New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-30
". D. WASHBURN DEAD
Former u. S. Senator Passes
Away at Minneapolis.

Minneapolis. July o william d. Wash
burn. formerly United states Senator. for
many years prominent In the political HE
Of the nation. and one OF the leaders III
the upbuildinc OF the Northwest. died
here shortly after 10 o'clock tonight He
was cighty-onc vCars old.
Senator Washburn was In Europe when
after six months stay his health be-
Kan 20 fail alarmlng'y. He expressed n
Lope 10 die az his home here. and the
rarity hastened 10 America. lie arrived
In Minneapolis on July q on 4 special
train.
William Drew Washburn. though par
ticularly identified with the Northwest.
was a member OF a typical New England
family. His first American ancestor was
John Washburn. secretary Of the Plym-
outh colony IN England and a member
OF the historic Mayhower company. From
John Washburn was descended Israel
Wash1urr. OF Raynham. Mass. who mar
lied Martha Benjamin. The fathers OF
both were soldlers in the Revolutionary
War.
This couple removed 10 Livermore. Me-.
and were the parents OF seven sons, all
Of whom attained distinction in public
life. as Secretary Of State OF the United
States. as United states Senator, as gov
crnors OF states, as Representatives N
Congress; one served as a major general
IN the army, one az captain In the navy;
az lorelgf ministers OF the United States.
as members OF state legislatures. and as
Surveyor General. Three OF them were
representatives in Congress at the same
time. before the Civil war. and from
three different states.
william Drew Washburn. the youngest
OF these seven sons. was born at Liver
more Ne. on January A. 1881 His edu-
cation was begun In the district school,
one Of his teachers being Timothy o.
Howe. afterward United States Senator
and Postmaster General Farm work IN
summer and district school work In win
ter filed up his early years. In 1917 ne
went to Bowdoin College, and vas sradu-
ated In 1854, after which he studied law.
He went TO the Northwest In 1901. ana
on May OF that year reached Mime
apolls. with which place he later became
so prominently identified. For ten years
ne was connected with the Minneapolis
Mil Company as agent. stakeholder ana
director. Then he Duilt the Lincoln saw
mill at the falls. and operated II sue
cessfully for many years. In 1872 he
built n large lumber mill AT Anoka, Mimi.
near the sources of timber supply. The
-four industry at that time was second
only 10 the lumber industry at Mime
apois. and Mr. Washburn gave 70 H.
much Of his attention. For many years
he was the owner Of the great Washburn
K Crosby FIGURING Mills. and afterwerd
became similarly interested In the Pills
bury ashburn Mills. n gigantic estab-
lshment. with daily capacity OF 5000
barrels of -four.
Mr. Washburn also was actively inter
ested in the railroad enterprises which so
largely contributed 10 the growth Of Min
neapolis into large and fiourishing city.
He was the prime mover in 1863 in the
formation OF the company which built
the Minneapolis & st. Louis Railroad.
and was for years it's president. This
road gave the city an outlet TO the East
and South. Next Mr.. Washburn planned
railroad connection with the Great Lakes.
and by his energy and enthusiasm ef-
fected the construction of the Sault Ste.
Marie Railroad. which was completed in
1858. third great railroad was finally
planned TO connect Minneapolis with the
fields OF Dakota, and Mr.. Washburn car
ried his scheme TO completion in the Min