Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-10-23
j. s. PILLSBURY DIES.
The Ex-Governor Succumbs After
a Short Illness.

| The Father Of the Minnesota University
| and Public Benefactor Taken Ill but
Two Weeks Previous. Death
Came Peacefully.
Ex-Governor John S. Pillsbury died
at his residence in Minneapolis at 2:45
the morning of Oct. IS. Heart trouble
and Bright's disease of an acute nature
caused his demise. He was taken seri-
ously ill about two weeks previously
with the whooping cough. Shortly
afterward, during a spell of severe
coughing, one of the smaller blood YES
sells of the brain was ruptured.
His advanced age initiated against
his recovery, and the physicians in at
tendance realized that his death was
4 matter of but short time. Several
days before his death his friends gave
up hope of his recovery and were
waiting for the end.
John Sargent Pillsbury was born in
Sutton. N. H., July 10. 1928. His father
ness and for many years prominent in his
neighborhood and in political affairs His
mother vas Susan a Wadleigh descend
who was at one time member of the
provincial legislature. and whose son,
Capt. Thomas Wadleigh. held commits
| sion in the continental army His moth
ers' mother was a daughter OF Ebenezer
Kezer, also an early settler Of Sutton.
oca ag9 ne 4e earn
| the printers trade. but at the age OF IL
he made, up his mind that. he preferred
mercantile pursuits, Entering general
| q
six years as a clerk. lie then entered
into partnership with Walter Hartman,
" Served as governor Of the State;
For two years Mr.. Pillsbury, conducted
business of his own in Concord but game
greater opportunities for growth and ex-
pansion. In 1858 he left his New England
home for, a, tour Of observation in the
ing he visited many of the newer, com
munites in the then rapidly developing
western country. In June, 1892; g. ne visited Et
featuring development He Settled in St.
himself with is brother-n- law, Woodbury.
| Fisk. and George Cross, in partnership
for carrying on trade in hardware: The
burned out in 1851 at the time when many
hundreds of business firms in the East
and West were forced to close their doors
in the great financial panic which swept
| the country at that time.
Mr. Pillsbury assumed the debts of the
firm and resumed business. He continued
his pursuits for IS years With
of his business to give his entire time
to the great milling industry which he
charle eseG A. Psbgy up and A the
brother, John A. Pillsbury. were asso-
GATED with the late governor under the
A f zane nep6ew Fred ed {. PisburS was was
later admitted to the firm. The Pillsbury
mills have been since maintained on their
own merit and worked independently, and
have grown to be among the largest in
| the world.
For 10 years Mr.. Pilsbury served as a
single brief interval he was a senator in
| the state legislature from 1863 to 1876.
About. the same time he was appointed
one of the. regents Of the university. and
after careful investigation of the details
of that institution, the situation and the
amount of it's debts. he introduced to the
! fairs of the university were placed in the
hands of a new board of regents.
IN bS 1919 R ne %ns fnr
ernor of the state of Minnesota, and his
election followed.
His knowledge of men was wonderful.
judgment of their capabilities and weak
nesses had been developed in the great
school of practical business: His admin
| peculiarly popular with the people at
| large. He took an immediate interest in
the affairs of those under his jurisdiction.
Soon after his Inauguration to Office a
peculiar condition confronted the farmers
| of the state which demanded immediate
| attention.
The grasshopper plague had laid waste
| large agricultural sections and left thou
| sands of prosperous farmers of the state
in destitute condition. Gov. Pillsbury.
determined to know the exact condition
Of affairs in the rural Districts made a
trip. incognito, through the ruined dis
ttricts Of the. state. acquainting himself
would be most effective. The governor,
unknown to those among whom he was
| private purse. and on his return to the
| capitol made a public appeal for funds to
the prosperous people Of the state, and
fuel and money. When the Legislature
assembled s;a he recommended an appropria-
| lieve the want. In this manner he al
ieviated the distress of families too proud
to ask for aid, yet now reduced to a con-
| ditiOn where assistance was necessary.
During his first term of office he was
also called upon to deal forcibly with
gang of Missouri bandits. which at that
| time invaded Minnesota; and the prison
| rules of the state soon held the names
Of the most prominent Of IT,, the famous
lawlessness which the freebooters en-
deavored to inaugurate was thus quickly
stopped by the prompt action of Gov.
| Pillsbury.
In 1877 and again in 1879 he was re-
elected to the governship. thus serving
| three consecutive terms, a distinction ac-
corded no other man in the history Of the
| state.
Mr. Pillsbury was married at Warner,
| N. H.. Nov. 3, 1856, to Miss Mahala Fisk
line of New England settlers. She was
born at Springfield, N. H.. May z 1882,
her. parents being Capt. John and Sarah
| Fisk.
Gov. Pillsbury is survived by his wife
| and two children. Alfred Fisk Pillsbury
and Mrs. Edward Gale. Coy. and Mrs.
P Rha rye nave aye had four children two of
What Gov. Pillsbury has done for the
! Minnesota State University was probably
never more forcibly brought to the minds
| of the citizens of the state than at the
monument on the campus grounds, Sept.
Upon the day of Gov. Pinsburys
| funeral the university will be closed in
| all it's departments. The faculty and
students will attend the services in
terment, if it is to be public
John 8. Pillsbury was the last member
| of the original firm that entered into the
milling business in Minneapolis under the
| firm name Of Charles A. Pillsbury & CO.
He has ash had the supervision Of the bust
bury. in August, 1889.
ITALIAN ITEMS.
Most of the worlds rosaries are
made at Loreto, in Italy. Thirty-five