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Host Alison Davis heads to Bloomington-Normal, where former slave the Rev. George Hoagland invented “Oil of Gladness” furniture polish, and turned it into a prosperous business. Hoagland came up with his concoction after working his way through Illinois State Normal University as a janitor. Jack Muirhead, who produced a video about African-American history in MacClean County, and his wife, Pamela, tell Hoagland’s story. Davis said there’s a mystery attached to the story.
“Historians have yet to find out why Hoagland and his family moved away from Bloomington in 1913,” said Davis. “They wonder why a man with such a successful business would close it down and all his family would move away in just a few months.”
Segment duration: 06:53
Producer: Alison Davis
This segment is filed in these categories: Ethnicity/Culture • Family history • History • Illinois Culture/History • Bloomington
George Hoaglund is my Great Grandfather. His daughter Blanche is my Grandmother. I have papers reflecting his oil product ventures (including Oil of Gladness). My oldest grandson, Fabian Lindsay, attended school in Bloomington/Normal. He and I have been exchanging information back and forth for several years. We would be interested in more records that may be availble.
Marvin E. Lindsay
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