Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-10-22
CARGILL PASSES AWAY
MILLIONAIRE SUCCUMBS TO INDI-
GESTION AND PNEUMONIA.
Death Ends an Unusually Successful
Life-Benefactions Were as Wide
as Business Activities.

LA CROSSE, Wis, Oct. 1S-W W.
Cargill, richest man in La Crosse, ex-
traordinarily successful in half a dozen
lines of endeaYor, and widely known as
liberal donater to religious and char
liable institutions, passed away at his
beautiful home here Sunday morning.
His illness had been short and was so
little alarming to relatives that MEM
bers of the family, although called home,
did not deem it necessary to be in close
attendance at their fathers bedside.
Mr.. Cargill had been stricken with an
attack of indigestion while on west
ern trip and this developed into a more
severe stomach trouble and finally pneu-
monia added to the complications He
had been holding his own and was even
believed to have been improving the last
couple of days. He suffered u relapse
Saturday night and sank rapidly until
the end.
Born in New York state in 1911 the
son of n sea captain, Mr.. Cargill in 1856
came west with his parents, the family
locating on farm near GAINESVILLE. Com
ing of age in 1865 he moved to Austin.
Mimi, and entered the grain business.
He remained one of the most prominent
figures in the financial life in this city
Nearly every line of industry felt his
Qulckening influence and i'll all he was I'M
usually successful. His most important
holdings at the time of his death CON
sisted of elevator and grain interests in
Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas
with principal offices at La Crosse, Min
neapols and Superior; the largest saw
mill and timber business in the state of
Arkansas, also large timber holdings in
Mexico and Canada, and heavy invest
ments in the street railway, lighting
company, banks, coal business, telephone
Low
porationS III La Crosse and elsewhere
The Cargill coal docks at Green Bay
We're disposed of n couple of years ago,
as well as n railroad in Arkansas. Mr.
Cargill still remained an officer in the
kewaunee & Western railroad, and was
the sole owner of the La Crosse & South
eastern railroad, running between La
Crosse and Niroqua. The estate is val
ued at S15,000,0O0.
Mr. Cargill was one of the largest
contributors in the state to all sorts of
worthy enterprises. None ever gave
more freely or to a wider range of char
ity. Two years ago he started the Y.
NJ. G. A. building fund in La Crosse
with $4,000, and the enthusiasm en-
gendered by this gift made the 100000
building possible. He recently gave $780,
900 to the Cargill Memorial Methodist
church at GAINESVILLE in honor of his ia
Their. who lived in that city for forty
years. OHy lnTee luoutHS ago splo,-
900 building he donated to the Albert
Lea (Minn) college was dedicated. He
was a very large contributor to the
Presbyterian church and missionary So
cieties of all denominations, to the pub
lie library, humane society, Associated
Charities and every needy cause to
which his attention was called.
Beside this he took great pleasure in
doing things for individuals, in estab
fishing young men in business and many
n man now well-to-do owes him his start
in life. Mr. Cargill recently completed
a residence costing $25O,000. He leaves
a widow. two sons and two daughters,
one of whom. Mrs. Fred Hanchette, is
now in Switzerland.