-year-old when he was in his 60s, so all I have is a goofy story to tell. However, if he had been any different or more respectable, I wouldn't exist.)
(The wealth was squandered by his fun-loving playboy son, best known for marrying a 19-year-old when he was in his 60s, so all I have is a goofy story to tell. However, if he had been any different or more respectable, I wouldn't exist.)