★ ★  Washburn, Cadwallader C.

Cadwallader Colden Washburn

:us34stars:
Washburn.jpg


Born: April 22, 1818

Birthplace: Livermore, Massachusetts (Maine)

Father: Israel Washburn 1784 – 1876
(Buried: Waters Hill Cemetery, Livermore, Maine)​

Mother: Martha “Patty” Benjamin 1792 – 1861
(Buried: Waters Hill Cemetery, Livermore, Maine)​

Wife: Jeanette Garr 1819 – 1909
(Buried: Oak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse, Wisconsin)​

Children:

Jeanette Garr Washburn Kelsey 1850 – 1931​
(Buried: Center Cemetery, Shirley, Massachusetts)​
Frances “Fanny” Washburn 1852 –​

Occupation before War:

1838 – 1839: School Teacher in Wiscasset, Maine​
School Teacher and Store Clerk in Davenport, Iowa Territory​
Attorney in Mineral Point, Wisconsin Territory​
Half Owner of Wisconsin Mining Company​
Helped Establish Washburn and Woodman Mineral Point Bank​
Builder of a Saw mill on the Chippewa River​
1855 – 1861: United States Congressman from Wisconsin​

Civil War Career:

Washburn 1.jpg

1861: Delegate to Washington, D.C. Peace Conference​
1862: Colonel of 2nd​ Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment​
1862: Brigadier general of Union Army, Volunteers​
1862 – 1865: Major General of Union Army, Volunteers​

1863: Cavalry Commander during the Vicksburg Campaign
1863: Served in the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi​
1863: Division Commander during expedition against Fort Esperanza​
Served in Administrative roles in Mississippi and Tennessee​
1865: Mustered out of the Union Army on May 25th​

Occupation after War:

1866: Builder of Washburn “B” Flour Mill​
1867 – 1871: United States Congressman from Wisconsin​
1871: Formed La Crosse Lumber Company​
1872 – 1874: Governor of Wisconsin​
1877: Helped form the Washburn – Crosby Company​
1880 – 1882: Suffered from Effects of Stroke and Bright’s Disease​
1881: Donated the Edgewood Villa to Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters​

Died: May 14, 1882

Place of Death: Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Cause of Death: Apoplexy and Apoplectic Seizure Effects

Age at time of Death: 64 years old

Burial Place: Oak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse, Wisconsin
 
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Washburn was serving as the commanding officer of the District of West Tennessee on the night of August 21, 1864, when Nathan B. Forrest and a couple of thousand of his cavalry came to call. Forrest intended to capture the three Federal generals (including Washburn) stationed in Memphis, release Confederate prisoners and create enough commotion to require the recall of Union troops in northern Mississippi. The Federals were taken by surprise. The Confederates headed directly for the Federal headquarters at the Gayoso Hotel and Washburn, wearing only his nightshirt, just escaped to nearby Fort Pickering. Forrest was able to take a number of prisoners, horses and supplies, but did not accomplish his main objectives. One of the trophies of war taken was Washburn's uniform which Forrest returned to him under flag of truce. The even is commemorated by a street in Memphis named "General Washburn's Escape Alley".
 
Wisconsin girl here. I live a short hop from Edgewood College (formerly Washburn's "Edgewood Villa"), still run by the Sinsinawa Dominicans. A natural spring on the property is still called the Washburn Spring. (See the entry for 1881 in the timeline above.) Harrumph, I take exception to the description of dying at 64 as in "the fullness of years" ...
 
Hamline University
DigitalCommons@Hamline
Departmental Honors Projects
College of Liberal Arts
Spring 2018

The Washburn-Crosby Company: Cadwallader Washburn's Vision for Minneapolis Flour Milling
Alex Schmidt

This Honors Project is brought to you for free and open access by the College of Liberal Arts at DigitalCommons@Hamline. It has been accepted for inclusion in Departmental Honors Projects by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Hamline. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected].

Abstract
In the late nineteenth century, Minneapolis underwent a dramatic transformation and became known as the flour milling center of the world. Powered by the Falls of St. Anthony on the the Mississippi River, aided by technological advancements, and promoted by the expansion of railroads, dozens of flour mills were built, including those of the Washburn Crosby Company. This company, under the leadership of Governor Cadwallader Washburn of Wisconsin, exemplified many of the developments that had brought the Minneapolis industry to renown. Several historians such as William Edgar, Lucile Kane, Robert Frame, and Charles Kuhlmann have published works on the significance of flour milling in Minneapolis. These publications have established a number of factors behind the flour milling industry's success in Minneapolis including the effects of hydropower, technological innovations, and progressive ideologies. However, the influence of the leading company in the city, the Washburn Crosby Company, has only marginally been discussed in these works. This then raises an important question: How did Cadwallader Washburn, as the head of the Washburn Crosby Company, impact the growth and success of the Minneapolis flour milling industry? To answer this question, I analyzed the papers of Governor Washburn and other leading figures in the flour industry in addition to the issues of two nineteenth century trade journals, the Northwestern Miller and the American Miller. I conclude that Washburn profoundly influenced the Minneapolis flour milling industry in three primary ways: the implementation of modern milling technology in his company, the organization of railroads in Minneapolis, and the expansion of flour export markets in Europe. This analysis of Washburn's visionary influence on the industry is important in that both Washburn and his mills played a significant role in the rise and development of early Minneapolis as a city and as an international flour milling center.


Cheers,
USS ALASKA
 

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Interesting, thanks. You might like to see this, one of the images on Washburn's Find-a-Grave site. I had noticed that it refers to "Minnesota, his neighbor state."
1650656405014.png


To see it in context, go to You may have to click on "see more" if all 7 images are not displayed. The images were posted, and presumably taken, by James Seidelman in 2005.

Us Midwesterners got to stick together, ain'a?
1650656405014.png
 
Hamline University
DigitalCommons@Hamline
Departmental Honors Projects
College of Liberal Arts
Spring 2018

The Washburn-Crosby Company: Cadwallader Washburn's Vision for Minneapolis Flour Milling
Alex Schmidt

This Honors Project is brought to you for free and open access by the College of Liberal Arts at DigitalCommons@Hamline. It has been accepted for inclusion in Departmental Honors Projects by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Hamline. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected].

Abstract
In the late nineteenth century, Minneapolis underwent a dramatic transformation and became known as the flour milling center of the world. Powered by the Falls of St. Anthony on the the Mississippi River, aided by technological advancements, and promoted by the expansion of railroads, dozens of flour mills were built, including those of the Washburn Crosby Company. This company, under the leadership of Governor Cadwallader Washburn of Wisconsin, exemplified many of the developments that had brought the Minneapolis industry to renown. Several historians such as William Edgar, Lucile Kane, Robert Frame, and Charles Kuhlmann have published works on the significance of flour milling in Minneapolis. These publications have established a number of factors behind the flour milling industry's success in Minneapolis including the effects of hydropower, technological innovations, and progressive ideologies. However, the influence of the leading company in the city, the Washburn Crosby Company, has only marginally been discussed in these works. This then raises an important question: How did Cadwallader Washburn, as the head of the Washburn Crosby Company, impact the growth and success of the Minneapolis flour milling industry? To answer this question, I analyzed the papers of Governor Washburn and other leading figures in the flour industry in addition to the issues of two nineteenth century trade journals, the Northwestern Miller and the American Miller. I conclude that Washburn profoundly influenced the Minneapolis flour milling industry in three primary ways: the implementation of modern milling technology in his company, the organization of railroads in Minneapolis, and the expansion of flour export markets in Europe. This analysis of Washburn's visionary influence on the industry is important in that both Washburn and his mills played a significant role in the rise and development of early Minneapolis as a city and as an international flour milling center.


Cheers,
USS ALASKA
The Washburn-Crosby Company eventually became General Mills. I visited the Mill City Museum and the Mill Ruins Park several years ago. Across the river was its competitor Pillsbury A-Mill that was the world's largest flour mill for forty years
 
Another interesting fact concerning Cadwallader Washburn: During the 35th Congress around 2 am on February 6, 1858 a brawl broke out on the floor of the House of Representatives. The following description is taken from my definitive biography WILLIAM BARKSDALE, CSA pp 61-72:
At this juncture the Speaker and Sergeant-At-Arms frantically attempted to restore order but to no avail. Much
to his embarrassment, it was Barksdale who inadvertently put a comical end to the melee. As CADWALLADER
WASHBURN attempted to assist his brother [Elihu] who was engaged with Barksdale, he hit William a glancing
blow on the forehead which knocked his hairpiece to the floor. This no doubt shocked the onlookers who were not
aware that Barksdale wore a wig to cover his balding head. However, when Barksdale in his haste to replace it,
repositioned it "with the wrong side foremost" (front to back) the hilarious spectacle of his undignified appearance
was too much to bear. The stunned onlookers began to erupt in uncontrollable laughter. The absurdity of Barksdale's
appearance effectively put an end to the fracas.
 
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