Cadwallader C. Washburn

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Cadwallader C. Washburn

Cadwallader Colden Washburn (April 22, 1818–May 15, 1882) was an American businessman, politician, and soldier noted for founding what would later become General Mills and working in government for Wisconsin. He was born in Livermore, Maine one of seven brothers that included Israel Washburn, Jr., Elihu B. Washburne, William D. Washburn, and Charles Washburn. His cousin Dorilus Morrison was the first Mayor of Minneapolis. Shortly after his birth he was diagnosed with epilepsy.

[edit] Education and early career

He attended school in Wiscasset, Maine, and later taught there in 1838–1839. In 1839 he moved to Davenport, Iowa. He helped in the geological survey of the state before moving to Rock Island, Illinois to study law. He was elected surveyor of Rock Island County in 1840. Two years later, he was admitted to the bar association and moved to Mineral Point, Wisconsin where he began a practice. In 1852, he founded the Mineral Point Bank.

[edit] Politics

In 1854 he ran as a Republican to represent Wisconsin in the United States House of Representatives, later serving three term from March 4, 1855 to March 3, 1861. Washburn served as chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Private Land Claims in his last term. He declined to run again in 1860.

Between 1855 and 1861 Cadwallader Colden Washburn served in the United States House of Representatives. The Washburn family had always been strongly opposed to slavery. During the Civil War, Cadwallader Colden Washburn served in the Union Army as commanding officer of the Second Regiment of the Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry. He left the Union Army in 1865 with the rank of major general. Washburn had the honor of having his appointment document signed by President Abraham Lincoln. At one point Ulysses S. Grant called Washburn "one of the best administrative officers we have."^[1]

After the conclusion of the war Major General Washburn returned to his home in La Crosse, where he was elected again for two terms in the House of Representatives. In 1871 he was urged to run for Governor of Wisconsin against the Honorable James R. Doolittle. Cadwallader won the election and was inaugurated governor of Wisconsin on the first Monday in January, 1872.^[2] A year later he purchased the Edgewood Villa estate, upon which today sits Edgewood College, from Samuel Marshall.^[3]

Washburn moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1861 but returned to Washington, D.C. later that year as a delegate in the peace convention that was held in an attempt to prevent the American Civil War. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War, becoming colonel of the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry, on February 6, 1862; brigadier general of Volunteers July 16, 1862; major general November 29, 1862. In 1864, his capture was one of the goals of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest's raid on Memphis. He escaped capture by fleeing to Fort Pickering in his nightshirt. He resigned May 25, 1865 and returned to La Crosse.^[4][5]

He returned to Congress for two more terms from March 4, 1867 to March 3, 1871, and acted as chairman of the U.S. Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings in the first term. He declined to run in 1870, but ran for Governor of Wisconsin and served from 1872 to 1874. He ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1873.

[edit] Business

In 1844 Cadwallader formed a partnership land agent, Cyrus Woodman. Together the two men developed various companies such as the Wisconsin Mining Company. The most successful business venture undertaken by the men was land acquisition. In May 1855 the gentlemen established the Washburn's and Woodman's Mineral Point Bank. Washburn and Woodman dissolved their partnership amicably in 1855. After dissolving his partnership, Washburn moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1859 and purchased the La Crosse Lumber Company.^[6]

In his lifetime, he also worked in the lumber industry and established mills in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He began in that city in 1856 by leasing power rights to the water flowing over St. Anthony Falls through the Minneapolis Milling Company. In 1866, he built his own Washburn "B" Mill, which was thought at the time to be too large to ever turn a profit. However, he succeeded and in 1874 built an even larger Washburn "A" Mill. The original "A" mill complex was destroyed (along with several nearby buildings) in a flour explosion in 1878, but was later rebuilt.^[7] In 1877, Washburn had teamed with John Crosby to form the Washburn-Crosby Company, which eventually became known as General Mills.^[8]

[edit] Family life

Cadwallader Colden Washburn married Jeanette Garr, daughter of Elizabeth Sinclair Garr and Andrew Sheffield Garr on January 1, 1849.^[9] Both husband and wife were 30 at the time. The couple brought their first daughter, Jeanette (Nettie) Garr Washburn into the world in 1850. After giving birth to Nettie, Jeanette showed signs of mental illness. Cadwallader made arrangements for his wife's care at the Bloomingdale Asylum, after giving birth to their second daughter, Frances (Fanny) in 1852. Later Jeanette was transferred to an institution in Brookline, Massachusetts, where she remained until her death at age 90 in 1909.^[10]

Cadwallader Colden Washburn donated the Edgewood Villa estate to the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters of Madison, Wisconsin in 1881.^[11] The Edgewood Villa later became Edgewood College,^[12] and the Edgewood High School.^[13] Nearly a year later, in 1882 Cadwallader died. After his death his estate was estimated to have a value of between two and three million dollars.^[14] In his will Cadwallader left money to his daughter as well as other members of his family. However, the largest portion was set aside to pay for the care of his wife, Jeanette.^[15] After Washburn's death in 1882 a tradition was started at Edgewood College of celebrating "Washburn Day" in June.^[16]

[edit] Later life

Washburn died in Eureka Springs, Arkansas while on a visit at the springs for his health. His body was interred in La Crosse's Oak Grove Cemetery.^[17] After his death, a large bequest was made; land was bought and a building for the La Crosse Public Library was built.^[18] The city of Washburn, Wisconsin was named after Cadwallader Washburn.^[19] Washburn County, in northern Wisconsin, was also named after Cadwallader Washburn.^[20] The Washburn Observatory, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was named after Washburn, who as governor, allocated the money for its construction.^[21]

[edit] See also

• List of U.S. political families#The Washburns

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Cadwallader C. Washburn at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Our milling roots and beyond (PDF). General Mills.
• Cadwallader C. Washburn, Dictionary of Wisconsin History, Wisconsin State Historical Society
• Cadwallader C. Washburn,Wisconsin State Historical Society

Paynter, Mary O.P. (2002). Phoenix from the Fire: A History of Edgewood College. Madison, WI: Edgewood College, 172. 

[edit] External links

• Washburn/Norland Living History Center, Livermore, Maine

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