Minneapolis City (part 43 of 80)

His religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is an active member, administering one of its most important educational trusts, as trustee of Hamline University'.

In politics he is a Democrat, not of the demonstrative sort, but Cjuieth' and firmly' holding the political doctrines of Thomas Jeffersqn. These led him in \'Outh to take up arms indefeneeof state rights, and throughout all his years of active life he has steadfastly' adhered to the idea of a simple, honest. Democratic government.

Take him all in all, Mr. Nelson is a unique man. His counterpart is rareh' found. Accepting the lot of common la¬ bor, his integrity, industry^ and sagacity hay'e raised him to the front rank of bus¬ iness men and made his career a conspic¬ uous success. Coming to an unsy'inpathizing community yy'ithout prestige or friends, he has been here enti'usted with the most responsible public functions. In a city' yvhose dominant majority do not espouse his political ydeyy^s, he occu¬ pies a position of influence and dignity'. Simple in demeanor, unostentatious in manner of life, quiet, thoughtfid, almost sombre in aspect, he has attached friends of yydiom the most gifted might be proud. He is spare, erect, sedate*. Not yet in his climacteric, there are yet unattained suc¬ cess before him.

On Noy'ember 1st, 1880, the firm of Nelson, Tenne}' & Co., yvas formed; the partners being B. F. Nelson, W. AI. Tennev and Hugh W. McNair, Mr. Nelson having been engaged in operating planing mills and manufacturing lum¬ ber for many' y'ears previous to that date. The3' had their logs sayved the first 3'ear by the thousand. In the fall of 1881 the3' purchased the sjiyv mill at the foot of Fourth ay'cnue northeast on the river bank, knoyvn as the Rollins mill. This mill had been built in 1871 by Capt. John Rollins, and after chang- itig hands sevei'al times became the prop¬ erty of F. P. Clark in 1873. He operated it for several years and sold it to T. A. Harrison, who owned it at the time of its purchase by Nelson, Tenney & Co. On January 1, 1883, H. B. Frye became a member of the firm of Nelson, Tenney & Co., and in 1887 Mr. Hugh McNair retired from the firm and W. F. Brooks became a member, the firm name remain¬ ing the same. Messrs. Nelson, Tenney & Co. have continued to be extensive man¬ ufacturers of lumber until the present time, and still operate their mill, having added considerable to its original dimen¬ sions. They also own and operate a large number of retail lumber yards on the line of the Alinneapolis & St. Louis R. R. During the winter of 1891-2 they purchased the Clough Bros. & Kil¬ gore mill, adjoining, and will operate it in connection with their old mill, which makes their saw mill capacity the larg¬ est of any firm in Alinneapolis.

In 1880, also, the Northern Mill Co., incorporated, and built a large saw mill on the river bank at Thirty-second ave¬ nue north. Since the completion of the mill the company has operated it at full capacity during the sawing season. In 1890 Alessrs. Glass and McEwen, who had been large dealers in lumber, having their logs sawed by the thousand, con¬ solidated their business with that of the Northern Alill Co., and the new concern continues to operate the mill. The offi¬ cers of the company'- are as follows: W. B. Ransom, president ; J. E. Glass, vicepresident; Ray W. Jones, secretary and treasurer. They are doing a large and growing business.

During the same year Alessrs M. A. Richardson, H. H. Smith, N. G. Leighton and W. S. Benton built a saw mill be¬ tween Seventeenth and Eighteenth ave¬ nues north, and named it the Diamond mill. Mr. Benton sold out to his part¬ ners the following winter, and Mr. Leigh¬ ton sold out two years later, and the firm became Smith & Richardson, and they have since operated the Diamond mill, sawing logs for other parties by the thousand.

Beede & Bray built a saw mill on the east side just south of Plymouth avenue bridge during the year of 1882. They operated it until 1886 when the mill was closed up by the creditors of the firm and stood idle for a year when it was oper¬ ated by the thousand for different part¬ ies until 1889, and then sold to E. W. Backus & Co., who continue to operate the mill. This firm was formerly Lee & Backus and had its logs sawed by the thousand. Mr. Lee retired in 1888 and the firm name became E. W. Backus & Co., and the3' are among the large man¬ ufacturers of lumber in Minneapolis.

In 1880 Alinneapolis had risen to the third place among the lumber producing cities of the United States. The value of her saw mill products in that year was $2,740,848. Ten years later this value was tripled and Minneapolis was in first place with products exceeding by over $2,000,000 those of the next city in rank. This remarkable advance is shown in the accompanying table:

Lumber Products Of Six Leading Cities

The above figures do not inelude a large quantity of forest produets which should properly be credited to the lumber interests of Minneapolis. In 1890 the value of telegra])h poles, fence posts, rail¬ way ties, and piling, manufactui'ed by Minneapolis concerns, reached $630,837. This would swell the total lumber busi¬ ness of the year to the handsome figure of $7,215,293.

Among the many firms that had been prominent in the manufacture of lumber in Alinneapolis previous to 1880, and have before or since that date retired from the lumber business, may be men¬ tioned W. S. Judd & Co., who did a large business from 1865 to 1875; the John Alartin Lumber Co , Leavett, Chase & Co., Todd & Haven, D. C. Haven & Co., W. D. Washburn & Co., the Washburn Alill Co., Crooker Bros. & Lamoreaux, D. Alorrison, Alorrison Bros., Todd, Gorton & Co., Pomeroy, Bates & Co., D. W. Marr, Bedford, Boyce & Baker, W. E. Jones & Co., Fletcher Bros., The C. H. Ruddock Lumber Co., Butler & Walker, Tuttle & Lane, Levi Butler, Cole & Hammond, F. P. Clark, F. G. Alayo, Lovejoy Bros., J. Dean & Co., Camp & Walker, Capt. John Rollins, H. T. Welles, Ankeny, Robinson & Pettit, Pettit, Rob¬ inson & Co., Ankeny & Newton, Farnham & Lovejo}^ Cole & Weeks, Goodnow & Hawle\^ James Goodnow and Smith & Wyman. All of whom contrib¬ uted their ])art to the growth and exten¬ sion of the lumber business in Alinneapolis.

Leighton built the Plymouth Saw Alill at the west end of Phunouth avenue bridge. He operated it for three \'ears when he leased it to F. S. Stevens. In 1887 Alerriman, Barrows & Co. bought a half interest in the Alill. On September 1st, 1890, the mill was destro3'ed by fire, but was immediateh' rebuilt. The mill is still leased and operated by F. S. Stevens, who saws Iw the thousand for other parties.

The lumber manufacturers of Alinneapolis have not been much inclined to an organization of their interests. Desult¬ ory meetings have been held from time to time since the beginning of the manu¬ facture of lumber at the Falls of St. Anthony, but in 1882 the lumber manu¬ facturers met and organized the Minne¬ apolis Lumber Exchange. J. B. Bassett was elected president and B. F. Nelson, secretary'. These officers seem to have given satisfaction to the lumbermen, as there has been no change since that da}'. The Lumber Exchange is a ver}' infor¬ mal organization. It has no special da}' fixed for its meetings ; has no directors and no treasurer, and the secretary keeps no minutes of its proceedings. Undovdjtedly,as the lumber business is so rapidly expanding in this city the lumbermen will soon see the need of a more com¬ plete organization, and the present Alinneapolis Lumber Exchange will serve as a nucleus around which to gather it.

In 1883 Air. T. B. Walker, desiring to utilize his })ine in the northern ])art of the state and tributary to the Red River of the North, organized the Red River Lumber Co., and took his son, Gilbert AI. Walker, into partnership. They built a large mill at Crookston, Alinn., on the Red Lake River, and one at Grand Forks. N. D., on the Red River of the North. These mills have been in constant opera¬ tion during the sawing season and arc managed by Gilbert AI. Walker, the bus-

In Jnne, 1886, the Hall & Ducey Lum¬ ber Co. was incorporated. The original members of the company being S. C. Hall, P. A. Ducey, Thos. H. Shevlin and H. C. Clark. The first year the company did business, its logs were sawed at the Camp & Walker mill, at the foot of First avenue north, but the following winter it built a first class saw mill on the site of the old Moffit mill at the foot of Fifth avenue north on the river bank. In 1887 Mr. Ducey sold his interest in the com¬ pany to the other partners at which time G. A. R. Simpson became a stockholder.

On August 3d, 1888, Mr. S. C. Hall died, and his part of the stock went to his heirs'. Since his death the business has been eonducted by the surviving stockholders, Messrs Shevlin, Clark & Simpson, who have always been the ac¬ tive managers of the corporation.

On February 11th, 1889, the H. C. Akele^^ Lumber Co. was incorporated and the following board of directors was elected: H. C. Akeley,Ray W. Jones and F. S. Farr, of Minneapolis; C. H. Hackley and Thomas Hume, of Muskegon, Mich. H. C. Akeley was elected presi¬ dent, Thomas Hume, viee-president, and Ray W. Jones, secretary and treasurer. The company operates a large saw mill in North Minneapolis at full eapacity, during the sawing season, as can be seen from the seasons cut of 1891. The Ake¬ ley mill having the honor of sawing more lumber than any other saw mill in Min¬ neapolis; the cut being 61,620,318 feet of lumber, besides shingles and lath.

Smith & Kurrigan own a shingle mill on the east side near PHmouth avenue bridge, which they operate for other parties, sawing by the thousand; and J. B. Chatterton, who owns a smallmillat the east end of Plymouth avenue bridge, operates it in sawing cedar posts. The

Several firms in Minneapolis have been large operators in lumber lor many years without owning mills, but instead, have had their logs sawed by the thous¬ and. Perhaps the most prominent of these is N. P. Clarke & Co., who are large manufacturers in this way, their lumber cut being among the largest in the city. The firm began to operate in Minneapolis in 1875, and at that time the firm narne was Clarke & McClure, but Mr. McClure died in 1885, and F. H. Clarke succeeded him in the business, and the firm name was changed to N. P. Clarke & Co., with Mr. F. H. Clarke as manager.

Among other operators in lumber, who have their logs sawed by the thous¬ and, are H. F. Brown (who has been a large operator for many years); Jesse G. Jones, W. S. Hill & Co., W. W. Johnson, Carpenter Bros. & Co., and also John Dudley, who has his logs sawed outside of Minneapolis. And in hardwood lum¬ ber the following dealers have their stock cut outside of the eit3^: W. C. Bailey, H. A. Bennett and Boyce Bros. & Co. Many other firms are engaged in logging or in jobbing lumber in Minneapolis, but as thej'- do not manufacture lumber they cannot be appropriately mentioned here bj^ name.

Jesse G. Jones. The flow of emigra¬ tion from New England to Minneapolis of the season of 1856, brought D. Y. Jones with his family. There were three sons, Jesse G., Stephen H.and George E., who with their father became identified with the interests of the growing town. They had removed from Washington County, Maine, where the father had been engaged in agriculture. They traced

Jesse G. Jones is the second son. He was born March 14, 1839, and had aided in the labors of the farm and attended the common school of the neighborhood. After reaching Alinneapolis, at the age of seventeen, he en¬ tered the public school and attended for two 3"ears, completing the course of in¬ struction then afforded here.

D. Y. Jones established himself in bus¬ iness, opening a store on the east side of what was then known as Bridge Scpiare, for the sale of clothing, boots and shoes, and some staple articles of merchandise. The City Hall and Center block were not then built, and the whole area between Nicollet and Hennepin ave¬ nues from the suspension bridge to the site of the Nicollet house was an open space. The sons assisted their father in the store, and Jesse soon became inter¬ ested in it, under the stjde of D. Y. Jones & Co. On the 10th of June, 1860, a con¬ flagration swept awa3' the entire block from First to Second streets, where the store of the Jones' was situated, entail¬ ing a serious loss upon the occupants and consuming the chief business estab¬ lishments of the town. The Jones firm rebuilt their store in a more permanent st3de, erecting the first stone building in the town. The business was continued for man3' 3'ears and occu])ied the atten¬ tion of Jesse until he entered the militar3" service.

During the summer of 1861 public attention in Minneapolis was engrossed, as was the case throughout the countr3-, with militar3' prejiarations. Regiment after regiment was recruited, drilled and marched to the seat of war. The 3'oung men, penetrated with the patriotic spirit, volunteered, and Jesse Jones was among those who freelv offered themselves for the country's service. He enlisted and was mustered into Company A, of the 'Third Regiment of Minnesota Infanti'v, on the 27th day of September, 1861. Heniw A. Lester, a captain in the cele¬ brated First Regiment, was ccdonel of the regiment and Wm. W. Webster captain of Companv A. Air. Jones was made, corporal and two 3'ears later was promoted to be commissaiw sargeant. The regiment was assigned to dut3^ in Tennessee and Kentuck3', and was engaged in guarding the railwa3's, and in conflicts with the guerillas. In July, 1862, the regiment was surrendered to the guerilla chief, Gen. Forrest, at Alurfreesboro, Tam., and soon after¬ ward the privates and subalterns were parolled and were returned to Alinnesota. Hardlv had the3" reached the state when the Indian outbreak called them into ser¬ vice, as veterans. The3' bore the brunt of the battle of Wood Lake, on the upper Alinnesota, which occurred Sep¬ tember 23, 1862, in which the power of the savage foe was broken. In this en¬ gagement Air. Jones was severeW wound¬ ed, but had sufficients^ recovered to ac¬ company the regiment on its return to the South in the following Januar3'. From this time until his discharge. Sept. 16, 1865, at the close of the war, he par¬ ticipated in the marches, the struggles, and the victories of his noble regiment, now passed to the command of Col. C. C. Andrews. The nature of these will be recalled at the mention of the names of Fort Henr3', Donelson, Vicksburg, Little Rock and Fitzhugh's Woods.

On his return. Air. Jones found his health serioush' impaired, but a 3'ear devoted to nursing, with the aid of the invigorating atmosphere of Alinnesota, restored him in such a degree that he resumed his place in the store, and took up the business which had been so long interrupted, but which nevertheless had been continued 1)3' his father.

The next year, 1867, Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Miss Annie Al., second daughter of William M. Harri¬ son. He purchased three lots at the cor¬ ner of Tenth street and First avenue south, then far out of the town, where he erected a residence and has made his home to the present time. The house was burned in 1879, but was immedi¬ ately rebuilt. It is one of the pleasant and inviting residences of a beautiful street, in a city noted for the beauty and elegance of its homes.

In the fall of this year a ticket was made up for the public offices, irrespective of party, called the 'Soldiers' ticket, though in fact it was run in opposition to the regularly nominated candidates of the Republican party. Mr. Jones was put upon this ticket as candidate for County Treasurer, and was elected to the office, which had now become one of importance and no small responsibility. He was re-elected two years later, hold¬ ing the office for four years.

Mr. Jones, always prudent and saga¬ cious in business affairs, invested a por¬ tion of his increasing means in real estate, which, through the phenominal increase in values in a town growing during his active life from a thousand to more than two hundred thousand of population, has brought him large profits. He also obtained from time to time timbered land throughout the region of the upper Mississippi. About 1873 he engaged in the lumber business, which he has since carried on, at times on a large scale. He did not build a saw mill, but cutting or hiring cut the timber from his own lands, he had it sawed at merchant mills, and opened a lumber yard, and engaged in yarding, drying, sorting and selling his own lumber.

are foremost in charitable work as well as literar3^ and artistic culture. Mrs. Jones' mother, the late widow of Wm. M. Harrison endowed liberally the Home of the Ladies Christian Association, also Northwestern Hospital, so that the^' fall naturally into a line of be¬ nevolent work. They havetwo children, a daughter, the wife of Mr. John Nichol¬ son, and William Harrison Jones.

The familv" are attached to the West¬ minster Presbyterian church. Mr. Jones is an - honoary member of Hennepin Lodge No. 4, A. O. F. M. He is a life member of the Young Men's Christian Association, in whose enterprise of erect¬ ing the magnificent building on Tenth street, he took great interest, and toward the cost of which he was a liberal con¬ tributor.

It goes without saying that one who carried a musket through the battle fields of the Rebellion, would be active in the work and organization of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Without brilliant qualities, which lift some men to notice and favor in profes¬ sional and official life, Mr. Jones possesses persistent industry, integrity of charac¬ ter, and a courteous and friendly bearing, which have made him an honored citizen, and a sincere and attached friend.

The development of the lumber inter¬ ests of Minneapolis is nowhere better shown in condensed form than in the fol¬ lowing table of the "yearly cut'' since the beginning of activity in 1870. It will be observed that the advance has not been regular. After reaching two hundred millions feet in 1876 the pro¬ duction dropped ofl' and did not pass the two hundred point again until 1881. During the following year over three hundred and fourteen millions feet were cut; but this point was not reached again until 1888. These fluetuations were due to various causes. In some years the supply of logs was small, and in others, late springs and early winters cut short the sawing season. But the steady inerease of the average eut is significant:

The growth of the lumber interest in Minneapolis is also well shown by the following eomparative statement show¬ ing totals of eapital invested and value of production for the census years of 1880 and 1890, by the principal white pine lumber producing points in the United States:

Minneapolis has quadrujjled her eaj)ital in the ten years, advaneing from third to first place in this respect as in the total value of i)roducts.

In the above table, eompiled from the report of the eleventh census, Alinneajjolis is eredited with only 325,629,000 feet as the lumber eut of 1890, while in fact the amount sawed was 344,574,362 feet. During the year 1891 over one hundred million or more feet of lumber were eut, an aeeomplishment which jdaces the city much further in the advance of all compettitors. Thegreat lumber cut of 1891 was distributed among the local mills as follow :

In early days the Minneapolis lumber¬ men were mostl}' from Maine. This was true of the rank and file emi)loyed in the mills and in the woods, as well as of the manufaeturers themselves, and it is said that to have eome from Maine was a

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLISsvire passport to a job in the mills or on the drive. Through this peculiar lo3'alt\^ to state, quite a rivalry' gi'ew up among the earW settlers, and an occasional fistic encounter among the laborers was by no means uncommon. Maine was sarcastically alltided to as the "State of Bangor," and the sons of Maine were called Maineites; but the men from Maine soon learned to know that other states iDroduced good men, and the men from other states soon learned to appre¬ ciate and copy the good qvialities of the sturdy New Englanders, until all rivalry has died out and the accusation of par¬ tiality is no longer made.

The business ol logging on the upper Mississippi River and its tributaries, which is necessai'ily preliminary to the manufacture of lumber at Minneapolis, is conducted not only br' the lumber manufacturers but bv a large number of pine land owners, and practical loggers as well, located at Minneapolis. The men emplo3'ed at the saw mills in sum¬ mer, work for the loggers in winter, and the busy hum of the mill is exchanged for the merry ring of the woodsman's ax, and the pleasures of home life for the wear3' round of the logging camp, with its accompan3dng baked beans and salt pork, and an occasional song or stor3" to relieve the tedium of the winter eve¬ nings. In the spring the camp is ex¬ changed for the wanagan and the drive comes down with the spring floods, and with the drive, the loggers. The wana¬ gan is banked for the season, and the manufacturer again becomes the center of attraction for the red shirted lumber¬ men. Many of our most prominent manttfacturers made their first money at logging, and although they have now exchanged the flannel shirts and heav3" boots of the logging camp and drive, for

The writer is indebted to the Mississippi Valley Lumberman for the use of its tiles in the compilation of statistics relating to the manufacture of lumber at Minneapolis.

the attire more appropriate to their in¬ creased wealth, and the amenities of city life, 3'et the3'- look .back with pride and pleasure to the days spent among the | fragrant pines of the Minnesota forests.

The methods of sawing and handling lumber have greatW changed within the last twent3"-flve years. The railroad has done away with the sluice wa3" and the Mississippi river raft. The gang saw drove out the old-fashioned up and down saw. The "nigger" and the live rolls save a large amount of lifting and carrving; even the motive power has changed, and now steam is the rule, and water the exception ; the great waste of material has been stopped, and the lum¬ ber is sawed thin. Thin saws are used also, the slabs and edgings are sold for fuel, and the sawdust is used to generate steam for power; and yet the enterpris¬ ing lumberman is not satisfled, but util¬ izes every new invention to improve his business, and he deserves to succeed.

Flour Manufacturers

The manufacture of flour in Minneap¬ olis, which has grown to such propor¬ tions as to far outstrip lumber in the value of the manufactured product, also had its birth on the St. Anthon3' side of the river.

With the exception of the old govern¬ ment mill, the first mill erected in Min¬ neapolis for grinding grain was built by Richard Rogers, and was completed in Ma3q 1851, and had one run of stone. The site of the mill was on the St. Anthon3' side of the river, between First and Second avenues southeast. The mill was onl3"a grist mill, but it was the first at the Falls of St. Anthony really worth3" of the name. In 1852 Mr. Rogers, with Mr. Franklin Steele as a partner, added another run of stone, which was used exclusively for grinding flour for local consumption. The mill was supplied with water power from Mr. Steele's new

In the spring of 1854 Franklin Steele told J. W. Eastman, who had just ar¬ rived from New Hampshire, that he would lease him a mill site on Hennepin Island for a nominal sum, providing he wotdd settle the dispute between Dr. Kingsle\' and himself, as to the owner¬ ship of the island, both elaiming title 1)3' pre-emption. After considerable nego¬ tiation Mr. Eastman settled the diffi¬ culty, 1)3' getting the parties to the dis¬ pute to consent to a division of the Island between them. Mr. Steele taking the easterU' half and Dr. Kingsle3' the westerh' half. Mr. Eastman associated with him Capt. John Rollins and R. I^. Upton, and Mr. Steele leased them a water power, for twent3' 3'ears, at the nominal rate of $200 per 3'ear, the3' to have all the water the3' wanted for a five run mill. The3' proceeded at once to build a flouring mill on a site located near the lower end of Hennepin Island, and on the east side of the island. The logs not having come down the 3'ear befoi'e, they had to send up river and have the timber cut, hewed, and floated down to St. Anthon3'. The3'sent to Pittsburgh and Buffalo for the machineiw. At that time there was not a complete foundry or machine shop in the territor3' of Min¬ nesota. After the mill was completed, Mr. W. W. Eastman became a part¬ ner in the firm, and the firm name became Rollins, Eastman and Ui)ton, and thev christened their mill "The Minnesota.'' They built a sluiceway up to Mr. Steele's dam, to conve3' the water to their flume. The mill was 40 1)3' 60 feet in size, and three stories high, besides the basement. It had five run of stone. At that time but little wheat was raised in Minnesota, and the ])roprietors procured their main supph' from Iowa and Wisconsin, con¬ siderable being hauled over 100 miles bv the farmers in lumber wagons, and the balance was brought up the Mississip])i River in boats. The mill was started in October, 1854, and was a pa3'ing invest¬ ment from the beginning; costing $16,- 000 when completed, and it cleared $24,000 the first year.

The first flour ever shipped to the east¬ ern markets was shipped from this mill in 1858, as previous to that date an abundant market was found in Minne¬ sota and Wisconsin. The freight on that shipment of flour amounted to $2.25 per 1)1)1., which is quite an excess over present rates of freight. In later 3'ears the capacit3' of the mill was increased, and it changed proprietors also, Capt. John Rollins retiring in 1857, and W. W. Eastman retiring in 1858. W. F. Cahill became a partner in 1863, Mr. Upton retiring from the firm. The mill was then rebuilt, and its name changed to the "Island Mill,'' and under that name its product attained quite a reputation in the eastern markets. Maj. Morrill became part owner of the mill in 1868, and in 1870 the mill was partialh' destro3'ed by the washout caused 1)3' the Eastman tunnel under Hennepin Island ; but it was repaired at once. Immediatel3' after repairing the mill Messrs. Eastman & Morrill sold it to Edward Brown and Harmon Martin, who oper¬ ated it under the firm name of Brown & Martin until it was destroyed 1)3' fire on March 5th, 1872. The building of this mill marked an epoch in the histoiw of Minneapolis, as the histoiw of flour man¬ ufacturing commenced at that date, and the energ3' and enterprise manifested bv the builders and ])rojcetors under such verv discouraging circumstances is wor¬ thy of eommendation.

What a result has been achieved from this modest beginning. Messrs. Rollins, Eastman & U])ton little thought that thev were the pioneers in establishing an industry at the Falls of St. Antlion\", which would, in a few years, make the recently named City of Minneapolis fa¬ mous the world over. As they ground their grist and received the honest mil¬ ler's toll, they could have seen, with the vision of a seer, the growth and exten¬ sion of their dust3" traffic, until tower¬ ing mills arose on ever^" side, furnishingemployment to thousands of men, rvith scores of rushing trains bringing the amber grain "to grist" from tributaryfields, while other scores of trains sped out to cany the manufactured product to ever^^ land and clime, until Adinneapolis had become the greatest flonr man¬ ufacturing citr^ of the world.

In 1856 Prescott & Morrison built a grist mill on Hennepin Island, just above the Minnesota Mill. It was located just at the end of the bridge, crossing from Third avenue southeast to Hennepin Is¬ land, and was run until 1872, when it was destro\"ed by fire on March 5th of that year. This was the second grist mill built on the east side, and was first named theRiver Mill, but afterward was called the I'armer's Mill.

William Wallace Eastman was a New Hampshire boy, born Februar}^ 6, 1827, at Conwa\L under the shadow of old Keersarge, and within view of the towering peak of Mount Washington. The town, on the upper waters of the Saco, is famed for beautiful scener3% and is a favorite resort for artists, as well as a popular summer resort. It is one of those rugged nurseries of men of energy" and self reliance, who, emigrating to the cities and the broader fields of the West, by enterprise and industr3" have laid the foundations of states and built up cities. His father was William K. Eastman, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of that place. He was a merchant, a tiller of the soil, a manufacturer of paper, and for a term was sheriff of the county. William K. Eastman removed to Minne¬ apolis in the later years of his life, and died a few 3^ears since at the advanced age of ninet3'-three 3'ears. The sons grew to manhood amid the mountains, nourished to strength and agilit3'^ by the pure air and wholesome fare, and cultivated into finer manners and more gentle spirit ly contact with artists and sojourners who brought the refinement and exhibited the elegancies of cultured communities.

Young Eastman, as he grew up, was emplo3'ed in his father's paper mill. He varied the monoton3" of life b3' driving stage among the mountains, and made a trip to California, but was not sufficienth' attracted 1)3'^ life on the coast to settle there.

Air. Eastman took up his residence in St. Anthony in 1854, where his brother John and a sister. Airs. D. A. Secombe, had alread3^ settled. About the time of his arrival, his brother, with Capt. Rol¬ lins and R. P. Upton, had commenced the erection of a large flouring mill on Hennepin Island, William W. Eastman joined the enterprise. Except the old government mill built on the west side in 1821, for the use of the militaiy post, this was the pioneer of the immense mill¬ ing business which has made Minneapolis famous throughout the world. The mill continued in successful operation until, after passing into other hands, it was destroyed ly fire.

As soon as the dam of the Alinneapolis Alill Compan3' was completed, and the canal so far excavated as to furnish water for hydraulic power. Air. Eastman, in connection with Mr. Paris Gibson, with whom he formed a business partner¬ ship, erected upon it, on the north side of Cataract street, a fine stone mill, with five run of buhrs, which the3' christened " Cataract Mills." Here was ground the first flour that found its wa3' to eastern markets. It was not "patent" fionr, but a sound, strong flour, made from the " liard " spring wheat of the region, and though dark in color, was much sought h}' bakers for its superior strength. The mill still stands, and furnished with machinery for the new process, is turning out its quota of flour, underthe manage¬ ment of E. R. Barber.

When the Cataract mill had been put into successful operation, Messrs. East¬ man and Gibson built a woolen factory at the Falls. A tunnel led the water from the canal to the mill, the first one constructed here, which was the means of great extension of the water power of the falls. It became famous for the ex¬ cellence of its blankets, which were ex¬ hibited in competition with the best makes, both foreign and domestic, and invariably took first premium. The mill made cloth and flannels as well, all of excellent quality. The North Star Woolen Mills are the successors of this pioneer mill, occuptdng the same premises built by Mr. Eastman. Mr. Eastman built the first paper mill on the East Side in 1860. It was his old trade. He also built the Anchor mill, the largest then in the cit3', having twelve runs of 4V2 feet stones, now one of the Pillsbur3' plant.

The pioneers of Minneapolis were largely engaged in lumbering. Men from the Kennebec and the Penobscot were alread3' swamping roads among the tall ])ines of Rum river and the Mississipi)i. Spring floods filled the booms, and mills were shrieking as their revolving saws tore through the monster logs. It was impossible for a New England bo3' to overlook so inviting a field for business and enterprise. So Mr. Eastman fol¬ lowed the Lovejo3'S and Morrisons, the Rollins and Marrs, and was soon en¬ gaged in the fascinating business. For manv 3'ears he has been connected with lumberingenterprises, chiefl3' as Eastman

For man3' years Nicollet island re¬ mained a wooded gem interposed be¬ tween the rapid I3' growing east and west divisions of the cit3'. It rose In' a gentle ascent to a rounded central summit, and was covered with tall maples. Save the highwa3', which connected the bridges across the two branches of the river; its native S3'mmetr3' was untouched. It was esteemed too valuable for cultivation and 3'et was not demanded for improve¬ ment. Mr. Eastman's e3'e was captiv¬ ated, whether b3'its beaut3' or its adapt¬ ation to practical uses, did not then appear, but he negotiated for its pur¬ chase, and, aided b3Mwo or three friends who took interests with him, the3' be¬ came its owner. The up])er and most beautiful part of the island was offered to the cit3' on reasonalile terms for a public park, but was declined.

Air. Eastman had always manifested great faith in water power. He had studied its problems on the banks of the Saco, among the mountain torrents. He appreciated the almost exhaustless power which glided unused over the smooth ledge of the river's bed, and thought out a plan to utilize the new purchase, Iw creating vast mill sites. The scheme was a promising one. Everv known condition favored its success. It was to excavate a tunnel in the soft sand rock from below the falls, underneath the island; then bv racewavs, leading from the river above, the water could be conducted to water wheels set at the tunnel level, which would serve as a tail race for the spent water. Thus the hdl head of the heighth of the tails, some fort3' feet, more or less, would be made available. The St. Authonv I'alls Water Power Compan3' favored the plan and executed a lease of the reapiired water. The tunnel was commenced and extended from below several hundred feet, when, alas, for the stabilit^^ of the best human calculations ! A subter¬ ranean water course in the sand rock was encountered, which, leading from the river above by undiscovered chan¬ nels, gave way - the tunnel collapsed, and the current of the mighty Mis¬ sissippi began to enter, and threat¬ ened to make the tiinnel its channel. Mills in its course were swept away and the greatest consternation spread among the people. To stop the gap was made a common cause, and by the most energetic efforts a temporar3^ barrier was interposed. Of course, the h3nlraulic scheme collapsed with the tunnel. But in the end the accident was a blessing in disguise. It disclosed the weakness of the barrier to the falls, and led to the construction by the government of a stone dyke underneath the ledge from bank to bank of the- river, which has effectually and permanently secured the falls from any like injury. The plan of this work was suggested to the govern¬ ment engineer by Mr. Eastman. In con¬ structing it other hidden water courses were uncovered, which, but for the timely discovery, would have destiaycd the falls.

The scheme for immediately utilizing the island had failed, but the ingenuit3' and enterprise of its principal owner eventually accomplished it. The island was found to be underneath the soil a solid stone quarry. This was opened and soon was constructed a long row of shops upon the lower part of the i.sland, supplied with motive power from the falls, which were leased to various maniffacturers. Long lines of tenement blocks were built from the same solid material, and filled with families. Mr. Eastman himself erected sixty houses on the island from stone quarried from the spot. The upper part of the island was laid out and platted, and Mr. Eastman led off in its improvement by erecting upon the highest knoll a fine dwelling house for the use of his own family. Others followed him, and now the upper part of the island is one of the most desir¬ able and beautiful quarters of the cit3% while the connecting street is compara¬ tively lined with business houses. Mr. Eastman organized the company which built the Syndicate block, and had charge of its erection. It is the largest building of its kind in the United States. He also built on his own account the Eastman block, on Nicollet avenue.

A taste for catering to touidsts and health seekers seems to have survived from Mr. Eastman's bo3diood. At the opening of the Nicollet house, in 1858, he officiated as one of the vice-presidents, and graced the occasion with a speech - one of the few attributed to him. In recent 3'ears he has erected a magnificent hotel at Hot Springs, Arkansas, supply¬ ing a much needed facility to those who for health or pleasure visit that popular resort. The "Eastman" is one of the largest and best ec[uipped inthecountr3", classed with the Coronado at San Diego, and the Ponce de Leon at Jacksonville.

When the Northern Pacific railroad was begun, Mr. Eastman joined with other prominent citizens of Minneapolis in a construction company which built the first section of that road, extending from the St. Louis river through Minne¬ sota to the north.

He has been the projector of man3'enterprizes of a minor character, affecting favorably the growth of the cit3q and has likewise been connected with others in building up its varied industries. His life has been a bus3' one. His restle.ss energies have found vent in incessant

His phvsique is spare; his tempera¬ ment nervous ; eu rt and incisive in speech, he sometimes seems abrupt, but iu truth is a pleasant and agreeable companion, a hospitable host, a liberal citizen, and generous friend.

Mr. Eastman married Miss Susan R. Lovejo}', of Conway, in 1855. His famil3" consists of an onl^' son, Frederick \V. Eastman, married and established in business in Minneapolis. An onH daugh¬ ter, married to A. C. Loring, died in earl\^ motherhood. An infant daughter died in 1874.

In later 3'ears he has laid off the bur¬ dens of new enteiqu'izes, attending to his large private interests, and passingmuch time in travel. Mr. and Mrs. Eastman have always borne a conspicuous part in the social life of the cit}". Their ele¬ gant home on Nicollet Island is often opened for social entertainment, and is a center of cordial hospitality'. They are prominent members of the Church of the Redeemer, and liberal supporters of its religious and charitable work.

We are again indebted to W. W. East¬ man for pioneer work in the line of mer¬ chant milling. After leaving the Minne¬ sota Mill, he was not long idle, but in 1859 he associated with him Air. Paris Gibson, recently of the State of Alaine, under the firm name of Eastman & Gib¬ son, and proceeded to build the Catar¬ act Mill, located at the corner of First street and Sixth avenue south, or Cat¬ aract street. This was the first flour mill built on the west side of the river, and, as such, its entire history will be inteseresting. The mill was originallv built two stories high, and contained four run of stone. Alessrs. Eastman and Gibson started the mill immediateU' upon its completion, and continued to run it until 1864, when W. S. Judd, Geo. A. Brackett and John Ue Laittre wei'c associated with them under the firm name of Erstman, Gibson &; Co., and the firm thus composed eommeneed at once to erect the woolen mills known as the North Star Alill. After completing the woolen mills, the firm was divided, Messrs. Eastman, Gibson & De Laittre taking the woolen mills as their part of the business, and Messrs. Jiidd & Brack¬ ett taking the Cataract I^lour Alill.

The Cataract Alill is now considered a small mill, but the newspapers of Alinneapolis evidently' considered it quite wonderful in that day', by the way the "enormous capacity'' and "four enor¬ mous stones'' are I'eferred to in the fol¬ lowing article published in the Alinneapolis Chronicle in 1865, under the head of

Flock .Mills

"The celebrated ' Cataract Mill' of Eastman, Cibson & Co. has been in operation all winter and is the mill of the Northwest. Since the close of navigation the four enormous mill stones have been steadily revolving, and a iiroduet of 20,000 barrels was the result to May 1st. To enclose this enormous (juantity of flour the cooper shops connected with the mill have been steadily at work all winter, turning out 325 barrels a day, and emploj'ing nearly forty men. Long lines of wagons and teams stand constantly before the great re¬ ceiving wheat bin, and as fast as one farmer has discharged his load another is reuub' to take his turn. The superior (pialitj' of wheat raised in the region of Hennepin county has given the 'Cata¬ ract ' brand of flour a great reputation in the state and abroad."

Judd & Brackett operated the mill until 1867, when Air. Judd retired from the firm and Geo. A. Brackett run it for one year alone. He then sold the mill to Commodore Davidson, of St. Paul, who leased it W. AI. Brackett. Air. Brackett operated it until the fall of 1869, when the mill was sold by Commodore Davidson to D. R. Ikirber, of AIinnea])olis. On Alay' 17, 1871, Alt. Barber leased it to his son-in-law, J. Welles

Gardner, who operated the mill nntil September 1st, 1873, at which date Mr. Gardner formed a partnership with Mr. Barber, under the firm name of Gardner & Barber. They continued to operate the mill until the death of Mr. Gardner, which occurred in May, 1876. After Mr. Gardner's death Mr. Barber took his son into the firm, and the firm name became D. R. Barber & Son. The capa¬ city of the mill was immediately in¬ creased, and two more stories were ad¬ ded. D. R. Barber died in a few years thereafter, and the mill has since been run by Mr. E. R. Barber, but under the same firm name.

Daniel R. Barber. This early set¬ tler and respected citizen of Minneapolis sprang from the sturdy yeomanry of Ver¬ mont. His father was Roswell Barber, a farmer living on the shore of Lake Champlain, who traced his ances¬ try far back to colonial times. His mother was Aurelia Alarion Barber. Daniel R. was born at Benson, Rutland County, Vermont, Februar\' 14th, 1817. He was habituated in early years to la¬ bor on his father's farm, though given full opportunity to acquire the rudiments taught in the common schools. His studies were completed at the neighbor¬ ing seminary at Castleton. He aspired to a collegiate education, but was com¬ pelled to relinquish it through weakness ofthee3'es. He then turned his atten¬ tion to mercanLile life, and at the age of twenty-five found himself proprietor of the principal store in his native town. For the ten following years he conducted this business with such success that he was enabled to close it with a consider¬ able accumulated capital.

In the year, 1855, Mr. Barber made a trip throughout the Northwest, and se¬ lected the new settlement atSt. Anthonv Falls as his future home. Returning he made arrangements to remove, and in the following spring (1856) he brought his famiU" to their future home. Two children had come to the house in Ver¬ mont, Julia, afterwards married to Wel¬ les S. Gardner, and now wife of - Big¬ elow, and Edward R., now a leading miller at Alinneapolis. Mr. Barber at first associated himself in business with Carlos Wilcox, a young man also from the Green Mountain state. The firm en¬ gaged in the real estate business, and Air. Barber made use of his liberal fortune in loans and real estate investments, most of them probabh' forced upon him by the collapse of values succeeding the panic of 1857. But he also established a home, building a modest but comfortable dwell¬ ing house at the corner of Fourth and Helen streets, where the family lived for many years. It was a home of refine¬ ment and quiet domestic happiness. There was offered an unostentatious but cordial hospitalit3q and an example of the household virtues which impressed itself upon the social life of the commun¬ ity. Airs. Barber was a lady of unusual sweetness of character, of pleasing man¬ ners, and active in all the ways of hospitalit3^ and charit3L

They attached themselves to the Pl3'- mouth Congregational Church, of which Air. Barber was for man3^ years deacon, and entered into all the unpretentious but fruitful work of building up the re¬ ligious and social interests of the communit3'.

Air. Barber made no haste to enter into business after the subsidence of the panic. He was cautious and conserva¬ tive, though by no means sordid nor il¬ liberal. He had some lands near the

At the election of 1861 he was eho.sen one of the county commissioners, and tlie same \"car was a])pointed assessor, an office which lie held in town and city for eleven 3'ears. He afterwards resumed mei'cantile pursuits, first conducting a grocery business, and afterwards a di'y goods store. In 1871 he purchased the Cataract flouring mill, the pioneer mill at the falls. After removing the ma¬ chinery, introducing the newest improve¬ ments in the process of manufacturing flour, he operated the mill, with his son-inlaw, J. Welles Gardner, who was a young man of much enterprise and spirit. After the death of Air. Gardner he introdueed his son, Edward R. Barber, into the bus¬ iness, which was continued with great energy through his life. The flour made at the Cataract mill took rank among the leading brands made at the "Flour Cit\'," and had a wide sale and good reputation. The conduct of the flour manufacturing business is an exacting occupation. The margin of profit is small, and the necessity of continuous ojicration urgent. It requires the use of large capital, and often calls for a liberal use of credit. The change in Mr. Bar¬ ber's habits, from the freedom of his semi-rural life, to the confinement of the office, with its anxieties and responsibil¬ ity, no doubt was unfavorable to his health. He was a robust man, and seemed to possess uncommon physical vigor, but in 1880 he was stricken with partial paralysis, which retired him from active business. The following years were devoted to efforts at restoration, during which all available means were tried in vain. He was not an acute suf¬ ferer. He had a ])leasant home, was the object of the tenderest care, enjoyed the symi)ath v of friends, and was able to go about the country, and even to partici¬ pate in social relations. But the nervous e{iuilibrium of his system was disturbed, and he gradually weakened, physical and mental vigor slowly decaying, until, on the 17th of April, 1886, he was released from the longsuspense, and j)assed peace¬ fully away, having nearly reached his three score and ten years of life.

Air. Barber had lived in Minneapolis for thirty years. During this period it had passed from a rural village to a bustling cit3\ To its growth and pros¬ perity he had contributed, according to his opportunit}' and abilit\\ He had activeh' engaged in its business and partiei])ated in its enterprises. He was not ambitious of fame or fortune. He was neither avaricious nor sordid. He was content to walk the medium path of industiw without pride or ostentation. He was firm in his principles, 'U])right in his conduct, irreproachable in his habits, kindh" and courteous in his intercourse, and above all kindh" and affectionate in his domestic life. While other lives have been more conspicuous in those qualities which attract public admiration, bolder in conception, and brilliant in execution, holding themselves in positions of office and power, before the admiring gaze of the public, none have been more salutaiw in its record of dut^' faithfiflly done, and in its example of an upright, virtuous and beneficent life.

The Cataract Alill attained consid¬ erable prestige as being the first mer¬ chant mill on the west side of the river. To the few inhabitants then living in Alinneapolis it seemed a great undertak¬ ing to build such a mill and, though the Cataract mill is now but a small mill beside the mammoth structures thatsurround it, yet there is no doubt but that taking into consideration the time at whicli it was built and the means at hand for putting up such a structure, it

From this beginning on the West Side the flouring mills soon began to multiply. The space permitted in this work is not sufficient to give a detailed history of each mill. A brief outline will be suffi¬ cient.

In regular order followed the Union mill which was built in 18G3 by Henry Gibson and operated by him alone for several years. Afterward by Gibson & Darrow, George A. Brackett, Hobart & Shuler,- Darrow & Dibble, W. I. McAffe and others. It still stands on First street fronting on the canal, and is now owned by the Minneapolis Fdour Manufactur¬ ing Company, but is not in operation as a mei'chant mill.

In 1864 Messrs. Frazee & Murphy built the Minneapolis Flour Mill, The mill was located fronting west on the canal between Sixth and Seventh avenues south. As originally built, the capacity of the mill was 250 barrels per day. In 1870 G. W. Crocker, C. A. Pillsbury & Co. and Welles Gardner bought and operated the mill under the firm name of Gardner, Pillsbury & Crocker. Their manage¬ ment was very successful from the be¬ ginning, until the mill burned in October, 1871. It was rebuilt at once and en¬ larged to 350 barrels per day. Mr. Gardner sold his interest to Woodbury Fisk soon after the mill was rebuilt, and the firm name was changed to Pillsbury, Crocker & Fisk, and so continued for several years, when C. A. Pillsbury & Co. sold out to Chas. W. Moore, and the firm name was changed to Crocker, Fisk & Co. On December, 4, 1881, a fire, origi¬ nating in the Pillsbury B mill, next ad¬ joining the Minneapolis mill on the south, communicated with and caused the mill to explode, killing three firemen who were endeavoring to quench the flames. In exploding the mill set Are to the Empire mill adjoining on the north, and as a result they were all destroyed, together with the Excelsior mill. The Minneapolis mill was rebuilt at once and its capacity increased to 600 barrels per day. Various changes and improve¬ ments have been made in the mill until its capacity is now rated at 1,500 barrels per day. In 1887 Mr. Chas. W. Moore sold his interest to in the mill to Louis W. Campbell, the Arm name remaining un¬ changed, and Mr. Campbell (who has had a large experience in the flour busi¬ ness) became manager, being assisted by Mr. W. G. Crocker, a son of George W. Ci'ocker, and representing his father's interests. In Januar}'-, 1889, Mr. Wood¬ bury Fisk died, and his heirs succeeded to his interest in the Minneapolis mill. The Arm is still styled Crocker, Fisk & Co. The biography of Geo. W. Crocker would practically be a history of the flour industry of Minneapolis, 'as he is undoubtedly the oldest practical miller now engaged in the business, havingbeen a miller in the old City mill about the time it was changed from the Gov¬ ernment mill, and he has progi'essed through all the stages of advancement from practical miller to proprietor.

George WashiiXGTox Crocker. The life of Mr. Crocker in Minneapolis illus¬ trates the growth of the flour millingbusiness from its beginning, in 1856, through all stages of its development to the present time, as he was connected with the first mill built on the West Side of the Falls of St. Anthony, and has continued without interruption in the business. It illustrates as well what habits of economy, industry and undi¬ vided attention to one pursuit through a generation will accomplish in gather¬ ing a competent fortune and surround¬ ing one's self udth the comforts of home and the delights of children bi'ed to sobriet3^ and industry.

George W. Crocker is a native of the town of Hermon, Penobscot county, Maine, where he was born in 1832. His parents were Asa and Matilda Crocker, who led an humble and simple style of life, cultivating a small farm and keeping an inn on the high road to Bangor. His mother being in feeble health, when a child of seven years he was taken into the family' of Mr. H. C. Warren, a farmer living in the town of Canaan, Somerset county. His mother dying a year after¬ wards, he continued with Mr. Warren for ten years, and until he started out for an independent life. These years were spent in labor on the farm, with short sessions at the district school through the winter months.

At the age of seventeen he left the farm to seek maintenance by his own exertion, and found employment at Providence, R. I., as a nurse in Biitler hospital, where he remained for three years. In the summer of 1852, when but twenty y'ears of age, he joined the pro¬ cession of emigrants which was moving to the Pacific coast in piirsuit of a tem¬ porary El Dorado. The route taken was theonly practicable one at that time, via the Isthmus of Panama, which involved a long and tedious sea voyage. Arrived in California he found his way to Mari¬ posa county, where he first engaged in mining in the rich pincers of the Merced^ then as clerk in a store, and finally in the management of a mercantile establish¬ ment. After thi'ee years, with a moder¬ ate accumulation of earnings, which might serve as a caifital instartingin the East, he I'eturned to the states by the same route by which he had gone out, and proceeding from his landing in New York to the Mississippi river at Dubuque, he took stage and came to Minneapolis, where he arrived in July, 1855. He was then a young man of twenty-three, and had already' an experience of six years in providing for himself, and had a moder¬ ate capital which his own industry had earned. Real estate and loans engaged his attention for the first two y'ears, at the end of which the former had become dull, and the latter, for the most part, uncollectable.

The old government mill at the west¬ erly end of the falls, having first been built by the garrison at Fort Snelling in 1822 and used for sawing lumber, and then for grinding grain, had been dis¬ used and had fallen into a forlorn and very dilapitated state. In 1854 Thomas H. Perkins had arrived here from western New York, and soon afterward secured the property and fitted it up for a grist mill, naming it the City' Mill. He put in two sets of buhrs - one for flour and one for feed. After putting the little mill in operation, he took Air. Smith Ferrand as a partner. Soon afterwai'ds Mr. Crocker purchased Mr. Ferrand's interest, and the firm of Perkins & Crocker was formed. The little mill was run on the primitive plan, grinding whatever grain was brought to it for toll, and supplying the little town with a part of its flour.

Mr. Crocker was not a miller, but he had a good share of Yankee ingenuity' and industry', and soon learned the rou¬ tine of the trade. He was no gentleman miller, but jiut on the dusty' garments of the practical miller, and shouldered the sacks of grain and bags of flour. The trade thus learned in the school of prac¬ tical experience has been pursued under many connections through all the steps of progressive improvement in the millingbusiness, and in the larger and better equipped mills, to the present time.

About 1865 the City Mill was sold to Bei'ry & Hughes, and Messrs. Rowland¬ son & Crocker built the Arctic mill. This was a stone mill, upon the canal of the Mill Company, and had a capacity of three hundred barrels per day.

In 1870 Mr. Crocker sold his interest in the Arctic and bought an interest in the Minneapolis mill, which had been erected by Frazee, Murphy & Co. upon the Mill Company's canal. This mill then had the same capacity as the one sold. It has burned twice, once in Octo¬ ber, 1871, and again in December, 1881. The mill was immediately rebuilt at both times. Its machinery was renewed upon the introduction of the new pro¬ cess, and it has always kept abreast in all the successive improvements in mill¬ ing. The capacity of this mill has been increased at various times until at pres¬ ent it turns out 1,500 bai'rels of flour a day. The flour from this mill has al¬ ways ranked among the leaders, and has always maintained the highest stand¬ ard. The leading brand, "Crocker's Best,'' has been on the market continu¬ ally for over twenty-two years, and is as well known in New England ns any flour made.

Since building the Arctic Mill, Mr. Crocker has been connected with the fol¬ lowing milling firms, and has been the practical miller in all of them : Perkins, Crocker & Co.; Perkins, Crocker & Tom¬ linson ; Crocker, Tomlinson & Co.; Gard¬ ner, Pillsbury & Crocker; Pillsbury, Crocker & Fisk, and Crocker, Fisk & Co. The latter is the style of the pres¬ ent milling firm, composed of Geo. W. Crocker, the estate of the late Woodbury Fisk and L. W. Campbell.

Thus for thirty-five years Mr. Crocker has been continuously in the milling busi¬ ness at Minneapolis, commencing with the first mill which ever turned a wheel in the state, and managing the first mill of any kind on the west bank of the river. His record as the first practical miller and the longest in the business, is one of which he may justly be proud.

The children are William G., engaged like his father in milling, and George A., who is in the drug business. William G. married Miss Mary Bull, daughter of the late B. S. Bull, and has for some time taken his father's place in the active management of the milling interests.

For some years past Mr. Crocker has laid off some of the bui'dens of business activity, as he has, by his close applica¬ tion, somewhat impaired his health, and finds it necessary to lead a quiet and more retired life.

George W. Crocker is in every sense of the word a self-made made man - widely respected for his reliability, honesty and uprightness of character, for his ability and energy. He has always been consid¬ ered a wise counselor and advisor in all business matters, and especially in the manufacture of flour, as he has always been thoroughly acquainted with the many details of that great industry.

In 1864 Stamwitz & Schober utilized the basement of Barnard Bros. & Shuey's furniture factory on the St. Anthony side of the river, in which to build a tworun mill known as the St. Anthony. They I'un it until 1871 when fire ended its existenee.

In 1865 Summit Mill was built below the Island Mill on Hennepin Island. It was built by Kausbe & Co. and was the last mill built on Hennepin Island and went down stream in the Eastman tun nel washout, in the spring of 1869.

Taylor Bros., of Pliiladcli)hia, })ut up the Alaska Mill in 1866. This was a very fine mill for that date, containing six run of stone, and attaining quite a reputation for its products. It after¬ ward became the projjerty of Gardner & rillshury, and in 1874 passed to Chas. A. Pillsbury & Co. and was named the PillshuryB Mill and is now the property of the Pillsbury -Washburn Flour Alill Co. This mill was desti'oyed by fire De¬ cember 4th, 1881, but was rebnilt at once with increased capacity.

The Arctic Mill was also built in 1866 by Geo. W. Crocker and Edwin Rowland¬ son ; the building fronting on the canal next below the Union Mill. In 1869 they sold out to Wm. Tomlinson and W. L. Tiffany. Air. Tomlinson soon sold his interest to W. H. Dunwoody. In 1874 the mill was sold to N. G. Elliot and P. B. Shuler. Mr. Elliot died soon after, and his interest was sold to J. W. Hobart and the firm became Hobart, Shuler & Elliott, then Hobart & Shuler. In 1879 the mill reverted to the North¬ western National Bank, who sold it to Geo. Hineline, W. G. Plank and S. H. Wheeler, who increased its capacity to 825 barrels per day and changed the name of the mill to the St. Anthoiu". After running it a few years they sold it to Samuel Moi'se and T. A. Sammis. Messi's. Alorse and Sammis increased the mill to 600 barrels capacity, and when the firms of Alorse & Sammis and I). Morrison & Co. consolidated Septem¬ ber 1st, 1889, under the name of the Minneapolis Flour Manufacturing Compan^q the St. Anthony Mill became ])art of its pro^jerU', and so remains.

Ex-Gov. C. C. Washburn, who owned a very large interest in the Minneapolis Mill Company had been interested in manufactures more or less since 1856. He had been a ])artnerwith D. Morrison in logging and lumbering, and concluded in 1866 to build a llouring mill and util¬ ize some of the mill company's water power. In accordance with that idea he jiroceeded to build what was afterward known as the Washburn B Mill. The building was erected at the corner of Second street and what is now Seventh avenue south. At the time it was built, it was the largest fiouring mill at the Falls of St. Anthony, and the largest west of Buffalo, N. Y. The machinery was shipped from Buffalo. The building was 66 by 100 feet on the ground, and six stories high, and was completed in 1866. The most improved flour mill machinery was put in, and the mill was ready to run in 1867, having eleven run of stone and a capacity' of 800 barrels per day ; the entire building and machin¬ ery complete costing $100,000. ATessrs. Judd & Brackett leased the mill of Gen. Washburn for five years at an annual rental of $12,000. Air. Judd retired from the firm in 1867 and Geo. .4. Brack¬ ett run the mill for one year more alone, and then surrendered his lease to accept a contract in building the Northern Pa¬ cific road. At the time Air. Brackett was ffour milling, his firm was the larg¬ est milling firm at the I^alls of St. An¬ thony, operating the Cataract mill and the Washburn B, the two mills contain¬ ing fifteen I'un of stone. Those who ai'c late comers to Alinneapolis do not know that Air. Brackett occupied that i)roud position at one time, and none but the old residents know that he was ever engaged in merchant milling.

Gborge Henry Christian. George H. Christian is a son of John and Susan Weeks Christian. His father was a na¬ tive of County Wicklow, on the east coast of Ireland, but was reared from in¬ fancy in this country. He resided until he reached manhood in .\lbany. New York, but removed to Wilmington, .North

Carolina, where he was engaged in inereantile life. His family of six children were horn in central Alabama and North Carolina. George H. was the fourth child and was born at Wetumijka, Coosa County, Ala., in 1839.

Passing the years of infancy he was sent to Wilmington, North Carolina, to attend a private school where he ex¬ celled all his fellows in aptness for learn¬ ing. He was especialh^ proficient in mathematical studies. But his school advantages ceased when he was no more than twelve years old. At the age of eleven he came North and went to Wis¬ consin and remained with his father on a farm, and at fifteen 3'ears engaged in a shoe store in Albany, New York, with his uncle. After a few years in this occupation he went to New York City where he found emplo3unent as a clerk in the Continental Insurance Com¬ pany. Here he remained until the war of the Rebellion disturbed so many rela¬ tions. A son of the South, but devoted to the Union, he determined to throw himself into the contest, and with rare discrimination as to the critical point in the approaching contest, he sought to raise a regiment for the Union service on the debated soil of Kentucky. Before he had completed the organization of the regiment the quota of Kentucky was filled and his tender was not accepted.

Mr. Christian then came to Chicago and engaged in the flour and grain com¬ mission business with Hobbs, Gi'ace & Co., which he continued for about four years, and until he came to Minneapolis in 1865.

Here at first he occupied himself with buying flour on joint account with a Mr. Yan Buskii'k, of New York. Soon he arranged to take the product of several country flour mills.

had failed, and he, in looking around for a man of ability, offered an interest to Mr. Christian. His discerning eye had discovered that he possessed rare quali¬ ties of adaptation to the manufacturing business, for which his practical experi¬ ence in handling flour had fitted him. He did not appreciate the mechanical ingenuit3q inventive power and rare persistenc\' of purpose which his 3^oung partner possessed. The offer being ac¬ cepted, a business relation commenced which was destined to work a revolution in the methods of flour manufacture and lead the firm to great mechanical and financial success.

The "B" mill is located upon the southerly side of the mill company's canal, and was projected on a scale of liberal magnitude and most solidH con¬ structed. It was furnished with buhr stones and bolts according to the then established process of milling adapted to grind the spring wheat produced in the surrounding countiw into the grades of flour, the best of which was in I'eciuest for baker's use. Its product was of ex¬ cellent quality and the bvisiness was fairly" remunerative.

After the mill had been some time in operation, a French journeyman miller b\' the name of La Croix was employed. He told Air. Christian of a process for the purification of middlings which he had seen in use in his native countiw, Iw which a portion of the best part of the wheat berry, which, by the old process adhered to the hull, was detached and added to the flour. Upon his affirmation that he could construct such a machine, he was furnished with suitable materials and undertook, at Mr. Christian's ex¬ pense, to put them together. Much time was consumed in experiments and the woi'k was abandoned while jwt incom¬ plete, and La Croix went awa3^ After a while he returned and resumed the work but soon abandoned it. Mr. Christian had meanwhile seized the idea, and, having an inventive turn of mind, took up the woi'k and completed the machine which accomplished the work for which it was designed, but in an im¬ perfect manner. The head miller. Geo. T. Smith, suggested the employment of In ushes to remove the fine dust from the screens when it was carried 113^ the up¬ ward air blast cmplo^'ed in the process, which on trial pi'oved efficacious, and tlie middlings purifier was a perfected invention, Mr. Smith availing himself of the labors of LaCroix, and Mr. Christian a])plied for and obtained a patent of the invention. The Washburn-Christian mill was suiiplied with the new machines, and the superior cjualit}' of its flour and the increased 3field from the wheat used soon made it evident that a superior process was emplo3'ed in that mill, and it was not long before the secret leaked out, notwithstanding the closed doors of the mill where it was cmplo\^ed, and it was si^eedilv' introduced into other mills.

When Governor Washburn decided to Imild the "A" mill of larger capacit3', Mr. Christian went to Europe to inform himself as to the best machiner3^ used and the methods cmplo vcd for producing the fine flours of the continent. Rv the aid of Minister E. B. Washburn, who then re])resnted our government at the Tuilleries, access was gained to the best mills in France. Other milling points were visited at Treiste, Buda Pesth and elsewhere. Findingsome technical treat¬ ises upon milling in French, Mr. Chris¬ tian gave himself to a renewed and dili¬ gent stud v of the language until he was able to read for himself all that the lit¬ erature of France contained on the sub¬ ject. French buhr mill stones were selectt'd and imjiorted, and on his return his observations were utilized in fitting up the machinerv of the new mill. It was a grand success and the patent flour produced was acknowledged the best in the world. The finest ([ualit\' was made from that jiart of the wheat which, before the introduction of the new machines, had gone into offal. The introduction of rolls about the same time, according to a process in use in the mills of Buda Pesth, completed the new process which placed Minneapolis at the head of the milling industiw of the world.

About 1875 Mr. Christian sold his intei'est in the mills to his brothers, J. A. and LlewelUm Christian, who continued the business in connection with Gov¬ ernor Washburn.

A 3'ear or two after settling in Minne¬ apolis Mr. Christian married Miss Leonora Hall, daughter of S. P. Hall, Esq., a lawer of Minneapolis. After dis¬ posing of his milling interests he took his family and made a prolonged tour of Europe. The previous visit had been for business reasons, but had kindled a de¬ sire to visit at leisure the famous seats of historic and literaiw renown. He now indulged his taste, lingering among the galleries and libraries of England and the continent. From his 3'outh he had a strong literary bias, but the urgenew of material needs had given him little opportunit3' to indulge his tastes. He now resumed his books, not by desultoiw reading or in the enchanted realm of ro¬ mance and fiction, but rather in the eidtivation of linguistic and scientific knowledge. His stiuK' has been svstematic and thorough. To the rudiments of Greek he has added a reading knowl¬ edge of Latin, and a tolerable facilitv in French, German and Italian. In science he has espccialh' become expert in mathe¬ matics, grappling with the most .abstruce ju'oblems of astronomv.

of no small magnitude is the manufac¬ ture of harrels and hags. He is chief owner and manager of the Hardwood Manufacturing and Storage Company which has an extensive plant on Third avenue and First street, and employs a large force of mechanics.

The care of his ample fortune, the man¬ agement of a variety of investments and an active participation in the social and aesthetic culture of the commitnity divides his time with study and leaves little opportunity for the entrance of that ennui which too often assails the man retired from active life.

Mr. Christian is of a short stature and sturd}^ in build, though by no means corptdent. He is taciturn and not at all fluent in speech until his interest is aroused, when he kindles into vivacity from the abundant stores of knowledge treasured in a retentive memory.

Mr. and Mrs. Christian are communi¬ cants of the Episcopal Church, and are active members of the society of Fine Arts. They are much addicted to social relations, and patrons of literary and artistic aims. They have a pleasant residence at Fourth avenue and Eighth street. At the present time, (July, 1892) they are making a tour of Europe. If this sketch omits details of an exemplary life which ought to find place in it, the writer will excuse himself b v his inability to gain them by a personal interview.

Christian, Tomlinson & Co. began to operate the Washburn B mill in 1869. In 1870, the firm name was changed to G. H. Christian & Co., the firm being composed of Gen. C. C. Washburn and Geo. H. Christian, who continued to operate the mill until 1876, when Mr. Christian retired from the mill, and Mr. J. H. Hazard became a partner with Gen. Washburn, under the style of Washburn & Hazard.

took possession of the B mill in 1877, the firm consisting of C. C. Washburn, John Crosby and W. D. Washburn. And this firm, with some changes in its per¬ sonnel, deseribed elsewhere, eontinues to operate this mill.

In September, 1866, the millers formed an organization to reduce the expense of buying wheat and facilitate its transpor¬ tation to the mills at the falls. The organization had a president, secretary and treasurer, and a millers' enchange, with rooms and clerks in Minneapolis. Geo. A. Brackett was president, W. F. Cahill, vice-president, and Dwight Put¬ nam, secretary and manager. The line of operation was on the Milwaukee road from Minneapolis to the northern bound¬ ary of Iowa, and up the Minnesota Valley road as far as New Ulm. At each station was a buyer, who bought for the association. The firms composing the association were as follows : Judd & Braekett ; Frazee, Murph}' & Co.; Perk¬ ins, Crocker & Tomlinson; Stevens, Morse & Co.; Eastman, Cahill & Co.; Tajdor Brothers; Gibson & Darrow ; J. C. Berry & Co.; Kassube & Co.

These firms paid into the association according to the capacity of their mills, and received wheat according to that rule. The eompetition of the association wirh outside buyers caused the price of wheat to advance considerably be3'ond Chicago prices, with freight added, and the millers soon became discontented and the association was abandoned to be taken up in later years.

In 1867, the Dakota mill was built at the corner of Sixth avenue south (then called Cataract street) and First street, fronting on the canal, and was called the Russell mill, being named for R. P. Rus¬ sell. It was put in operation b3^ Russell & FIu3', who wei'e succeeded 1)3'- O. B. King & Co. In 1873, H. F. Brown, W. F. Cahill, F. L. Greenleaf and S. S. Brown bought the mill, refitted and named it the "Dakota." After the death of Mr. Cahill, IMr. H. F. Brown bought out the interest of his estate, and also Air. S. S. Brown's interest, and now the mill is owned and operated by H. F. Brown & Co., Mr. Greenleaf l)eing the company and owning a one-fourth interest. The " Dakota ''enjoys the distinction of being the only frame flour mill located at the falls of St. Anthony.

In 1870, AIcMullen & AIcHcron built the North Star mill, fronting on Alain street, on the East Side, with a capacity of 250 barrels per day. In 1871 the mill was sold to H. J. G. Croswell, and was run In" Croswell & Lougee and others until it burned in 1885, and was not rebuilt.

The Zenith mill was built by Leonard Day and AI. B. Rollins in 1871, with a capacity of 500 barrels per da3', the size of the mill being 40x102 feet, five stories high. L. Christian bought an intei'est in the mill in 1872, and the firm became Christian, Day & Co. Air. Christian retired in about two 3'ears, and Da\', Rollins & Co. succeeded to the owner¬ ship. This mill was destro^-ed b\' fire fire during the great mill explosion of 1878, but was immediateh' rebuilt, and run until 1883, when, upon Air. Da^-'s death, it was leased to Sidle, Fletcher, Holmes & Co., and has now become the property of the Northwestern Consoli¬ dated Alilling Compan}', with its capaeit}' increased to 1,200 barrels per da3'.

Thk PiLLsm-RY F.v.mily. The Pillsburys' of Alinneapolis are natives of the State of New Hampshire. George A. and John S. I'illsbur3" arc brothers, while Charles A. and Fred C. are sons of George A. Pillsbuiw. Tlie former are sons of John Pillsbur3' and Susan (Wadleigh) Pillsbury, residents of Siitton, Alerrimac count3'. New Hampshire. The father was a stmah' carpenter, hotel keeper and farmer. Alicajah Pillsburv, the grandfather of John Pillsbur3', set¬ tled in Sutton in 1795. The American ancestor of the famih", William Pillsbur3",came from England, where he must have been of the rank of gentleman, for he had armoidal bearings, the motto of which was "Labor Omnia Vincit," and settled in Dorchester, in the Colon3' of Alassachu setts Bay, in 1040.

From him descended a numerous famih", man3' of whom have filled positions of honor and trust; and most have been conspicuovis forintegrit3" and strength of character. These qualities have marked in a remarkable degree the members of the famih' who, at different times, have made Alinneapolis their home, and who have largel3" contributed to its growth, charact(T and great ]5rosperit3'.

John S.\kgent Pir.LsnaRV. The first of the Pillsbury famil3' to settle in Alinnesota was John S. Pillsburv. After an extended tour in the west in search of a place to locate, he selected St. Anthonv, where he made his home carl3"inthe3'ear 1855. He was born at Sutton, New Hampshire, JuU" 29, 1828. Growing up with the ordinar3' advantages of the common school in bo3'hood, in his earlv teens he learned a trade, that of painter, but at sixteen he entered his brother George A. Pillsburv 's store, as a clerk, continuing in the same capacit3', with his brother's successor in business, until his majorit3'. He then went into mer¬ cantile business, pursuing it at various places in New Hami)shirc until his re¬ moval to the west. Soon after reaching his majorit3" he formed a partncrshii) with Walter Harriman, which continued for about two years. .\ peculiar co-inci¬ dence of this partnership was that in after life Harriman became governor of New Hami)shirc and Pillsburv governor

Arriving hei'e he opened a hardware store in St. Anthony. The business was sticeessful, until in 1857, in addition to the financial panic, he suffered a loss by fire, which swept away his accumulated capital. Obtaining a new stock of goods he soon resumed business, and continued it for many years, until adding whole¬ saling to his previous retail trade, the establishment became the leading hard¬ ware house of the Northwest.

When C. A. Pillsbury came to Alinneapolis in 1869, his uncle, John S., joined him in the milling buniness, but contin¬ ued the hardware trade until 1874. The milling business was continued until 1889, when it was sold with the mills to the English svndicate, which now oper¬ ates the Pillsbuiw and Washburn mills, Mr. Pillsbury ramaining as one of the three American directors of the gigantic corporation. To his other business en¬ gagements he has added extensive owner¬ ship in pine timbered lands and interests in the manufacture of lumber. These various business undertakings have l)rought an ample fortune, and sur¬ rounded him with all the comforts of a home, among the most beautiful of the many homes of the East Side of the river at the city of Minneapolis.

The sterling qualities which gave Mr. Pillsburj^ success in business eaidy led to his inti'oduction into public life, in which his distinguished services and high posi¬ tions have brought him respect at home and fame abroad. For thirty years he has almost without an interval, been called to discharge some public ti'ust. His first call to seiwe the iDublic was in 1860, when he was elected an alderman of the Fourth ward of the city of St. Anthony, continuing in the same posi¬ tion through the two following years.

In 1864 he was pr omoted to the State senate, of which body he continued a member by successive elections, except one term, until 1875, when he was fii'st elected Governor of the State.

Co-temporarily with his election as Senator he was appointed a Regent of the State University, being much of the time President of the Board of Regents, and serving as a Regent almost continu¬ ously until the present time. For three successive terms, commencing in 1876, he has been Governor of the State of Minnesota. At the organization of the Board of Park Commissioners for the City of Minneapolis, in 1883, Gov. Pills¬ bury was one of the commissioners named in the act, and was subsequently elected to the same position.

While discharging these public offices. Gov. Pillsbury has been almost con¬ stantly a director or officer of many private trusts, of a quasi public or finan¬ cial character. Thus he was a director of the Minneapolis & St. Fouis and of the Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Maine & Atlantic railroads, of the First National and other banks, insurance, land and trust companies.

A'arious and useful as have been his services in these p)ositions, it is in connec¬ tion with the promotion of the higher education that he will be longest remem¬ bered and most highly appreciated. The property of the State Universitjq con¬ sisting of seventy-two sections of public land granted by congress, had been mortgaged in a .premature attempt to erect buildings in 1856. The financial panic of 1857 continuing in its depress¬ ing influence for several successive years, had rendered the liquidation of the debt impossible, and it seemed to the Regents and to the State authorities inevitable that the endowment of the University must be lost. Among his earliest acts as senator was a bill designed and intro- duced by himself, authorizing the a])- pointment of a Board of three Regents with power to deal with the Ihiiversity kinds, and to compromise and settle its debts. Gov. Ramsey appointed Senator Pillsbnry as a member of this board, and he was chosen its president. With inde¬ fatigable labor and close personal atten¬ tion to all the details of the complicated situation, the board was able to pay off the debts by conveyance of a portion of the lands, and this accomplished, there remained thirty thousand acres of the original grant, together with the Ihiiver¬ sity site of twent3"-five acres, in the midst of the East Division of the Cit\^of Minneapolis, with its buildings. These lands were largeh' located in the pine timbered region of the State, and brought a revenue from stumpage. Senator Pillsbuiw was ever watchful to serve the in¬ terests of the Universitr'. Appropria¬ tions were made from the State treasuryto supplement its revenue. The agricul¬ tural land grant was added to its funds, as well as the salt spring lands, in con¬ sideration of which the University- under¬ took the charge of education in agricul¬ ture and the mechanic arts, and the geo¬ logical survey- of the State.

Hoyy- the University" developed after it yy-as freed from its financial embarassments, increasing its facilities for instruc¬ tion as the groyy-th of the popidation demanded, organizing its departments, and finally- calling to its presidency- an eminent jirofessor from Yalecollege, until it has become a leading educational in¬ stitution, yy-ith its schools of literature, science, layy-, medicine, mines, agriculture and ]u-actical arts, yy-ith nearly- fifteen hundred students, is told in an ap]u-opriate chapter of this history-. While other eminent gentlemen have contrib¬ uted to bring about this result, the yy-atchful care and assiduous attention of Regent Pillsbnry- have been the chief cause of its prosperity-. His fortune, as yy-ell as his personal service have been at its sery-ice, and at a critical time in its history- he assumed the construction of one of its buildings, contributing more than one hundred and fifty- thousand dollars for that ])urpose.

The occasion deserves special mention as it brings out the devotion and selfsacrificing solicitude yvhich he felt for the institution. During the sessions of the Legislature of 1887 and 1889 bills had been introduced and met yy-ith much favor to separate the agrictdtural fund and department from the State Uniy-ersity-. It yy-as urged by- those yydio ady-ocated the separation that the instruction proy-ided at the Uniy-ersity yv as too scientific for farmers' boys - that it led them ayy-ayfrom the farm into professional life. The Regents yy-ere persuaded that the best yy-elfare of the agricultural department depended upon its remaining under their charge, but that they yvere hampered bymeagre ajjpropriations from making such improvements as yvould make the agricultural department satisfactory to the farmers. It yvas at this juncture that Goy-. Pillsbnry came foryvard yvith his offer to complete the scientific hall at his oyvn expense. The offer yy-as accepted yy-ith enthusiasm, the hostile bills yvere dropped, and a legislative pledge given that the agricultural dejiartment should remain as an adjunct of the State Uni¬ versity. Out of the agitation has come such changes in the organization and plans of the agricidtural school that it has become a practical school of the farm - the first of its kind in the country-, and i:; filled yvith boys from the farms, yy-ho expect to return to them, and the farmers are clamoring to have their daughters admitted to like jirivileges.

which accrue from the application of wise business foresight, with an unselfish devotion to the public interests. Both the earlier and the present farm were purchased by Regent Pillsbury with his own funds, and the profits of the deals given to the State. The old farm, ad¬ joining the University, was purchased about 1868 for $8,500. It was held and partially used for experiments in agricul¬ ture imtil 1882, when the Regents de¬ cided to sell it and purchase another better adapted to the x^urpose. It was XDlatted, ax^praised and sold at x^ublic sale, bringing $140,000. In the mean¬ time Mr. Pillsbury had bought the presagricultural farm of two hundred and fift\' acres for $64,000, and made the first payment otit of his own pvirse. The Regents assumed the x^tirchase, and have made it the leading experimental farm in the countr\^, and established ux3on it the X^ractical school of agriculture. Theland, without its sx^ecial buildings, is easily worth at the present time three hundred thousand dollars.

When the x^^tronage of the State University was falling off, and it seemed to fail to meet the demands of the x^eo- XJle, Regent Pillsbury determined that the x^olicy" which had made his brand of flour the favorte, to furnish "the best," would be equally ax^x^licable to the Uni¬ versity, and induced the Regents to re¬ organize the teaching force of the insti¬ tution. Seven x^rofessors were dismissed, and the eolleges and universities of the East were ransacked Iw personal visits. Professor Cyrus Northrux^ was induced to leave his chair at Yale, and to take the xu-esidency of the University, and the best men who could be found were intro¬ duced into the faculty. The result was magical. The people appreciated "the best," and soon the enrollment ran up from one hundred and fifty students to seven hundred, and now stands at over one thousand. The unity of the State system of x^tiblic instruetion was greatly promoted by the enactment of a law devised by Regent Pillsbury, which made the high sehools to the

As legislator, Mr. Pillsbury was dili¬ gent, wise and influential, espeeially in shaxhng the financial policy^ of the State. As chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the Senate, he contributed in no small degree to the economieal ad¬ ministration of the State government. A bold attemxDt to seize the pine timb¬ ered school land was thwarted by his in¬ fluence, and instead of sales a system of selling stumpage was adoxDted, which has brought a steady stream of revenue to the school fund.

His services as Governor were not less wise. He brought to the administration those business methods which had built UX3 his own fortunes. Economy' in ex- X^enditures and accountability of x^ublic servants were emx^hasized. On some emergencies he added such x^ersonal at¬ tention to official action as to extricate the x^eople from serious embarassment. Notable among these was the relief of the x^opulation of a large distriet of the State from destitution and sufferingconsequent iq^on the ravages of grasshop- XDers, when he left the executive office, making a personal investigation among the sufferers, and organized such public and xu'ivate chai'ities as took the edge of the calamity from the suffers. Again,] when the homes of many settlers were] menanced by' the claims of railroad cor- Xiorations to their lands, he became a mediater and arbitrator, saving to manytheir hardly earned homesteads.

tions and divided his appointments be¬ tween the leading politieal parties. But it was his ageneyin l)ringing about a set¬ tlement of the railroad bond imbraglio satisfaetory to the ereditorsof the State, while saving millions to the people, that eonstitutes the crowning honor of his administration, and entitles him to the lasting gratitude of the iieople. It woidd be interesting to narrate the his¬ tory of the "Five Million Loan," most of which is told elsewhere in this history, but the limits of this sketch forbid. Suf¬ fice it to say, that the stain of repudia¬ tion rested upon the State, and its credit was blighted and honor tarnished. Gov. Pillsbur}" resolved to wipe out the stain. To advocate the recognition of thebonds was unpopidar. To bring about meas¬ ures for their payment seemed hopeless. Nevertheless the Governor boldly took the ground that the obligation of the State should be judicially determined, and if a debt existed it should be dis¬ charged. Again and again he recuri'ed to the svd)ject, and finalh- during his last term in office made the subject a promi¬ nent feature of an annual message. His plea for public honor and integrity was pathetic. It will remain as one of the noblest specimens of earnestness and eloquence among our executive records. With indefatigable labor, amid discour¬ agements and opposition, he persevered until the highest court adjudged the bonds to be a iiublic obligation, the Leg¬ islature passed the requisite acts, and the last bond was paid. There is no (luestion but that for the bold and ener¬ getic stand taken by the Governor, the stigma of state repudiation would long have remained to blight the jirosj^erit^' of the State.

At the conclusion of his third term. Governor Pillsbury retired to ])rivate life, but not to inactivity. The conduct of the largest milling business in the world, his other large business interests, the many eorjiorations in which he is prominent, and the increasing solicitude for the State University, his pet and pride, have fulh' occupied his time and engrossed his labor. Meanwhile, he has made occasional excursions to Europe, for recreation and instruction, and amid all his cares and responsibilities has maintained ahightoneof physical vigor.

The next \'ear after settling in St. Anthon3', Mr. Pillsburv was united in marriage with Miss Mahala Fisk, who is descended from Rev. John Fisk, who emigrated fi'om England and settled in Windham, Mass., in 16,37. His famih' has consisted of three daughters and one son. Two of the former, after be¬ coming wives, have been taken awav, in the bloom of \'Oung motherhood, ])lunging the famih" into sorrow and the communit\' into s\"mpathetic grief. Settling in St. Anthonv", he has alwa^'S retained his home on the East side of the river. The mansion built a dozen 3'ears ago, is one of the most attractive of the charm¬ ing homes of AIinnea])olis, and is the center of a graceful and cordial hospitalit3'.

In a Republican state, it goes without sa3'ing that one who has held such con¬ tinued j)ublic offices has been of that political faith. He has been connected with the societ3' of the First Congrega¬ tional church,atinistee,alwa3'sa scholar in the Sunda3' school, and most liberal contributor and supporter. The fine organ of that house of worship is his gift, and recenth' a heroic effort to pav off a burdensome debt of $15,000 was successful when Gov. Pillsburv pledged and jiaid half the amount.

Mention has been made of his magni¬ ficent contribution to the State Universitv. A no less conspicuous instance of libcralit3'. coiqded with a touching re¬ membrance of youthful surroundings.

was the building of a fine brick town hall for his native town of Sutton, as a memorial of his father and mother. The formal presentation of the town hall occurred July 13th of the present year (1892). It was an unique occasion. Re¬ visiting the scenes of his t^outh after an interval of forty-five years, there were gathered about him a congregation bear¬ ing familiar names, but mostly new and youthfixl faces. The greater part of those whom he had known in boyhood were silent tenants of the cemetery. Gov. Pillsbur}' made an extended address in which he reviewed the marvelous growth of the country during the period, descanted upon the worth and vigor of the New England ancestr\q magnified the worth of the town meeting - asuiwiving type of pure democracy, and gave salutary counsels to the generation now coming upon the stage of practical life. Coming from one of their fellow towns¬ men, who had achieved prominence in the State and distinction in business, the gift was heartily appreciated, and re¬ ceived with strongest expressions of grat¬ itude. Of the private charities that flow from his home, the world only knows that the stream corresponds with the ampli¬ tude of the fountain.

It is a homel3' phrase, bvit character¬ izes the man, that the 3^oemen of the State use when they speak of their long time chief magistrate as "Honest John."