Charles Alfred Pillsbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Alfred Pillsbury
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| Born | December 3, 1842 Warner, New Hampshire, U.S.
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| Died | September 17, 1899 (aged 56) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Dartmouth College, 1863 |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Ann Stinson (1841-1902) |
| Children | George Alfred (1871–1872) Margaret Carleton (1876–1881) Charles Stinson (1878-1939) John Sargent (1878-1968) |
| Parent(s) | George Alfred Pillsbury (1816-1898) Margaret Sprague Carleton(1817-1901) |
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Charles Alfred Pillsbury (born December 3, 1842 – died September 17, 1899) was a very important American businessman. He was known for his work in the flour industry. He also served as a politician. Charles Pillsbury helped start the famous Pillsbury Company.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Charles Pillsbury was born on December 3, 1842. His hometown was Warner, New Hampshire. He was the first of three children. His parents were George Alfred Pillsbury and Margaret Sprague Carleton.
Charles grew up in a simple home. He worked hard to pay for his college. He taught part-time while studying. In 1863, he graduated from Dartmouth College.
After college, Charles worked for six years. He was a clerk and partner in a business. This business was in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. There, he met Mary Ann Stinson. She would become his wife. They married on September 12, 1866.
Charles and Mary Ann had four children. Their first two children, George Alfred and Margaret Carleton, sadly died young. Later, twin sons were born in 1878. Their names were Charles Stinson and John Sargent. Both of them lived to be adults.
Starting a Flour Business in Minneapolis
While in Montreal, Charles saw how grain from the west was processed. This made him interested in business. He decided to move to Minneapolis. His uncle, John S. Pillsbury, had already settled there.
In 1869, Charles moved to Minneapolis. The city was growing fast. He decided to start his own flour business. This was the beginning of something big.
Innovating the Flour Industry
When Charles arrived, Minneapolis had a few small flour mills. These mills used large stones to grind grain. They got their power from the Falls of St. Anthony. Charles started working for his uncle. Soon, he owned part of his own mill.
Charles studied flour milling very carefully. He wanted to find better ways to make flour. At his own mill, he stopped using the old grinding stones. Instead, he brought in new, improved methods. He competed with other millers. They were all trying to make "new process" flour.
Charles created a brand called "Pillsbury's Best." People said it was the best flour in the world. His new techniques helped him sell a lot of high-quality flour. He used a series of steel rolls to mill the grain. This was a big change for mills in the US.
This new method was very efficient. It also made excellent quality flour. It even changed how wheat was grown. There was now a high demand for hard "spring wheat." Before, softer winter wheat was more popular.
Growing the Pillsbury Company
In 1872, Charles asked his father and uncle to join him. They expanded the business together. The company became Charles A. Pillsbury & Co. It grew very quickly. Later, Charles's brother, Frederick C. Pillsbury, also joined the company.
The Pillsbury company became a leader in the flour industry. Minneapolis became one of the biggest grain markets in the world. Charles's careful business practices made Pillsbury a top flour manufacturer. The company added four new mills. They bought or leased them. These included the Pillsbury "B", Empire, Excelsior, and Anchor mills. Each new mill was updated with the best equipment.
To get the best wheat, Pillsbury helped create the Millers' Association. This group inspected and bought only the finest grain. They also built grain elevators for storage and shipping. These were owned by the Minneapolis & Northern Elevator Co. Charles Pillsbury was the president of this company. You can still see some of their old warehouses and elevators near the Mississippi river in Minneapolis.
The biggest step was building the huge Pillsbury "A" Mill. Before building it, Charles visited flour mills in Europe. He saw the famous mills in Budapest, Hungary. These mills were known for making the best flour. The Pillsbury "A" Mill was built in 1882. It was the company's pride. It could make 5,000 barrels of flour a day. Later, it made 10,000 barrels. Eventually, it produced 24,500 barrels of flour daily. The Pillsbury brand became famous all over the world.
Charles also started a system where workers shared in the company's profits. He paid up to $25,000 a year in bonuses. This depended on how well the company was doing. Because of this, the Pillsbury business never had any strikes.
Political Service
From 1878 to 1886, Charles Pillsbury was a member of the Minnesota State Senate. For most of that time, he led the Finance Committee. He helped pass laws suggested by his uncle, Governor John S. Pillsbury. These laws were about the state's bonds.
Charles turned down other political jobs. He was asked to be mayor of Minneapolis. But he wanted to focus on his business. He agreed to be a state senator because the legislative sessions were short. They also happened in the winter, which fit his schedule.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1889, a group from England bought a large part of the biggest flour companies in Minneapolis. These companies were combined. They became The Pillsbury-Washburn Flour Mills Co. Charles Pillsbury stayed on as a manager. He was also one of the three American directors. He oversaw the company's operations.
Charles Pillsbury died suddenly on September 17, 1899. He passed away from a heart problem. His work helped shape the flour industry. The Pillsbury Company is still well-known today.
