Minneapolis City (part 44 of 80)

Mahal.v Fisk Piklsbury. Mrs. Gov. Pillsbur3Ts a native of the town of War¬ ner, Merrimac Count3q New Hampshire. She is a daughter of Capt. John Fisk and Sarah (Goodhue) Fisk, long residents of that town. Both the Fisks and Goodhues are ancient families, tracing their ancestry to the early settlers of New England, where among the rugged hills, the3" cultivated farms and reared fami¬ lies, that went out to the cities, and be¬

The American ancestor, William Fisk, settled in Wenham, Mass., in 1637. He was descended from an ancient family of that name which for centuries and until a recent period had its seat and manorial lands in Laxfield, in the.count3r of Suf¬ folk, England. Its existence has been traced to a period as earh^ as the reign of Hem'3'- VI, when Simon Fisk was lord of a manor there, and entitled to coat armor. Numbers of the famil3^ during the protracted struggle of the Reforma¬ tion, and especialK'" in the da3^s of Queen Mar3q endured severe persecution on ac¬ count of their staunch adherence to evan¬ gelical principles.

The 3roung lady had the advantage of an academic education at the Hopkinton Academ3' and at the Sanbornton Semin¬ ary, where she graduated at the age of nineteen. Besides her scholastic stud¬ ies, she had given especial attention to music, both vocal and instrumental. Be¬ fore completing her studies she had en¬ gaged in teaching in the public schools of the neighborhood, having at the age of sixteen begun to teach. This was con¬ tinued at Keene and other places at in¬ tervals for eight years, and was onH re¬ linquished upon her marriage and re¬ moval to Minneapolis.

On the third of November, 1856, she was married to John S. Pillsbur3q who had established himself as a hardware merchant at the Falls of St. Anthony, and set out with him for their future home.

Her husband, having laid in a stock of goods, was compelled by the lateness of the season to stop at Dubuque to look after his freight, and the bride continued the journey up the river without him, but at Hastings was compelled to leave j the steamboat and finish her journe3' by stage, the river having closed for the sea- i son. Air. Pillslniry followed in a few da3's on horseback, and soon after joined his wife at the St. Charles Hotel in St. Anthony'. In a few days Dr. Alui'idiy's house was rented, read^' furnished ,and the couple commenced housekeejhng. After a few months the_v moved to a small house of four rooms under the hill near the river, but soon after built a small house of their own on Third street. Af¬ ter the fire which consumed Air. Pillsbuiw's store, and swept away nearU' all his worldU' possessions in 1858, some lots were seeured at Fifth street and Tenth avenue, and a veiw comfortable house was built, which remained the famih' home until 1878, when it was re¬ placed b\' the fine mansion on the same spot, which constitutes their present home.

The state of society' and the condi¬ tions of domestic life in the straggling village at the time of Airs. Pillsbury's arrival in it are gTajihiealh' described by one who herself was a sharer in it, in the chapter of this histor^-^ on eaidy soc¬ ial life. Alanners were plain, luxuries were few, and ladies thought it no hard¬ ship to attend to their own household work. Indeed domestic emplov-ment took the place of other diversions, and was the onh" relief from monotoirv and ennui. The First Congregational Chureh had recenth" been organized, and under the pas toral care of Rev.CharlesSecombre had completed a small house of worship and gathered a little congregation. Airs. Pillsbur\' at once identified hereself with it and entered into its work. She sang in the choir and often ])la_ved the or¬ gan. She took a class in the Sunday' school. She became the leader of the Benevolent Societv connected with the church, acting as its secretar\^ for four years, and then being its president for more than twent\' years. The devising of social entertainments, the pre])aration of receptions, fairs and concerts, the sew¬ ing circle and ladies meetings, all tasked her thoughts and occupied her hours. Through many struggles and adversities the church and societ}^ grew with the in¬ crease of the population, ever ministering to the spiritual and social needs of the ])eople, until it is now established in its fine stone edifice, free from debt, with a large congregation, an able minister and powerful influence in the community. The \'oung men and women trained in the Sunday' school under Airs. Pillsbur\''s teaching have gone out into the world, man v of them beyond the mountains and from wideH separated places, "rise uj) and call her blessed.''

Aleanwhile she was raising and train¬ ing a family of her own. Two daugh¬ ters grew to womanhood, received a lib¬ eral education at the Universit3', married, and sad to tell were cut off in their early life. The\' wei'e Addie A., married to Charles A. Webster, and Susie Alay, wife of Fred B. Snyder. Another daughter, Sarah Bell, has just (June, 1892) mar¬ ried Air. Edward C. Gale; and a son, Al¬ fred Fisk, has not 3'et completed his col¬ lege course.

At the outbreak of the Rebellion the ladies were called on to assist the patidotic work of their husbands and broth¬ ers. Airs. Pillsbuiw was activeh' engaged in organizing a societ3' for the relief of the sick, and the care of the families of the soldiers. Funds were I'aised 1)3' all the means commonK' emplo3-ed for like purpose and freeh' expended for the relief and comfort of the soldiers and their families. When the Sioux massacre ad¬ ded the horror of bai'barous atrocities to the ordinarv perils of war Airs. Pillsbuiw took lessons in arms, learning the use of the rifle, moved no doubt by the legends of Hannah Dustin, lingering among the traditions of her Alerrimac home.

her Imsband as governor of the state that the grass hopper plague devastated a goodly portion of the state. The gov¬ ernor made a personal tour through the afflicted districts, going from house to house among the settlers, and learning bv personal inquiry their sufferings. While he was engaged in official work for their relief, his wife oi'ganized a bu¬ reau of relief in her own dining room. To appeals for aid so liberal responses came that she was compelled to hire a ware¬ house and engage assistants to the num¬ ber of a half score, who, working eaidy and late, through months, selected arti¬ cles adapted to each peculiar appeal, packed them, and sent them away on their errands of mercy. This sympa¬ thetic and voluntary labor did much to soften the severity of the suffering, and enabled many a struggling pioneer to hold on to his possessions until the plague had i^assed.

The need of systematic provision for neglected and homeless children appealed so strongly to Mrs. Pillsbnry's sympa¬ thies that in 1881 she joined with other benevolent ladies in the establishment of a Children's Home. At the outset a small house was procured on Second street north, and a commencement made with two or three waifs from the street. No sooner was a home provided than its need was shown by increasing numbers of applicants. A society was organized with Mrs. Pillsbury as its president, managed entirely by ladies with like be¬ nevolent devotion. The fine homestead of Judge Atwater, with its spacious grounds, on the river bank in the Sixth ward was purchased with funds solicited by the ladies. When these quarters be¬ came too restricted for the growing in¬ stitution they were sold, and a site pur¬ chased at Stevens avenue and Thirty-sec¬ ond street, where a permanent building was erected at a cost of $40,000,to wdiich the home was removed. At the same time its scope was enlarged by provision for the care of aged, dependent women, Mrs. Pillsbury remaining president of the institution and its most enei'getic and devoted promotor. At the present time seventy children and ten old ladies are cared for at the home. This charity has no endowment. Its current needs are supplied by contributions, which are freely made sufficient for its support. These amounted during the last year to nearly $7,000.

Airs. Pillsbury has also been interest¬ ed in the organization of the Northwest¬ ern Hospital for women, and in the Womam's Exchange, though less promin¬ ently than in the Children's Home, of which she has been so long the head. She is also a trustee of the Washburn Home, named as such by Gov. Washburn in his will.

While engaged in these charitable offi¬ ces Mrs. Pillsbury has not been unmind¬ ful of social duties. As the wife of the governor of the state during three offi¬ cial terms she has directed with becom¬ ing dignity and grace the hospitalities of the head of the state. While retaining her home residence in Minneapolis, she gave an annual levee at the capital, be¬ sides many less formal receptions. Her elegant home has been opened on many occasions for the entertainment of a num¬ erous circle of attached friends. Especi¬ ally have the hospitalities of the home been extended to the students and offi¬ cers of the State University, of which Gov. Pillsbury has been a regent almost since its establishment.

An annual reception has been given to the students of the Senior class. On the occasion of the visit of Dr. Northi'up to consider an invitation from the I'egents to become president of the university, a reception was given at the home of Gov- Pilksburjq which was one of the most iiiii(|uc and cnjo^vable occasions that has ever occurred in our city. The college men of the city, who were numerous, were invited with their wives to meet Dr. Northruji, and sueh an im])ression was made of the intellectual force of the eommunity as to greatly impress him with the imi)ortanee of the jjosition ten¬ dered him.

Sueh is a quite inadcHiuate sketch of a lady who is loved and esteemed wher¬ ever known, for her jiersonal worth no less than for the prominenee of her most distinguished husband . The trait whieh man^" eonsider Mrs. Pillsbury's erowning virtue is a liberality whieh ignores the creed, finaneial standing and attire of those with whom she eomes in eontact, aceepting all for what they ai'e, rather than what they seem to be. The faet that she lives in a mansion and is the wife of the most popular gov¬ ernor Minnesota ever had is not indicated in her manner toward others. A time honest heart with noble purpose is a suffieient passport to her favor. Mrs. Pillsbur3'^'s charity is unostentatious, nevertheless wideh^ dispersed and hun¬ dreds in the city and state receive comfort at her hand, who, from a pio¬ neer of the cit\', through all stages of its development, has been prominent in charitable work and a leader in its social life, and is entitled, no less than her dis¬ tinguished husband, to a place in the record of its useful citizens.

Gkokge Aefkki) IhM-siu'kY, the elder of the Pillsburv family, became a mem¬ ber of the milling firm of Charles A. Pillsbury &; Co. in 1872, but he was then a resident of Concord, N. H., and did not remove to Alinneapolis until 1878. He was then past the meridian of life, but, as the secpiel will show, not at all in the "sere and yellow leaf."

A (juite conii)lete sketch of his life before coming here had been published in the town history of Sutton, N. H., from whieh ai'e condensed the leading facts of that period of his life:

He was born August 2l)th, 181 (>, and married Margaret S. Carlton, May 9th, 1841. He received a thorough common school education, and at the age of eighteen obtained empkwment with a grocer and fruit dealer doing business under the Boylston market in Boston. After a little more than a ^mar hei'eturned to Sutton and engaged in the mannfaeture of stoves and sheet iron ware with a cousin - John C. Pillsbur\'. On the 1st of Februar\', 1840, he re¬ moved to Warner, becoming a clerk in the store of John W. Pearson, and soon afterwards*purchased the business, and continued it for nearly eight \mars. His partners during that time were Heniw Woodman and H. D. Robertson. In the si)ring of 1848 he went into a wholesale dry goods house in Boston, bnt I'eturned the following year to Warner, and bind¬ ing the stock of goods of Ira Harvey continued the mei'cantile business until the spring of 1851, when he retired altogether from mercantile business. Prom 1844 to 1849, he held the office of postmaster at Warner. In 1847, he served the town as Selectman and Treas¬ urer, and in 1850 and 1851 he was elected Representative to the General Court. Having been appointed upon a eommittee to purchase a site and build a new jail at Concord, he was made chair¬ man of the committee, and gave his whole time the following \'ear to the superintendence of the work. It was considered one of the best buildings ol the kind in the State, and is still in nse. In November, 1851, Mr. Pillsburv re¬ ceived from the Concord Railroad Cor¬ poration an appointment as purchasing agent for the road, and removing to Concord, entered upon his duties in December, and continued in the same position for nearly twenty-four years. During his administration of the office, his purchases amounted to moi'e than three millions of dollars, and he settled more cases of claims against the road for personal injury, then all other officers combined. In all his long term of office his relations with the officers of the road were of the most agreeable character; no fault was ever found or complaint made of his transactions bj^the manage¬ ment. He was one of a committee appointed by Union School District to build the High School building and sev¬ eral other school buildings. He was in¬ terested in the erection of seyeral of the handsomest business blocks upon Main street, and several fine residences were built by him.

In 1864, Mr. Pillsbury, with others, organized and put in operation the First National Bank of Concord. He w^as a member of the first Board of Directors, and in 1866 became its president, and continued in that office until his depart¬ ure from the State. He was also instru¬ mental in procuring the charter and putting in operation the National Sav¬ ings Bank in 1867. He was the first president of that institution, and held the position till 1874, when he resigned. During his connection with the First National Bank, it became, in proportion to its capital, the strongest bank in the State.

While a resident of Caneord, Mr. Pillsbury was identified with most of the benevolent and charitable institutions of the cit3^ and was always ready to assist by advice and contributions all organ¬ izations for the relief of the unfortunate and suffering. He was a liberal sup¬ porter of all moral and religious enter¬ prises. To his generosity the city of

Concord is indebted for the fine bell which hangs in the tower of the Board of Trade building. The large and hand¬ some organ in the First Baptist church is a gift froiu him and his son, Charles A., both gentlemen being at the time mem¬ bers of that church. He was actively engaged in instituting the Centennial Home for the aged in Concord ; made large contributions to aid in putting it in operation, and was a member of its Board of Trustees. He also contributed largeh' to the Orphan's Home in Frank¬ lin, and was one of its trustees.

Mr. Pillsbury was for several years a member of the cit3^ council of Concord ; was elected Mayor of the city in 1876, and re-elected the following \xar. Dur¬ ing the r^ear 1871-2 he represented Ward Five in the Legislature, and in the latter year was made chairman of the special committee on the apportionment of public taxes. In 1876, the Concord city council appointed him chairman of a com¬ mittee of three to appraise all of the real estate in the city, for the purpose of tax¬ ation, and in the discharge of the duties thus devolving on him he personall^^ visited ever}^ residence within the limits of the city. The position was a very delicate one, requiring the exercise of sound judgment and great patience, and the report of the committee gave general satisfaction.

Having determined to leave Concord, in the spring of 1878complimentar3"i'esolutions were unanimously j)assed by both branches of the city government, and by the First National bank; the latter testifying strongly to his integrity, honest3' and superior business qualities. Resolutions passed b3' the Fii'st Baptist church and society were ordered to be entered upon the records of each organ¬ ization. The Webster Club, composed of fifty prominent business men of Con¬ cord, passed a series of resolutions ex- l)ressivc' of regret for liis departure from the State. A similar testimonial was ])resented to him, subscribed by more than three hundred of the business men of the city, among whom wei'e all the exma3'ors then living, all the clergymen, all the members of both branches of thecity government, all of the bank presidents and officers, twenW-six lawyers, twent\' ph vsicians, and nearly all of the business men of the city. On the eve of their departure, Mr. and Mrs. Pillsbury wei'e presented with an elegant bronze statu¬ ette of Mozart. Such tributes, spontancousU' bestowed, showed the great esteem in which he was held bjOiis fellow citizens.

After leaving the East, Air. Pillsbui'v did not forget the places of his early residence. The \"ear 1890 was made memorable Iw three gifts of loving re¬ membrance - to Concord a Free Hospi¬ tal, at a cost of $72,000, named in honor of the companion of his life, the Marga¬ ret Pillsbury Hospital ; to Warner a free Public Library' ; to Sutton a Soldier's Alonument. In erecting the hospital he brought his own architect, selected and purchased the lot, and personally super¬ intended the work. The Sutton biog¬ rapher says, in reference to Mr. Pillsbur3''s main" charities : "In his man}' generous gifts he has gone far be\'ond the limits of ordinal*}' benevolence, and in his furtherance of great schemes for the support of religion and education he has attained to the height of philan¬ thropy. And yet with all his great suc¬ cess, no poor man whom he meets will say that he ever rccicved from Mr. Pills¬ bury a haughty or cruel word to remind him ])ainfully of the great difference in the bestowment of the gifts of fortune.''

Mr. Pillsbury was sixty-two years of age when he settled in Minneapolis. With an ample fortune, a lucrative busi¬ ness, and a record of over forty years of active business and civic life behind him, he might well have concluded that the time had come when he could enjoy in retirement the fruits of his industrious life. But the event proved that he had only entered a wider held of opportunity, and his indomitable energy declined no call to labor or service. Alunicipal offices, hnancial boards, charitable, church and missionary enterprises, directorships and trusts were thrust u])on him, while the current of private benehence flowed in a steady but enlarged stream. The s])ace alotted to this sketch forbids the details of these varied occupations. Only the most prominent can be named.

Soon after his arrival here he was elected upon the school board, and to the city council, of which he was made pres¬ ident. In 1884 he was nominated by tlie Re]Hd)lican city convention as its candidate for mayor. A popular demo¬ crat had long been at the head of the city government, and vehement public sentiment called for a change. It seemed a "forlorn hope,'' Mr. Pillsbury being pitted against the mayor then in office. The canvas was brief but energetic on both sides, Mr. Pillsbury being elected by some eight thousand majority - a change from the last preceding city election of more than six thousand votes. His ad¬ ministration of the city government was characterised by devotion to detail, economy in expenditure, and rigid con¬ trol of unruly elements. Not the lejist pleasant feature of his iDublic duties was the graceful manner with which he re¬ ceived and welcomed the city's guests. His public addresses were as versatile, and only a little less elegant than those which have given President Harrison so mnch favor. As mayor he Wtis ex-officio a member of the Park and Water Works Boards, as well Jis head of the Police Department. The ancestral motto of the family found in him a truthful expo- nent. Labor, constant and concentrated conquered all. Among the eorporateand quasi public trusts which he has filled are President of the Board of Trade, of the Homoepathie Hospital, of the Free Dis- ])ensary. Chamber of Commeree, Pillsbury & Hurlbut Elevator Company, Vice-president of the Minnesota Loan & Trust Company, Direetor and President of the Northwestern National Bank, Direetor of the Manufaeturer's National Bank, of the Minneapolis Elevator Com¬ pany, and of the Northwestern Guaranty Loan Company.

He has also served as President of the St. Paul & Minneapolis Baptist Union, of the Minnesota Baptist State Conven¬ tion, as Trustee of the Chieago Universit3q and in 1888, at the annual meeting of the American Baptist Union, he was elected its president. This organization has its headquarters in Boston, and has charge of all the foreign missionary work of all the Northern and some of the Southern states, distributing an¬ nually nearly half a million dollars for mission work in foreign fields by the Baptist ehurch.

In 1885, Mayor Pillsbury was ehairman of the eommittee to build the Min¬ neapolis Chamber of Commeree, one of the finest buildings of its kind in the Northwest, and in which more aetual wheat is bought than in any other plaee in the world. The following year he was chairman of the building committee of the First Baptist chureh of Minneapolis, in the ereetion of the third edifiee for that growing ehurch, which, when eompleted, was the largest and most eostly church building of any denomination west of Chicago. At its completion, Mr. and Mrs. Pillsbury, with their two sons, plaeed in the ehurch , at their own expense, the largest and best organ then in the eity .

but under patronage of the Baptist state eonvention, has been a benefieiary of Mr. Pillsbury's bounty. In 1886 he built at a eost of $30,000, a ladies' boarding hall. It is 128 feet long, has three stories almve the basement, is heated by steam, and eontains parlors, dormitory, boarding department, bath rooms and gymnasium, and furnishes to young ladies the eomforts of a well appointed Christian home. In recogni¬ tion of this magnificent gift the Legislatui'e ehanged the name of the institution to ''Pillsbury Aeademy." Three 3^ears later the Academy was again favored by its generous patron by the ereetion, at a eost of $40,000, of a new aeademie building. It is 122 feet long, three stories high above the basement, with a tower 140 feet high. It contains recitation rooms, library and reading room,ehapel and a spaeious auditorium. He also contributed $25,000 towards an endow¬ ment fund.

This enumeration of the deeds and labors of a busy life will suggest the c(ualities of the man from whom they have proeeeded. There is at the bottom a robust eonstitution inherited from a line of tempei'ate, religious and laborious aneestors, developed and strengthened by active life among the rough hills of New Hampshire, under the shadow of old Kearsarge, a mind stored with diversified knowledge and directed by praetieal eommon sense, a judgment strong and well balanced , industry inde¬ fatigable, all denominated by benevolenee springing from a deeply and de¬ voutly religious life.

Charles Alfred Pillsbury. Foui'- teen years after his uncle, John S. Pills¬ bury, settled in St. Anthony, Charles A. Pillsbury followed him and took up his I'esidence in Minneapolis. He was born at 'Warner, Merrimae eount\'. New

Hainpshii'C',()ctol)cr 3(1,184-2. At twentyone he gradnated from Dartmonth eollege, having diversified his eollegiate studies with teaehing as a means of par¬ tial self-support. He repaired to Mon¬ treal, where for six 3"ears he was engaged in mereantile pursuits, most of the time as elerk. Sej)tember 12, 1866, he mar¬ ried Miss Mary A. Stinson, of Goff'stown, New Hampshire, who was daughter of Captain Charles Stinson.

Mj'. Pillsbury eame to Alinneapc^lis in 1869, and soon afterwards bought an interest in a small flourmill at the Falls. At that time there were four or five mills here, but they were of the old fashioned sort, using buhr stones for reducing the grain. He applied himself diligently to learn the details of the business ; always edert to adopt new methods, and resolved to make the best product possible. About this timethe Middlings Purifier, a Alinneapolis invention, was introduced and gradually perfected so as to produce a revolution, in connection with other improvements in the process of milling. The Christians, the Washburns, and the Pillsburys remodeled their mills and put the "New Process" flour on the market, each vicing with the other to jiroduce the best flour. How well Mr. Pillsburv succeeded is attested by the favor with which " Pillsbury 's Best" was received in all the markets of the countrj', being soon recognized as the best brand of flour in the world. Simultaneously with the invention of the Middlings Purifier eame the introduction of the Roller Mill. The old buhr stones were discai'ded, or only used in a part of the process, steel rolls taking their place to disintegrate the grain and reduce it to flour b_v a series of carefully guaged rollers. I'or some years the Minneapolis mills enjo3"ed a monopoly of the New Process, reaping large profits from the economy of the process and the high cpialitv^ of its pro¬ duet. Theseimprovements in turn stim¬ ulated the wheat growing industry of Northwest, for it brought hard spring wheat from being an inferior grade in the markets, to the first rank, giving it a preference over the softer but fair winter wheat of lower latitudes. In 1872, Mr. Pillsbur3" had gained such prestige and success that he associated his father, George A.Pillsbuiy, (his uncle, John S. Pillsbury, had from the beginning been interested with him) in the business, and greath" enlarged its scope and oper¬ ations. At a later period, his breather, P''. C. Pillsburv, was admitted to the firm, which continued as Charles A. Pillsbui'}' & Co. until the accpiisition of the propert3Gn' the Pniglish S\'ndieate,wdiich now controls it.

To the original mill were added 1w l)urehase or lease the Pillsburv "B" mill, the Empire, Pvxcelsior and Anchor mills. These wei'e all rebuilt and fitted with the most improved and modern machinery. To supphHhem with wheat a Aliller's Association was organized whose bu\'ers penetrated all parts of the Northwest, and made selections from the grain fields of the best wheat for the Alinneapolis mills. A system of elevators for the storage of the vast sup¬ plies of wheat needed to keep the mills in operation was built, distributed along the lines of the railroads penetrating the wheat districts of the Northwestern states and territories.

Not content with these achievements, the milling firm determined to build a new mill. It was located on the water power of the East side of the river. Mr. Pillsbuiw visited Europe to studv the l)rocess of milling in vogue there, and went to Buda Pesth, the seat of the cele¬ brated Hungarian mills, which then pro¬ duced the best flour known to Euroiiean tastes. Having mastered all the science and ])raetieal skill employed in the busi- ness, he ])roeeeded with the equipment of the Pillshury "A" mill. Wheneompleted it had a capacity of seven thousand bar¬ rels of flour i^er day, and was then, and remains to-day, the lai'gest cind best flour mill in the world.

To say that Mr. Pillsbury has organ¬ ized a milling business producing fifteen thousand bai'rels of flour per day, year in and year out, with the accompanying methods of securing a constant supply of sevent^^ thousand bvishels of wheat per da}', and of distributing the product in all the markets of the country and many foreign ones - that the business has pros¬ pered through draughts, panics and strikes, and that no combination of carriers or grangers has been able to crush it, is sufficient without words of eulogy to characterize the sagacity, en¬ terprise and breadth of resource of the mind which had planned and the firmness of the hand which has held the helm.

Mr. Pillsbury remained in the conduct of his vast milling business until 1890, when the mills and business were sold to an English syndicate, which acquired besides, the Washburn milling property and the water power of the Falls of St. Anthony. Mr. Pillsbury remains as the manager of the property and one of the three American directors, I'eceiving, it is said, the largest salary paid to any business manager in the whole countr3^

In connection with the milling busi¬ ness Mr. Pillsbury has become widely prominent in benevolent and economic circles by his early introduction of and persistent adherence in a system of profit sharing with his employees: Just what the system is in detail, is not given to the writer to explain. Suffice to say, that the profits of the year, after assigning to capital invested a reasonable interest, are divided between the labor and capital on a fixed and equitable basis. Under this practice as high as $25,000 per year have been disti'ibuted among the em¬ ployees of the fii'm, while at the same time they have received liberal wages and are not made liable for losses in the btisiness. It is understood that Mr. Pillsbui'y claims no consideration of benevolence in this unique distnbution of profits, but places it on the groimd of wise business prudence, like insurance, and kindred safeguards. While stifikes and lockouts have occasionally disturbed the courses of other lines of business in the vicinity, the}^ have never come to vex the tranquility of Mr. Pillsbury, the whole working force having an interest in the success of the business.

So busy a man has naturally declined office and political honors, though these have been repeatedly tendered him. A unanimous nomination of his x^arty as mayor of the city was declined. The only exception during his residence in Minnea^Dolis was the office of State Senotor, which he held for the ten years suc¬ ceeding January 1st, 1877. The term of service occuring in the winter and occu- XDying but sixty days each year, was not seriously interfering with business en¬ gagements. Dui'ing most of this time he served as chairman of the Finance Committee, and had charge of the bill which his uncle, the Governor, had rec¬ ommended for the adjusement of the State bonds.

Mr. Pillsbury has robust health and buo\mnt sxffi'its. He is x:)opular with all classes, easily accessible and democratic in his associations ; his large foi'tune is liberall}' used in the x^romotion of x^ublic intei'csti), and bounteously distributed in the channels of a wide beneficience. He was long a trustee of Plymouth Con¬ gregational chui'ch, a constant attend¬ ant upon its x^ublic worship, and a lib¬ eral supxjorter of its mission enterprises.

not far from the mills. This was ex¬ changed for a more commodious house on Tenth street, and this in turn for a beautiful stone mansion on Stevens ave¬ nue. His immediate family consists of twin sons, yet in their boyhood.

Fred Carlton Pillsbury, the junior member of the milling firm of Chas. A. Pillsbury & Co., was born at Concord, New Hampshire, August 27, 1852. He graduated at the high school of his native city in 1870, and came imme¬ diately to Minneapolis and engaged as clerk for his uncle, John S. Pillsbuiw, in the hardware business. October 19, 1876, he married Miss Alice T. Cook, of Minneapolis, and about the same time was admitted a partner in the milling firm. An experience of fourteen years as an active manager of the largest milling business in the world gave him a thor¬ ough mastery of the business, so that upon the sale of that great property he joined with other gentlemen of the city in organizing the Northwestern Consoli¬ dated Milling Company, of which he became a director and one of the manag¬ ing committee. Next to the Pillsbury- Washburn S3Uidicate, this is the largest milling business in the countiy. It owns and operates the Crown Roller, Pettit, Northwestern, Columbia and Galax^^ mills, with a daily capacit3^ of ten thous¬ and five hundred barrels of flour, and a daiU" consumption of wheat of over fift3" thousand bushels.

Mr. Pillsbury was a director in the First National bank, the oldest and larg¬ est bank in the city ; also in the Swedish American bank, one of the latest. He was president of the Minneapolis, Lyndale & Minnetonka railway, a suburban steam line, until that compan3^ was ab¬ sorbed in the present electric system of rapid transit. He was for two 3'ears president of the State Agricultural So¬ ciety, and giving to the management personal attention and subjecting it to the strict lousiness methods which he had learned, the society was placed on a firm financial basis, and its annual exhibitions became the best in the country. He has a decided taste for rural life. He delights in a good team; and surrounds himselt with cattle, like himself, of ample girth. His home is an elegant brick mansion at Tenth street and Third avenue; but he has a summer home on the shore of Lake Minnetonka, and near by a farm, well stocked with the choicest breeds of cattle, sheep and blooded horses. This is rather a recreation and indulgence of natural taste than a branch of business. He has, too, a fine artistic faculty, and has embelished his home with I'are examples of the sculptor's and painter's art.

His social inclinations are a marked trait of his character, and have led him to take an active interest in the Min¬ neapolis Club, of which he has been a manager.

The family consists of a son, Carleton Cook, and three daughters, Hattie Good¬ win, Marion and Alice. Two youngchildren have been lost from the fold.

Since the foregoing sketch was pre¬ pared its sidiject has been called to the unseen world. Returning fi'om a business trip in the south, he was attacked with a sickness which developed into malig¬ nant diphtheria, which proved quickhfatal. His death occuri'ed May 14th, 18^2. From the man 3' tifibutes to his v/oi'th which the sad event called forth, the following from one of the daih" papers of the city shows the regard in which he was held among those who knew him best :

The death of F. C. Pillsbury was peculiarly sad. Mr. Pillsbury had much to live for. Life held out unusual attraetions to him. Loved by a large circle of friends, respected br' the whole community as a man of high character and honorable living, rich in the love of a devoted wife and hn])]n' child-

But death is no respector of persons or eonditions, and has summoned him when apparently in the prime of vigorous manhood and surrounded by everything that makes life worth living.

Fred Pillsbury was in the prime of life and eomjiaratively a young man. He had never sought ])rominence in business or official life, and j'et he was regarded as one of the most capable and ser¬ viceable men in the community. He was of a peculiarly frank and genial disposition, a man of kind words and generous deeds, a large hearted, manly man who diffused something of his hopeful and courageous spirit wherever he went and into everything with which he was connected. Piis services to the community, while rendered in a modest wae', were none the less valuable and imjiortant.

The memory of Fred Pillsbury will be cherished with only the kindliest feelings by all who were so fortunate as to enjoy his acc]uaintance and exper¬ ience the pleasure to be derived from his unobtru¬ sive but warm hearted friendship and the never failing gentlemanliness of his bearing toward everyone with whom he came in contact.

In 1870, with the purchase of a third interest in the Minneapolis mill, the great milling firm of Chas. A. Pillsbnrt' & Co. commenced htisiness. The firm was originalh' composed of John S., George A., and Chas. A. Pillsbury, being stt'led Chas. A. Pillsbury & Co. In 1875 F. C. Pillsbury became a partner also, the same firm name remaining. From the beginning the progress of this firm has been remarkable even in the annals of merchant milling in Minneapolis. It became the largest flour milling firm in the world, and its products attained a world wide re]nitation. The Messrs Pillsbury were in advance of all competi¬ tors in the introduction of new and im¬ proved machinery, and they reaped the consecpient reward. In 1889 they sold their business to the Pillsbur3'- Washburn I'lour Mill Co., but the\^ remain the prac¬ tical managers, as Chas. A. and John S. Pillsbuiw arc both resident directors, and Chas. A. Pillsbuiw is the managing director of the new compain-. .\t the

Mr. Charles A. Pillsbuiw was born to be a manufacturer. He has the manu¬ facturers temjierament em])haticall_v, genial and joll^', thoroughU' democratic, with a kind word for eveiw one, s^'injiathetic, and generous in his dealings with his emplovecs, broad and liberal in his views, with a wonderful capacitv for business, while his success has been ]ihenominal, it is not surprising to those who know him well, and he has been for¬ tunate in having so good a counselor as his partner and uncle John S. Pillsbury.

The 3war of 1870 marked a new era in the manufacture of flour in Alinneapolis and the entire Northwest. Prior to that time flour made of spring wheat had been in poor demand and favor, selling at about $1 per barrel cheaper than cor¬ responding cpialitics of winter wheat flour. The flour business hadbccomcdcpressed in Minneapolis in consequence, and profits were small; but there were no indications of the remarkable change in the business which shorth' followed, and revolutionized the worlds idea of spring wheat flour, and brought about that great develojjment of the milling interests of Minneapolis, which has placed this cit3' foremost in the world for its production and qualit3' of flour, and which has contributed not a little to its wonderful growth.

At that time the Washburn B mill was the second largest mdl in the United States and was universalh' known as the big mill. The career of the "big mill" had not been satisfactoiw and according to popular belief its failure was attribtitcd to its great size. This is in contrast to the ])rcscnt idea, which judges a mill at a disadvantage with a less capacitv than 1,()()() barrels ])er dav. Thcrcvolution in flour manufacture which occurred in 1870, was in purifying middlings and re-grinding them into what is now known as patent flour. This improve¬ ment was first introduced by Geo. H. Christian of the firm of Geo. H. Christian & Co., who were then operating the Washburn B mill; but the first perfected machine was put in and operated by Gardner, Pillsbury & Crocker in the Min¬ neapolis mill. Other millei's in Minneap¬ olis and the Northwest speedily adopted the new system, and spring wheat flour suddenly became a favorite, and the best grades advanced to a price amounting to about $3 per barrel over the favorite brands of winter wheat flour, and the milling interest in Minneapolis and else¬ where entered upon a career of unex¬ ampled prospei'ity, which continued through many years. The rapidit}^ with which the S3'stem was adopted through¬ out the United States, has frecpientl3" called foi'th the admiration of the mill¬ ing engineers of Europe, where changes are accepted with far moreconservatism.

In December, 1872, Wm. F. Cahill, Chas. M. Loring, Loren Fletcher, and Geo. Hineline purchased the stone build¬ ing on First street near Sixth avenue south, used by the city water works of Minneapolis under the Holly S3"stem. The new proprietors fitted the building up, as a flour mill, during the next win¬ ter, and called it the Holly mill. The3" run the mill until June, 1878, when they sold it to W. H. Hinkle & Co. The mill, when built, had a capacity of 75 barrels per da3', but has since been enlarged to a ca])acit3^ of 550 baiTels. Several changes in the management took place after Hin¬ kle and Co., bought the mill, A.W. Krech operating it for a time, but it is now owned and operated by Charles McC. Reeve, under the style of the Holly Mill Compan3\ with a capacity of 500 barrels per day. In 1884, after Leonard Day's death, this mill passed into the hands of The Wash¬ burn Mill Co., and when the Pillsbur3"- Washburn Flour Mill Co. was formed this mill became a pai't of the properties of that compan3". The capacity of "The Palisade'' has been several times in¬ creased. The building is 60x80 on the ground and six stories high.

In 1872 a fire broke out in a small planing mill on Hennepin island owned by J. B. Ross, located between the Island mill and the P'armers mill, and all three mills burned, and the manufacture of flour on Hennepin Island ceased from that date; but as Hennepin Island was the birth place of merchant milling at the Falls of St. Anthon3^ it had alread3' won glojw enough in that line, and from that da3" to this it has been given over to the lumbermen.

W. W. Eastman, Paris Gibson and Geo. H. Eastman built the Anchor mill, fronting on Second street between Sixth and Seventh avenues south, in the 3^ear of 1873. After operating itfortwo3^ears the3' sold it to Ex-Gov. John S. Pillsbuiy, he trading his stock of hardware for it. He leased the mill to Chas. A. Pillsbuiy & Co., of which firm he was a member, and they operated it until 1881 when they purchased it. The mill was destro3^ed by fire in 1879, but was rebuilt at once with increased capacit3'. In 1890 it passed to the Pillsburv-Washburn Flour Mill Co., who have operated it since that time. The present capacit3" of the mill is 1,600 barrels per day.

In 1874 the Hungarian S3^stem of re¬ duction by chilled iron rollers (instead of 1)3^ mill stones) was introduced in the Washburn A mill by Geo. H. Christian & Co. and in the Pillsbury B mill b3' Chas. A. Pillsbury & Co.

rollers, laid flic complete rouiulation of what is known as modern milling, so dift'erent from the practices i)i'eYailing ])rior to 1870. The two systems have heen mneh developed since their first introdnetion, the credit of which is largely due to C. A. I'illslnu'y & Co., and J. A. Christian & Co. The greatly enhanced profits of the flour business gave a tre¬ mendous impetus to its development, and the immediate result was the build¬ ing of a number of flour mills at Alinneaijolis, among them the Washburn "A'' and Pillsbury "A" mills. The grinding of flour 1)3' mill stones gradually became a thing of the past, and no first-class mer¬ chant mill now has occasion to use them.

The great Washburn "A" mill was completed in Januaiw, 1874, being at that time the largest flour mill in the United States. The mill was owned b\' Gen. C. C. Washburn and was operated 1)3' Geo. H. Christian & Co., the firm being coml)osed of C. C. Washburn, Geo. H. Christ¬ ian, J. A. Christian and L. Christian. In 1875 Air. Geo. H. Christian retired from the firm and the other partners contin¬ ued the business, and the3' were operat¬ ing the mill when the great explosion (which is described elsewhere) occurred, involving the entire destruction of the property; but the mill was immediatelv rebuilt larger than before, the size of the new building being l()()x24() feet and eight stories high.

John Crosuv was born at Hampden, Penobscot Count3', Alaine, Nov.l, 1829. His life's record closed at AIinneai)olis, Dee. 29, 1888, at the age of fift3'-nine 3'ears, after a residence here of eleven 3'ears. His father and grand-father bore the name of John Crosb3' and were I'csidents of Hampden. The latter removed from the New Hami)shire coast, and be¬ longed to a farniU' that had lived in New England from Colonial da3's,and was of

Scotch origin. John Crosb3', the father, was a manufacturer, interested in pa])er mills. He had a family of ten children, of whom John, of this sketch, was the second born. His son, after obtaining an academic education in his native town, abandoned his plan of college training and entered upon a business life. He was connected with the management of the paper mills, in whieh his father was interested, and later with an iron foundrj' and machine shop at Bangor, to whieh place he removed, making both Hampden and Bangor places of alternate residence. At the latter place he married Aliss Olive AIuzz3', daughter of Hon. Franklin AIuzz3', an extensive manu¬ facturer in that cit3'. Of this union three children were born, John, Caroline AI. and P'ranklin AT, all now residents of Alinneapolis. All's. Crosby died before the removal of the famih' from Alaine.

Air. Crosby removed to Alinneapolis in the year, 1877. He was then in mature age, and had been for almost a generation engaged in manufacturing, bringing with him ripe experience. Heat once purchased an interest in the business of the Washburn " B " flouring mill, and assumed its management. Later he be¬ came interested in the operation of all the mills built by Gov. Washburn, under the style ofWashburn-Crosb3'& Co., and at the death of the former, the business was incorporated as the Washburn- Crosb3' Alilling Co. Air. Crosb3' had the principal charge of the business of the firm during the time the chief improve¬ ments whieh have revolutionized the process of flour milling were evolved, and were adopted in the Washburn mills.

Air. Crosbv was an energetic, careful and prudent manager, and the business prospered, becoming the largest manufaetur3' of flour in the eitv, unless that of the Pillsbur3' Comi)anv exceeded it.

In 1879 Mr. Crosby married Miss Emma Gilson of Minnneapolis, daughter of the late F. A. Gilson. He ereeted a fine l)riek mansion on Tenth street, which became an attractive and hospitalole home. Mr. Crosby, though possessed of sterling qualities which would have given him success in public life, preferred to confine himself to the conduct of his bus¬ iness, and did not seek political prefer¬ ment. He was intelligent beyond most men in public questions, and positive in his opinions. He was courteous in his intercourse, and kindly and genial in his home.

In 1879, after the Washburn A mill was rebuilt the firm of Washburn, Crosby & Co., then operating mill B, took the mill and operated it together with the Washburn B and C mills, the last named being completed about that time. In the meantime W. H. Dunwoody and C. J. Martin had been added to the firm, and W. D. Washburn had retired; the firm consisting of C. C. Washburn, John Crosby, W. H. Dunwoody and C. J. Martin, who continued to operate the three mills until 1882, when Gen. C. C. Washburn died and the new firmoperat¬ ing under the same name consisted of John Croslnq W. H. Dunwoody, W. D. Washburn and the C. C. Washburn estate, Mr. Martin retiring and W. D. Washburn coming in again. On Septem¬ ber 1st, 1887 another change was made in the personnel of the firm operating the mills, the new firm being composed of John Crosby, W. H. Dunwood\', C. J. Martin, John Washburn and A. V. Mar¬ tin. The death of Mr. John Crosby oc¬ curring during this year the firm was again changed September 1st, 1888, still operating under the same finn name, the new firm being composed of J. S. Bell, C.

J. Martin, W. D. Washburn, John Wash¬ burn and A. V. Martin. On July 22d, 1887, the firm incorporated under the name of the Washburn, Crosby Co., the incorporators being W. H. Dunwoody, J. S. Bell, C. J. Martin, John Washburn, John Crosby, Jr., and A. V. Martin, and these gentlemen became the first Boai'd of Directors . The following officers were elected and they still retain office: J. S. Bell, president; W. H. Dunwoody, vicepresident, C. J. Martin, secretary and treasurer.

William H. Dunwoody. The modest gentleman whose name heads this notice and is known upon the flour exchanges of two continents, has a personality^ so unassuming that it is recognized by com¬ paratively few of his fellow citizens, among whom he has conducted a large and successful business for more than twenty years. Greatness is often accomjianied by striking physical qualities; sometimes, however, its presence is man¬ ifested only by results worked out in se¬ clusion, through the dominant power of a thoughtful and active brain.

Mr. Dunwoody is one of those whose thought, elaborated in the quiet seclus¬ ion of his office, sets the machinery of business into ceaseless revolution, and achieves results by the unfailing success of his well laid plans. He was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1841. His father was James Dun¬ woody, whose father, grand-father and great-grand-father lived in the same vi¬ cinity in Chester County, and were all engaged in agricultui'al imrsuits. They were of Scotch ancestry, and of the Calvinistic faith and Presbyterian Church connection. His mother was Hannah Hood, daughter of William Hood,ofDelaware County, Pa. He was a descend¬ ant of John Hood, who came with the companions of William Penn, from Lei

Mr. Dun woody's early life was passed upon the farm where he was born, after whieh he was sent to sehool for a season at Philadelphia. When only eighteen he entered into training for his life work, in the store of an unele in Philadelphia, in the grain and Hour trade. After a few yeai's he embarked in the same busi¬ ness as senior partner of the firm ofDunwoody & Robertson. Ten years in early manhood devoted to the praetieal details of the grain business in one of the great markets of the eountry, had given him an exeellent pi'eparation for endiarking in the manufacture of the staide of the food of mankind, when a happy cireumstance led him to Minneapolis, where the opportunity existed to build up a great manufacturing business. It was in 1869 that he took up his residence here. For a year or two his attention was given to the purchase of flour for eastern parties, an emplo\unent which brought him into contact with the millers, and gave him familiarity with (jualities of grain and flour, as well as terms and methods of transportation.

This was before the introduction of the middlings purifier, or the methods of the new process in milling. The mills of the period were grinding sjjring wheat on the old fashioned buhr stones and vainly striving to compete with the whiter brands of flour made from fall sown wheat, in the mills of St. Louis and Ro¬ chester. It had some superior ((ualities, especially for bakers use, whieh gave it access to the eastern markets. The im¬ proved methods of milling, whieh were destined to give to spring wheat flour a precedence over that made from the soft grain, and to produce the patent flour - the finest qualit}' in the world - out of the stuff rejected in the old style of mill¬ ing, were vet in embryo. Mr. Dun woody embarked in milling at this turning point in the business, and was enabled to adopt each improvement as it was intro¬ duced, and to keep his product at the highest point of progressive exeellenee.

In 1871 the firm of Tiftainq Dunwoody & Co. was formed, operatingthe Arctic mill; and that of H. Harrow & Co. opciating the Union mill - both under Mr. Dunwoody's personal management. As the consumption of wheat for milling in Minneapolis increased it became evi¬ dent that co-operation in buying supplies for the mills would be a great eeononi}". It was the practice for each mill to send its buyers to principal shipping ])oints in the wheat producing district, where they not infrequently bid against each other. At the best the system necessitated the employment of a large number of buyers, and was thus burdensome and expensive. Mr. Dunwoodx' applied himself to devise a better system, and organized with other co-operating millers the once fa¬ mous Miller's Association, and became manager and general agent of it. Under it all the private buyers were recalled, and the agents of the association bought all the wheat required for the various mills and distributed it according to the cai)aeity and contributions of the several mills. This system was continued until the establishment of elevators of ade¬ quate capacity, and the building up of a wheat market in Minneapolis, rendered it no longer necessary to go into the eountry for the purchase of wheat, when it was discontinued.

After the new process of milling had been successfully introduced into Minne¬ apolis, but before it had become widely introduced elsewhere, Mr. Dunwoody aeeom])lished a new departure in the ex¬ portation of flour, whieh completely emancipated the mills from the middle men of the Eastern sea ])orts, and freed them from many dela3^s incident to the old system. At the earnest solicitation of Gov. Washburn he made a trip to Eu¬ rope to arrange for a direct export busi¬ ness. On his arrival in England in Novcmljer, 1877, he met with the most de¬ termined opposition from merchants and millers whose commissions and profits would be curtailed by the success of his plan. He did not for a moment lose con¬ fidence in ultimate success, and at length secured a foot hold. His open, upright way of dealing, coupled with the excel¬ lence of the product offered, in time over¬ came all prejudice, and the Northwestern Miller was soon enjo3dng a new and im¬ portant market abroad. The same sys¬ tem was introduced on the Continent, and before long became a settled and re¬ cognized method of distributing the pro¬ duct of the mills. At present the mills of Minneapolis export direct, on through bills of lading, one third of their entire product, and the miller draws his own bills of exchange on his consignee in Lon¬ don, Paris, Hamburg, or wherever he may consign it, and the Minneapolis banks negotiate these bills at first hands.

After the great mill explosion in 1878 Gov. Washburn, whose intuitive judg¬ ment of men was almost unerring, in¬ duced Mr. Dunwood3" to join him in a milling partnership with the late John Crosby and Charles J. Martin, and the firm of Washburn, Crosby & Co. was formed, to run the Washburn mills, com¬ mencing business February 1st, 1879. Since that time Mr. Dunwoody has been uninterruptedly identified with the con¬ duct of these famous mills, (with the ex¬ ception of the year 1888, on account of ill health,) and at present is a large stock¬ holder in the incorporated Washburn, Crosljy Milling Compaiu", and is its vicepresident.

of rollers for crushing the wheat in the process of milling, as being emplo3'ed in the mills at Buda Pesth, reached the enter¬ prising proprietors, who took measures to inform themselves on the subject, with the result that some of the rollers then in use were imported. An experimental mill of one hundred and twent3"-five bar¬ rels capacity, with grinding wholly done b3^ rolls, was built in the "C" mill. Their operation was so satisfactory that the whole "C" mill was changed, and when the machinery of the "A" mill was put in it was completely supplied with rolls, but much improved in construction. Mr. Dunwoody and his associates in the Wash¬ burn mills were the first to introduce and apply the use of corrugated rollers for the reduction of wheat - a new de¬ parture - which in addition to the mid¬ dlings purifier, which had already been l^erfected here, constitutes what is familiarW termed the "new process" in milling.

The intimate connection of milling with the storage of wheat naturally led Mr. Dunwoody to take interests in the building and management of elevators throughout the countr3% in which enter¬ prises he has invested largeh^ of his am¬ ple fortune. He was one of the organiz¬ ers of the St. Anthony and Dakota Ele¬ vator Company, the St. Anthony Eleva¬ tor Company, and the Duluth Elevator Compaiw, three of the heaviest concerns in the countr3'. He is president of the first named, and vice-president of the other two companies.

Besides his large interests in milling and elevatoi's Mr. Dunwoody holds other impoi'tant finaneial trusts. He is a di- I'ector of the Northwestern National Bank, of which another Minneapolis mil¬ ler, Geo. A. Pillsbury, is president, and also he is a director of the Minneapolis Trust Company, two of the largest finan¬ cial institutions of the city.

While the relations of labor towards cajhtal ai'e in so many places strained and hostile they have al\va3's been of the most pacific character between the mil¬ lers and their emplo^'ees in Minneapolis. Tlie I'elations between Mr. Dnnwood\' and theemplo\'ees of the Washburn mills are most cordial and reciprocal.

Mr. l)unwood\' married before coming to Minneapolis Kate L. Patten, of Philadcl])hia, daughter of John W. Patten, a ])rominent leather merchant, but is with¬ out other famih'. He has a pleasant and rich, but unostentatious house on Tenth street, near the new building of the Young Men's Christian Association and the Cit\' Library'. He is a communicant at Westminister Church.

From this sketch which deals large!}' with the business relations of Mr. Dunwoody one would gain a very false im- ])re.ssion, who should regard him as one absorbed in material things. He has lit¬ erary and artistic tastes, and enjoys I'cfined social intercourse. He spends much time in travel, and delights above all things to escape from the cares of busi¬ ness into the open country, where with dog and gun, he follows the trail of game fowls with as great avidity as he experi¬ ences in his more frecpient contests with the bears and bidls of the exchange.

Take him for all in all Mr. Dunwoody is a model citizen, enterprising, methodi¬ cal, ])ainstaking in business - he is unas¬ suming, genial, and affable in i)rivate life. He has the faculty of accumulation, with no sordid stain of greed. His ex¬ ample is both an inspiration and a model to the youth, who would bring into ac¬ tivity both the practical and the ideal clemcn ts of character.

The capacity of the three mills under the control of this corjjoration being 9,- bOO barrels ])cr day, thus rauking third in capacity among the milling firms in

Minneapolis, the Pillsburv-Washburn Flour Mill Co. being first and the North¬ western Consolidated Milling Co. beingsecond, having a trifle larger capacity than the Washburn-Crosby Co.

In 1874 N. R. Thomi)son and Chas. Hoyt built the Diamond mill containing five run of stone. After operating it two years Mr. Hoyt sold out to F. D. Mills, and the firm became Alills & Thom])son; but they soon sold out to Gorton, Hay¬ wood & Co., who were 0])erating the mill when it exploded with the Wash¬ burn "A" in 1878.

In 1875 Chas. A. Pillsbury & Co., bought the woolen mill located at the corner of Catai'act street and I'irst street, fronting west on the can.al and and formerly I'un by Clapp, Watson &: Coon. Messrs. Pillsbur3'& Co. fitted the building up as a nine run flour mill, and named it the "FImpire." The}' ojK'ratcd it until 1881, when on December 4th, of that year, it was entire!}' destroyed by fire, with the Minneapolis, Pillsbury "B" and Excelsior mills also. Messrs. Pills¬ bury & Co. rebuilt the Empire as an ele¬ vator, and have continued to operate it as such ever since, until it became the property of the Pillsbury-lVashburn Flour Mill Co. in 1889.

The Galaxy mill was built in 1875 by W. P. Ankeny and ojjcrated by W. P. Ankeny & Bro., and also by Cahill, Ank¬ eny & Co. It was destroyed by fire July 4, 187G, and rebuilt at once, having twelve run of stone; but it was again destroyed in the great mill explosion of 1878, re¬ built in 1879 by Cahill, I'lctchcr ikr Co., will 1,000 barrels capacity i)er day, the size of the building being G5xl00 feet and six stories high. In 1885, Mcssi's. C. M. and A. C. Loring bought out the interest of W. 1'. Cahill's estate and Loren I'lctchcr and organized the Galaxy Mill Co. This com])an}' owned and oper¬ ated the mill until 1891, when it was

In 1875, Messrs. Stamwitz & Schober built the Phoenix mill, which they have operated ever since. This mill being the only flour mill on the east side of the river besides the Pillsbury "A" mill, its location being at the corner of Main sti'eet and Third avenue southeast.

Dorilus Morrison was born in the town of Livermore, Oxford County, Me., on the 27th of December, 1814. His father, Samuel Moi'rison, was of Scotch lineage, and among the early settlers of the state. He was the third son of a famil}' of four brothers and two sisters. His first business venture was as a mer¬ chant in his native state. The business of supplying lumbermen at Bangor brought him into contact with men in that Imsiness, and gave him an insight into the needs and conduct of the busi¬ ness.

Many of the first settlers of St. Anth ¬ ony were attracted to the countiy bj' the opportunities of pursuing lumbering, which they had become accustomed to among the pineries of Maine. It was with the pui'iiose of locating pine lands for himself and othex'sthat Mr. Mondson visited Minnesota in 1854. He was so favorably impressed wdth the country, especiall3" with its advantages for lum¬ bering, that he returned to Maine, and disposing of his business, which had be¬ came large, came to St. Anthony, to make a permanent location, in thespring of 1855, and at once engaged in active business, which has been continued with rare persistenc}' and success until the pi'esent time.

river had been leased to Messrs. Lovejo\' and Brockway. Mr. Morrison took a contract to supply the mills with logs, and in the following winter fitted out and sent into the pineries on Rum river a crew of men to cut the timber, and in the spring brought the winter's cut suc¬ cessfully^ into the booms. This business was continued for many years. After the completion of the dam of the Minne¬ apolis Mill Company he built a saw mill, and opened a lumber yard, and engaged extensively in the lumber business, con¬ ducting all the operations from cutting the logs in the woods to the sale of the manufactured lumber, until accumula¬ ting interests induced him to resign the business to his sons, George H. and Clin¬ ton, who continued it under the style of Morrison Brothers.

The Minneapolis Mill Company^ was incorporated by an act of the Territorial Legislature in February, 1856, and upon its organization, Mr. Morrison, who had accpiired a large interest in the property, became one of its directors and treasurer. The capital stock was $160,000, made up of the I'eal estate interests conveyed to the company. Hon. Robert Smith, of Alton, Illinois, was president of the com- ])any\ The stockholders consented to have the stock assessed to raise money'^ for improvements, and a substantial log dam was constructed at a cost of $60,- 000. Subsecj[uently a canal was built from the west end of the dam, along the bank of the river, and mill sites Avith water power appurtenant were sold and saw mills were built upon and below the dam. For many" years the enterprise was unremunerative. To put on im¬ provements and develop the water power sorely taxed the resources of the stock¬ holders, and many" of them were forced to relincprish their stock. Mr. Morrison never hesitated to keep his shares good, and from time to time increased his in- terests. His faith in its ultimate success was justified by the result. The water power became the site of varied indus¬ tries. The dam was lined with saw mills, and the canal with mills and fac¬ tories, and became, as it was forseen must be the case, the foundation of the prosperity of a great city. Mr. Morri¬ son remained a director, and often was its president, and alwa^'s an active ad¬ ministrator until the sale of the property to the English syndicate, which now owns it. The capital stock was increased to $400,000, and its earnings paid an ample dividend upon that sum.

Upon the organization of a Union Board of Trade in 1856, to stimulate the business interests of St. Anthony and the incipient town of Minneapolis Mr. Mor¬ rison was chosen its president, and was a director for several years. In the sev¬ eral trade organizations which have suc¬ ceeded the pioneer board, to the present time, he has been an active co-operator, not alone lending them the prestige of his name, but giving them personal at¬ tention, serving upon committees and attending meetings. Indeed in this re¬ spect his example has been a model, for no one has been more constant in attendenee upon meetings, nor more active in forwarding the business. A special point has been punctuality. He was rarely tardy in his appearance at the appointed hour.

In 18v57 a New England Society was formed, constituted of the immigrants from that part of the East. Annual re¬ unions were held with bancpiets, sjiecches and good fellowshij), in which apprecia¬ tion of a good Yankee origin was not lacking. Mr. Morrison was vice-presi¬ dent of the societ3', and one of its most interested and active i)romoters. Atthe opening of the Nicollet House in 1858 a l)<'uupiet was given at which Mr. Morri¬ son, although ])crsonaIly interested in that part of the town which clustered about the vicinity of the falls, officiated as vice-president, and was among the speakers who made the occasion memor¬ able. During this year the "Five Million Railroad Loan Bill" was passed and sub¬ mitted at a special election for approval or rejection by the people. In the canvas which preceded the election Mr. Morri¬ son was among the few who took strong ground against the measure, but their op])osition was overborne by an almost unanimous approval of the measure. Sid)sequent events, which are too well known to reejuire repetition here, proved how wise were the counsels of the small minorit}'. This measure proved abor¬ tive. Mr. Morrison is found activeh' en¬ gaged with other citizens organized as Union Commercial Association, in hold¬ ing public meetings to induce the build¬ ing of railroads, a purpose which was so tenaciotisly persisted in that Minneaiiolis obtained either the terminal or favor¬ able connection with everv" railroad line entering the State. During the war of the Rebellion he served upon a committee to raise funds for the support of the fam¬ ilies of soldiers in the field, and contri¬ buted liberalhq as was his wont in eveiw public emergency, to the fund.

In 1864 Mr. Morrison was chosen to rejiresent the district of Hennepin West in the State Senate, occiqix'ing the posi¬ tion during that and the following 3'ear. His colleague from Hennepin East during both sessions was Hon. John S. Pillsbuiw, and in the House of Representatives dur¬ ing the latter 3-ear sat Hon. C3-rus .\ldrieh and Judge E. R. E. Cornell. Henne¬ pin Count3', alwa3-s ably represented in the Legislature, never sent to the bod v a more brilliant representation.

Upon the incorporation of the Cit v of Minneapolis in 1867 Mr. IMorrison was chosen its first mavor. The succeeding rear the ])osition was held bv II. C. liar- rison, but in 1869 Mr. Morrison was again elected, and gave to the duties of the office that careful attention, and de¬ cisive action, which characterize all his public life, and made the cit3^ government so successful in its early years.

When the construction of the North¬ ern Pacific railway' was undertaken, a construction company' was formed, con¬ sisting of Mr. Morrison, associated with Messrs Brackett, King, Eastman, Wash¬ burn and Shepherd, of Minneapolis; Merriam, of St. Paul; Paj'son and Canda, of Chicago; Balch, of New Hampshire; and Ross and Robinson, of Canada; to which was awarded the contract to construct the first section of two hundred and fort\" miles of the line, from the St. Louis river to the Red river. The work was under¬ taken and pushed with vigor, and the completed road was turned over to the cbmpanj' in 1872.

The efficienc}^ of Mr. Morrison was so well appreciated by the Northern Pacific company that he was chosen as one of the Board of Directors, which position he held until the general re-organization of the company, after the failure of Ja\' Cook & Co., its financial agents. Again in 1873 Mr. Morrison was associated with Messrs Brackett, King, Pa^^son and Canda, in a contract to construct the next section of two hundred miles of the road, from the Red river to the Mis¬ souri. At its completion the aftairs of the compan3wvere so low that no money could be obtained to ])ay for the work. Mr. Morrison assumed the shares of his associates and canceled the indebtedness by receiving in payment a large tract of the compan3"'s lands in Northern Minne¬ sota, which were covered with pine tim¬ ber. Probably Mr. Alorrison, from his long connection with the lumber busi¬ ness of the upper Mississippi, appreciated the valiie of the timber better than the company, for it proved a source of im¬

Large as were his business engage¬ ments at this period, he 3'et found time, to devote to the unpaid service of the community, for in 1871 he was elected for a term of two 3"ears a member of the Board of Education, and later in 1878 he was re-elected for a term of three 3'ears and was chosen president of the board.

At the organization of the Board of Park Commissioners of the Cit3' of Min¬ neapolis, Air. Aforrison was a])2Jointeda Park Commissioner, and held the office also 1)3'- election. He gave to the duties of the office, although the services were unpaid, much time and thought. He was alwa3's jirompt in his attendance at meetings of the Board, and served on important committees. The magnificent l)ark S3'stem of the cit3', which has done so much to make it an attractive and healthful place of residence, owes much to the labor and counsel which Air. Afor¬ rison gave to it.

He was also interested in the Athe¬ naeum, the predecessor and constitvient of the present city library. Often upon its board of managers, sometimes its jii'esident, and alwa3'S a contributor, he greathmided in building ipi that institu¬ tion, and in thus fostering a literaiw taste in the communit3^

Among the enterprizes which Mr. Aforrison has been identified with during his long business career in Minneapolis is the Minneaijolis Harvester Works. As¬ sociated with other gentlemen in its be¬ ginning, rather as a matter of public interest than of individual profit, after a period of unsatisfactory business he saw it likely to become a failure, and assum¬ ing the stock of his discoui'aged asso¬ ciates, he applied to it his careful business methods, supjfiied the needed capital and made it a success. For many years it has been among the largest manufac¬ turers of agricultural machinery in the country. Its mowers and twine binders are found in the meadows and among the wheat fields of the Northwest, and not a few on the Pacific coast.

Mr. Morrison while carefully and in¬ dustriously applying himself to the de¬ tails of his lai'ge business, has neverthe¬ less preserved his health, and re-invigor¬ ated himself by frequent journeys. He has, from time to time, visited nearly every part of the country, and his robust form, dignified bearing and courtly man¬ ners are recognized at the sea side resorts and throughout the leading cities of the land. His homestead of ten acres, at Twenty-fourth street, when built about 1858, was far beyond the limits of the town. It is now far inside the center of the city's population. The mansion, though surpassed in architectural style by many modern houses, is kept in fine condition, and with its ample grounds, adorned with well grown trees, and blooming with the most beautiful shrubs and flowers, is one of the most attrac¬ tive places in the cities. It is the home of refinement, and the center of a gener¬ ous hospitality.

In politics, Mr. Morrison has been a firm Republican, but not a partisan. In religion, he is attached to the Universalist faith. He has ever been a warm friend and liberal supporter of Dr. Tuttle, the genial pastor for so many years of the Church of the Redeemer, and his seat in that place of worship is seldom vacant.

He has been twice mai'ried ; first in 1840, in Livermore, to Miss H. K. Whittemore, who accompanied him to Minne¬ apolis, and was the mother of his three children, George H., now dead, Clinton and Grace, wife of Dr. H. H. Kimball. She died in 1881, at Vienna, Austria, while on a European trip. His present wife was Mrs. A. C. Clagstone, whose liberal culture and artistic taste have made the home a center of refinement and diffused throughout a wide social circle, a charming and inspiring influence.

1878, fronting west on the mill com¬ pany's canal, and leased it to Chas. A. Pillsbury & Co. This mill was totally destroyed by fire December 4th, 1881, and was immediately rebuilt and oper¬ ated by^ Mr. Morrison. Mr. Morrison, associated with E. V. White, built the Standard mill, also fi'onting on Sixth avenue south, between First and Second streets. Mr. White retired from business after a few years and Mr. Morrison operated the Excelsior and Standard mills alone until his firm in 1889 became the Minneapolis Flour Mfg. Co., having consolidated with Morse & Sanjmis,and operating the Standard, Excelsior and St. Anthony Mills, with a daily capacity of 3,400 barrels, with D. Moi'rison, presi¬ dent; Samuel Morse, vice-president; D. A. Sammis, secretary, and H. B. Whit¬ more, treasurer. They also own the Union mill, now used for a grist mill.

1879, refitted and sold to Hinkle, Greenleaf & Co. in 1880, and its capacity' in¬ creased to 700 barrels per day. It is now owned and managed by W. H. Hin¬ kle, and has a capacity of 1,200 bai'rels per day', the size of the mill being 65 x 95 feet, and four stoi'ies high.

The Pettit mill was built in 1875 by' Pettit, Robinson & Co. This mill was destroyed by fire in the great mill explo¬ sion of 1878, but rebuilt the summer fol¬ lowing by C. H. Pettit, J. M. Robinson and Wm. Pettit. These gentlemen con¬ tinued to operate the mill until the fall of

1878, when J. A. Christian & Co. suc¬ ceeded them and operated the mill until 1886. The death of Mr. Christian occurred in that year and the firm was changed to Pettit, Christian & Co., F. K. Pettit entering as a partner and act¬ ing as manager of the business. The mill had a capacit\" of 1,600 barrels per da}'. This mill became the propert\' of the Northwestern Consolidated Milling Co. on its organization in 1891, and was immediately turned into an elevator, the machinery not being the latest im¬ proved milling machiner}', and the I'ettit mill has become the Pettit elevator with a capacity of 250,000 bushels.

In 1875, the Minneapolis millers find¬ ing themselves unnecessarih' competing with each other in the same market, and bidding up the price of wheat beyond surrounding and competitive markets, concluded to form some organization to which should be delegated the purchase of wheat for their mills, the corporation to be something on the co-operative plan. When the organization was first formed it was considered to be an experiment only, and the original articles of agree¬ ment were only binding for three months. At that time the Minneapolis flour mills contained 169 runs of stone, divided between eighteen mills, and the\' all joined the new organization. The first officers elected were D. R. Barber, presi¬ dent ; Frank D. Mills, secretary, and Wm . II. Dunwoody, agent, and the name of the organization became "The Minne¬ apolis Alillers Association, taking the name of the old organization of 1866. The association placed the whole matter of purchasing wheat in the hands of a general agent, he having charge of all the buyers outside of Minneapolis, and u])on the arrival of the wheat in Minne¬ apolis it was his duty to attend to its distribution among the members of the association according to the capacity of their mills, each mill to furnish a pro rata portion of the money as called for by the agent. During the first three months the association purchased 802,- 000 bushels of wheat, and the working of the organization was so satisfactory that the members concluded to continue until September, 1st, 1876. The follow¬ ing firms became members of the original organization :

In September, 1876, the Miller's Asso¬ ciation was incorporated under the laws of the State of Minnesota, with a cajiital of $35,000 in shares of $50. The by¬ laws required each firm to pay for at least twelve shai'cs of stock on becoming a member of the association, and this stock was not transferable. After incor¬ poration, W. P. Ankeny was elected ])residcnt of the association; C. S. Haz¬ ard, secretary, and C. S. Bunker, genend agent.

During the milling year of 1876-7 the combined capacity of the association was increased to 192 runs of stone. 1 he ter¬ ritory in which the association bought was extended. In 18< /, F. B. Andieus became general agent in place of Mr. Bunker, and the capacit3^ of the associa¬ tion was increased to 233 runs of stone. In 1880, 335 runs of stone were repre¬ sented in the association, but in that year the association commenced to disin¬ tegrate; the Union, Model, North Star and Arctic mills withdrawing, as thet" 1)elieved they could buy their wheat ehea])er outside of the association. From this time on dissatisfaction increased among the members until the association disbanded September 17th, 1888. The officers in power at the time of disband¬ ment were as follows; J. A. Christian, president; H. W. Holmes, vice-president; Chas. W. Aloore, treasurer; F. L. Greenleaf, secretary, and J. H. Hiland, general agent. At that time there were 611 runs of stone represented in the organi¬ zation.

The association was very sharply criticized by farmers and opposition wheat binders in the countiw, as well as by certain politicians in Minneapolis; but without doubt all such criticisms were unjust and without cause, as the association was fair and honorable in its dealings, just to the wheat raisers, and a benefit to the millers who organized it.

In 1877, Russell, Roots & Crosen built the Model mill on a site frontine' east on the canal, between Fifth and Sixth avenues south. Mr. R. P. Russell was one of the oldest citizens of Min¬ neapolis, and had for main^ yeax's oc- Gupied the same site with a planing mill, which was torn down to make wa\' for the new flour mill. The mill had five runs of stone and was ojxei'- ated by Russell & Co. until it bui'iied down in 1882, and it was not i-cbuilt.

This brings us down to the great mill explosion, an appalling catastrophe which occurred on Ma_v 2d, 1878. The Washbui-n "A" mill, at that time the lai-gest floui-ing mill in the United States, owned by Gen. C. C. Washbuim and opei'ated by J. A. Christian & Co., stood on the site of the pi'esent Washbxxi'n A mill. Immediately' west of it stood the the Diamond mill, owned Iw Gorton, Haywood & Co., and adjoining the Dia¬ mond on the south and west of the Washburn "A" stood the Humboldt mill, on the site now occupied Iw the pi'esent mill, and owned by' Bull, Newton & Co. Dii'ectly south and adjoining the Hximboldt mill, stood the two story' stone building occupied by Smith, Pai'ker & Co. as a sash, door and blind factoi'v, and north of the Diamond mill A. R. Gilder's ndddling's pui'ifier shop and H. C. Butler's machine shop wei'e located. The mills wei'e all running full time with full ct'ews. The employees of Smith, Pai'ker & Co. had left the factory at about 6:30 p. m. The day shift in the flouring mills had gone home at about the same hour, and the men of the night shift had just taken their places in the mills, preparatory' to their twelve hours of labor, when at ten minutes past seven p. M., without any' warning whatever, the Washburn "A"mill exploded, foil owed almost instantly' by the explosion of the Diamond mill, which was followed in unother instant by the explosion of the Plumboldt mill; there not being more than a second of time elapsing between each explosion. All Minneapolis was aghast with fright. It seemed to many' as if the great day' had come when the "Heavens were to be rolled together as a scroll and the elements melt in fervent heat.''

To those wdio were less frightened and more close observers it seemed as if all the engines in the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul R. R. round houses had ex¬ ploded. There were three distinct shocks felt all over the city. The greater por¬ tion of the glass in the store fronts on Washington avenue, from Tenth avenue south to Nicollet avenue, fell outward on the sidewalk with acrash,iu many i)laecs the sash going out with the glass. Plate glass on Nicollet avenue and Third street was broken. People passing along the jidjaeent streets were suddenly pros¬ trated to the ground, from some cause, they knew not what. The great roof of the Washburn "A" mill arose to a height of five hundred feet and poising for an in¬ stant in mid-air, fell with a erash into the crater of seething flame where the mill once stood. The air was filled with the debris from the three great flouring mills; timbers, stone, iron and human bodies commingled, and instanteousU' the whole mass was lurid with flame, and the ground for a spaee of several aeres around the demolished buildings was covered with the remains ol the three great buildings, now blown to atoms by an unseen power, whieh no man could measure or at that time comprehend.

The Milwaukee roundhouse w a s wrecked. The sash, door and blind fac¬ tory of Smith, Parker & Co. was demol¬ ished so that there was not a portion of the wall left three feet high. A. R. Gilder's establishment and H. C. Butler's machine shop were obliterated. Of the three great flouring mills only the foundations remained, and of the fourteen men em¬ ployed in the Washburn "A" mill notone was left to tell the exact cause of the exiflosion, which to this day remains a nu^stery.

The explosion broke every window and door in the Zenith, the Galax\' and the Pettit, Robinson & Co. mills immediateh' across the canal from the Washbm-n "A" mill, and they took fire and burned up. Everj" one was astonished and many terror stricken. All sorts of rumors were in the air; men running irom plaee to place, hatless and eoatless, seareely knowing what to do in the face of this unexplainable ealamity. Some said a car a dynamite lying on the traek nearthe Washburn"A"mill had exploded; others that some infernal maehine had been placed there to wreek the mills ; while those who were better informed as to the possibilities of an explosion from flour dust said that the great explosion had eome from the dust house in theWashburn "A" mill, whieh having exploded, raised the loose dust seattered aroxind which exjDloded also, causing the great mill to rise in the air like feathers blown in a whirlwind. This explosion causing in turn the explosion of the Diamond and Humboldt mills, the fire of course immediately communicating with the flour dust in each mill. This would account for the three distinct explosions, eaeh immediately following the other. The employees of the Washburn "A" mill killed in the explosion were as follows : E. W. Burbank, Cyrus W. Ewing, E. H. Grundman, Heniw Hicks, Charles Hen¬ ning, Patrick Judd, Charles Kimball, William Leslie, Fred A. Merrill, Edward E. Merrill, Walter E. Savage, Ole Seine, August Smith and Clark Wilbur.

In addition to the fourteen lives lost in the Washburn "A" mill, John Boyer was killed in the Diamond mill, and in the Humboldt, Peter Hogberg, in the Zenith John Rosenius also surrendered up his life, making a total of seventeen men killed in the tlu'ee mills. Jacob Rhodes, who lived near by the mill at the time of the explosion, was also killed, making a total of eighteen lives lost. Several ol' the bodies were not recovered, and were undoubtedly blown to atoms in the awful explosion.

For da3^s a large erew of men worked on the debris of the ex])loded mills, and tenderly gathered all they could find of the remains of the lost men. The fragtments of bodies were carried to Lakewood cemetery and buried together, and the Minneapolis head millers raised a

But there is something in tlie Minne¬ apolis atmosphere so stimulating to her eitizens that the3' will not permit ruin to stalk uneheeked. Fire eannot l)urn it or Hood di'own it; and the proprietors of the destrov'ed mills immediately proeeeded to rehuild. Gen. C. C. Washburn bought the site of the Diamond mill and extended the Washburn "A" over from First street to Second street, doubling its size and making it at that time the largest flouring mill in the world.

The Humboldt mill proprietors also immedicitely proceeded to relmild, and put up a more magnificent structure than befoi'e. The proprietors of the Diamond mill went out of business.

The Zenith, Galax}", and Pettit, Rob¬ inson & Co. mills were all I'ebuilt. Smith, Parker & Co. moved their business to the east side of the river, to their i^resent location.

A. R. Guilder built new works on Seventh avenue south. H. C. Butler moved to Sixth avenue south, between Washington avenue and Third street, and the block which had but a few days before been covered b3" a mass of broken stone and twisted iron beams and de¬ molished machinery, became the busiest place in the city of Minneapolis, beingaim ost covered with men rebuilding the the demolished flour mills ; but in re¬ building the proprietors were careful to profit 1)3" their former experience.

The subtile flour dust containing so much explosive power was carefully con¬ fined to a sj)ace particularly prepared for it, so that there is but little danger of a recurrence of a similar disaster to the modern flour mill.

No man will ever know exactly what caused the terrible explosion ; but many of those who are expert in the manufac¬ ture of flour say that j)robabl3" one of the employees went into the dust house of the flouring mill with lighted lamp, and the air being filled with the fine par¬ ticles of flour dust took fire and exploded, causing the mill to explode; while others say that the buhrs run dry of grain and the stones striking fire communicated it to the conveyors and thew carried it to the dust bouse, which exploded, therebv causing the mill to explode.

The fire communicated with the Pet¬ tit, Robinson & Co. lumber j-ai'd just south of the exploded mills and burned it up also. The explosion considerabU" damaged the Washburn "B" mill, the Exeelsor mill just completed by D. Morri¬ son, and the Palisade mill, owned by Leonard Day & Co. The damage to those mills came from the concussion which broke the glass and disarranged tlie machinery, which was readily re¬ paired.

The mills destro3"ed contained 88 run of stone, as follows: Washburn A, 41; Humboldt, 8; Galaxy, 12; Diamond, 6; Zenith, 6; Pettit, Robinson & Co., 15.

The mills left upon the Falls con¬ tained 150 run of stone, as follows : City, 5; Pillsbury B, 11 ; Empire, 9 ; Wash¬ burn B, 11; Model, 5; Cataract, 10; Union, 6; Phoenix, 5; Anchor, 12; Min¬ neapolis, 9; Palisade, 11; Excelsior, 14; Dakota, 6 ; Holly, 5; Arctic, 6 ; North Star, 5. The Phoenix and North Star being on the east side of the river.

Immediately after the explosion the insurance men came to investigate the calamity as relating to the policies of insurance written upon the property", and the question at once arose as to whether the property was destro3'ed by fire or explosion. A coi'oners jury was summoned to paSs upon the cause of death to the eighteen men whose lives were lost in the terrible calamity. The

The jury rendered a verdict that the men came to their death by an explosion in the Washburn A, Diamond and Hen¬ nepin mills, eaused by fire which commu¬ nicating with flour dust caused the ex¬ plosion. This settled the question of liability of the insurance companies, and the losses ' were eventually paid to the extent of the policies.

B\^ order of Gen. C. C. Washburn a tal)let of eut stone was placed in the wall at the northeast corner of the new Washburn A mill, bearing the following inscription : was erected in the year 1879 on the site of Washburn Mill A which was totally destroyed on the Second day of May, 1878, by fire and a terrific

In 1878, the Minneapolis millers commeneed to export flour to Europe. The exportation for that year being 109,183 barrels, or about one-ninth of the total output. This outlet for flour mill pro¬ ducts opened to the Minneapolis millers a constanth^ increasing trade until in 1891 the exportation of flour aggregated 2,576,545 barrels, or about one-third of the total output for that year. With this ratio of increase in the exportation of flour not many years would elapse until the greater proportion of the flour output of Minneapolis would be sold to foreign eountries ; but undoubtedly the ratio of exports to output will not in¬ crease as rapidly as it has for the past thirteen year's for the reason that the greater proportion of flour exported to Europe is of the poorer grades, and of course the mills are limited in the pro. duction of the lower grades of flour, and the European market already takes the great bulk of those grades, while the finer grades are nearly all used in the United States, and there is undoubtedly a large waiting market for the increased i:)roduction of the finer grades of flour, so that it stands to reason that the expor¬ tation of flour will inerease only in pro¬ portion to the increase of the total out¬ put.

In 1879, Messrs. Christian Bros. & Co. commenced to build the Crown Roller mill, the firm being composed of J. A. Christian, L. Chi'istian, C. M. Hardenbui'g and C. E. French. This firm com- ]fleted and opei'ated the mill until 1886, when J. A. Christian died, and the fii'iu incorporated under the name of the Christian Bros. Mill Co. This eoi'poi'ation owned and operated the mill until 1891, when it became the property of the Northwestern Consolidated Milling Co. The Crown Roller mill is one of the large flouring mills of Minneapolis, being 124x145 feet on the ground and seven stories high, and standing upon liigh ground in the milling district it is an im¬ posing structure. The mill has a capac¬ ity of 2,500 barrels per da^'.

The same 3'ear Alessrs. Sidle, Fletcher Holmes & Co. built the Northwestern mill, on the site of the Cit\' mill, also of the old government mill. The firm was soon after incorporated as the Sidle, I'letcher, Holmes Co. The stock of this compain- changed hands at different times, with the consequent change of management, until the mill was bought Iw the Northwestern Consolidated Mill¬ ing Co. in 1891, and the capacit3" of the mill increased to 2,500 barrels per da^q the size of the mill being 50x107 feet, eight stories high.

Hknkv E. Fletchkr. Honoi-able, j)ractical industr\q wiseh" and vigoroush' applied never fails of success. It bears one onward and upward, develops the individual character and powerfulh' stimulates the action of others. To healthful minds, with personal applica¬ tion comes enjo\'mentandasenseof dut\' done. Then too, progress is impossible without it. It is this unflagging spirit of industr3^ that has laid thefoundations and built up the commercial greatness of the Northwest. The rapid growth of Minnesota and adjacent territor3q while richly endowed by nature and possessing far reaching possibilities, is largeh' at¬ tributable to the untiring energ3' of indi¬ viduals.

CloseU' connected with the develop¬ ment and prosperit3' of Minneapolis stands the name of Henr3' IT Fletcher, a gentleman whose long business experi¬ ence, intuitive knowledge of men, rare executive abilit3' and ])leasant social (pialities have won for him the highest rcs])ect and esteem of his fellow citizens.

Juh' 31st, 1843, being a descendant of one of the oldest pioneer families of New England. The genealogv of this famih' is tracable to the Northern shore of Lake Geneva in that part of Switzerland now known as the Canton de Vaud. From this localit3' various members of thefamih" journeved to England, main^ settling there. The earliest American ancestor, Robert Fletcher, was born in England in 1592, emigrated to America 1630, and died at Concord, Mass., April 3d, 1677.

Capt. Joel Fletcher, a direct descend¬ ant of Robert and grandfather of our subject was born in Chesterfield, N. H., Nov. 26th, 1763. In 1793 he removed with his family to Vermont, encounter¬ ing deprivation, discomfort and varied trials incident to pioneer life. Joel, the voungest of his nine childi'en was born in L3'ndon, March 3d, 1818, and was the father of Henr3' E. ITetcher.