biography
| name: |
Pillsbury, Charles Alfred
|
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1842–99)
|
| biography:
| Flour miller, born in Warner, New Hampshire, USA. In 1869, shortly after joining his uncle, John Sargent Pillsbury, in Minneapolis, he bought into a flour mill. An innovative manager and marketer, he acquired new milling technology and within a few years the Pillsbury Mill was flourishing. In 1872, with his father and uncle, he organized C A Pillsbury & Co and expanded to six more mills in 10 years, and by the early 1900s the Pillsbury flour mills were the largest such enterprise in the world. Involved in all aspects of the grain trade, he supported favourable freight rates accorded dealers who brought their grain to Minneapolis. As a state senator (1878–85) he was able to facilitate the development of the Minneapolis, Saulte Sainte Marie & Atlantic Railway. When the Pillsbury company was sold in 1889 to an English syndicate, he remained as managing director. Known as a speculator in the wheat market who lost vast sums, he was also generous to his employees and to charities. |
|
|
