Franklin Clarence Mars

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Franklin Clarence Mars (September 24, 1884 – 1934) was the founder of the American company Mars, Incorporated, which makes mostly chocolate candy. Mars and his son Forrest Edward Mars developed M&M's. Frank Mars learned how to produce candy from his mother.

In 1902, he began making candy, but all his endeavors failed until 1923 when he made the Milky Way candy bar, the chocolate coating for which came from Hershey's brand chocolate. In the late-1920s, Frank C. Mars moved to Pulaski, Tennessee, where he bought a number of local farms and constructed a large estate called Milky Way Farm. During its construction, Mars employed more than 935 men from Giles County to build a 25,000 square feet (2,300 m²) clubhouse, more than 30 barns, a horse racing track, and a show horse track. Mars lived the remainder of his life on the 2,800 acre (11 km²) farm and was buried there upon his death in 1934. However, Mars' wife Ethel V. Mars had the body and the mausoleum moved to Chicago only a few years after his death.^{[citation needed]}

In 1930, Mars had developed the Snickers Bar. After his death, in 1940, his son Forrest Mars, Sr., with the help of Hershey's president William Murries, began producing M&M Candies (with the "M&M" being "Mars and Murrie"). Forrest Mars, Sr. went on to grow the company through the addition of such products as Uncle Ben's. Forrest Mars, Sr. later died in 1999 and left the company to his children who still own it today.

Recently, Milky Way Farms was sold. The current owner is totally renovating the estate to its original glory. In addition, a gated community is being established along with an 18 hole golf course, a polo field, and many other amenities. The beautiful surroundings and the estate house being restored will no doubt make Milky Way Farms a tourist attraction once again.