My mom’s family helped settle from Stephenville, Texas, in 1856, whose roots trace back to Irish and German immigrants. She and moved to New York to pursue a career in fashion after attending college in Texas. The town of Dublin, Texas, famous for inventing Dr. Pepper, was adjacent to her growing up. The Dr. Pepper plant in Dublin uses the original recipe (invented by a pharmacist at a soda counter by mixing 23 flavors of other sodas), which includes pure cane sugar, and is sweeter than the regular Dr. Pepper available in most stores. The plant made a deal with the Dr. Pepper corporation to operate independently, so long as it didn’t sell its product outside of a radius of 44 miles. However, a few years ago the plant violated this agreement and was absorbed into the corporation, which eliminated the iconic “Dublin” on the outside of the bottle. My mom bought a six pack long before all that happened, which is now quite valuable, and brought it with her to New York since it was unavailable here, to remind her of her home.

– Sarah Joseph

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more