Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-18
The Famous Mill Manager Expires
Suddenly at His Home in
Minneapolis
Was a National Figure and Founded
an Enormous Business in
Grain.
One Of the First to Adopt Profit
sharing Plan Among Employees
His Career.

D O'CLOCK. He mad been Suuerlng LOT
more than year. but lately his condi-
ton had improved to such an extent
that his thousands of friends grew
hopeful that he would be restored to
health.
On account of poor health Mr.. Pills
bury went to Europe on Dec. I, 1898, and
returned in the middle of June.
While abroad he consulted with emf
nent physicians in London, Paris, Vi
emma and Berlin. When he landed in
New York he was of the opinion that
his health was much improved. but be-
fore leaving the metropolis he consulted
other doctors, and since returning he
has been patient of Dr. Porter. of New
York, and DR.. w. A. Jones, of this city.
The physicians agreed that he was suf-
fcring from heart trouble, caused by an
enlargement Of the stomach, which in
turn was due to overwork and INSULT
cient physical exercise. After reaching
home he gradually improved, and
seemed to be in fair way to totally re-
cover his health
A week ago he took a trip to south
ern Minnesota, but on his return he suf
fered from nausea. 1t was not until
Saturday morning that the dangerous
symptoms developed. He then felt SO
i'll that he concluded not to go to his
office. although since his return from
his European trip he has been devot-
ing but about two hours day to bust
ness.
He remained at home nearly all day
Saturday. In the evening he played
cards with his wife and passed the time
cheerfully and happily. During Satur-
day night he complained of great pain
and physicians were summoned. They
remained with him through the night
and yesterday until a short time before
Mr.. Pillsbury died.
He was conscious to the end and
talked to his wife and friends who were
in the room. A few moments before
death came he complained of difficulty
in breathing. Then with a struggle he
expired.
Mr. Pillsbury was born Oct. 3. 1912. at
Warner, N H. After being graduated
from Dartmouth College in 1863 he took
up the serious questions of life as a
clerk in Montreal wholesale establish
ment. where he remained six years.
Sept u, 1866. he married Miss Mary A.
Stinson. of Goffstown, N. Y.
In 1869 Mr. Pillsbury determined to
go into the great undeveloped west and
carve out his fortune. He selected Min
neapolis as likely point, and bought
an interest in a small milling concern,
agreeing to pay $4,000 therefor. The
lplant was badly run down and was not
paying expenses so there was some
sympathy expressed for the young part
ner. However, he set himself to work
| first to master the trade of miller and
then to improve the property. He soon
| purchased the entire plant, and as the
| business grew he took in his father,
brother and uncle as partners. The
/ firm continued as Charles A. Pillsbury
| & Co. until the acquisition of the prop
erty by an English syndicate in 1890
Every Improvement in milling ma
chinery was quickly adopted by Mr..
| Pillsbury. He was the first to see the
value of the steel roller process instead
1 of the old stone burrs, and practically
| held a monopoly of 1T for years. He
!, found that this process required the use
iof hard spring wheat instead of the soft
| winter wheat, which had always been
| more in demand This gave the north
4 western wheat fields a powerful impe-
titus.
AS the business grew to enormous
proportions it became necessary to es-
Itablish a great system of elevators tC
supply the mills. Mr.. Pillsbury natu-
rally became Interested in the grair
carrying railroads, and to his enormous
energy and enterprise the rapid devel.
lopment of the northwest is largely in
dcbted.
1 When the firm of c. A. Pillsbury
Co. was dissolved it is said the outpu
of the mills was 10000 barrels of floul
daily, requiring the use of 10000 bushel.
of wheat day, or more than 1000, 00l
bushels annually. The present Pills
I bury Washburn Company has an out
put of 145oo barrels daily, or $500, 00
barrels annually. and of this immenst
business Mr.. Pillsbury had complete
control.
Mr.. PilIsbury was an optimist, from
the crown of his head to the sole OF hi
feet. AS miller and a great consume
of wheat, ii seems strange that he wa
always in favor of the highest price
for grain. Yet he was at all times Of
: the bull side of the market. He be
4 lieved in good prices for everything
: This was strongly marked in his treat
ment of his army of employees.
For years he paid his men the high
est wages in the country, and they wer
contented. AS his wealth increased an
: the sun Of prosperity continued to shin
: upon him he cast about for some way i
. which he could divide with the faithfr
: men who had helped him grow ricl
:. This eventually came in the system {
: profit sharing. purely voluntary az
on his part. Under this system certai
sum was set aside every year to pay tn
5, cost of repairs and the substitution an
addition of new machinery and appl
= ences and an amount reserved to pay
: fixed charge upon the money investe
q in the business. The balance was d
4 vided among the employees each yea
This sum was very large.
The cordiality between Mr.. Pillsbur
and all his employees was so marke
u that there have been no labor trouble
a in the immense business. A strih
e would have been impossible.
\ Indians Threaten Trouble.
q Denver. Col, Sept. 1s.-News hs
1 a rv>t,1 6ot a n