J.R. Watkins founded his company in Plainview, Minnesota, in 1868. Watkins and his salesmen went door-to-door across southern Minnesota selling natural healing remedies that he concocted, including liniment and bitters. In 1885, Watkins moved his company to Winona, Minnesota, expanded into spices, extracts and more, growing into one of the largest direct-sales companies in the country. Watkins is still in business 152 years later.


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