gamble

1837
Neither William Procter nor James Gamble ever intended to settle in Cincinnati. Although the city was a busy center of commerce and industry in the early nineteenth century, William, emigrating from England, and James, arriving from Ireland, were headed farther west.
Despite their intentions, however, both men ended their travels when they arrived at the Queen City of the West — William took care of his ailing wife, Martha, who soon died, and James sought medical attention for himself.
William Procter quickly established himself as a candle maker. James Gamble apprenticed himself to a soap maker. The two might never have met had they not married sisters, Olivia and Elizabeth Norris, whose father convinced his new sons-in-law to become business partners. In 1837, as a result of Alexander Norris' suggestion, a bold new enterprise was born: Procter & Gamble.
On April 12, 1837, William Procter and James Gamble started making and selling their soap and candles. On August 22, they formalized their business relationship by pledging $3,596.47 apiece. The formal partnership agreement was signed on October 31, 1837. 1837 — 1889 1890 — 1945 1946 — 1979 1980 — 1999 Since 2000 Trademarks & Facts
1850
The Moon and Stars began to appear in the 1850s as the unofficial trademark of Procter & Gamble. Wharf hands used the symbol to distinguish boxes of Star Candles. By the 1860s, the Moon and Stars appeared on all Company products and correspondence. Once a staple of the Company's product line, candles declined in popularity with the invention of the electric light bulb. The Company discontinued candle manufacturing in the 1920s. 1859
Twenty-two years after the partnership was formed, P&G sales reached $1 million. The Company now employed 80 people. 1862
During the Civil War, Procter & Gamble was awarded several contracts to supply soap and candles to the Union armies. These orders kept the factory busy day and night, building the Company's reputation as soldiers returned home with their P&G products. 1879
James Norris Gamble, son of the founder and a trained chemist, developed an inexpensive white soap equal to high-quality, imported castiles. Inspiration for the soap's name — Ivory® — came to Harley Procter, the founder's son, as he read the words "out of ivory palaces" in the Bible one Sunday in church. The name seemed a perfect match for the white soap's purity, mildness and long-lasting qualities. 1882
Harley Procter convinced the partners to allocate $11,000 to advertise Ivory nationally for the first time. Ivory's purity and floating capability were first advertised across the country in "The Independent," a weekly newspaper. 1886
Production began in the Ivorydale factory. Ivorydale replaced the Central Avenue plant, which was heavily damaged by fire in 1884. Designed by noted industrial architect Solon Beman, the plant incorporated the latest technological advances with a pleasant work environment for employees — a progressive approach at that time. 1887
To address the storm of local and national labor unrest, P&G instituted a pioneering profit-sharing program for factory workers. This voluntary program, conceived by William Cooper Procter, grandson of the founder, gave employees a stake in the Company. William Cooper Procter wanted this program to help workers realize their vital roles in the Company's success. 1890
William Alexander Procter assumes leadership of the Company.