John S. Pillsbury
|
|
JohnSargentPillsbury.jpg
John Sargent Pillsbury (July 29, 1828, Sutton, New Hampshire – October 18, 1901, Minneapolis, Minnesota) was an American politician and businessman. He served as the 8th Governor of Minnesota from January 7, 1876 to January 10, 1882. Pillsbury was a noted philanthropist and often anonymously donated funds to causes he favored. In particular, he helped the University of Minnesota recover from debt in its early years, and later served as a regent. Since then, he has become known as "The Father of the University." He was a Republican.
Pillsbury came to Minnesota from the Eastern U.S. in 1855 and settled in St. Anthony (now part of Minneapolis, Minnesota). He married Mahala Fisk the next year on November 3, 1856. The entrepreneur tried his hand at several different types of businesses, including hardware, real estate, and lumber, though his greatest success came when he founded C.A. Pillsbury and Company along with his family (it is named for his nephew, Charles Alfred Pillsbury).
John and Mahala had two children, Alfred Fiske Pillsbury and Sara Belle Pillsbury. Alfred didn't go into business, but instead became an art collector. When he died, the works were donated to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Sara Belle married Edward C. Gale, an area lawyer and son of the area's first real estate developer, Samuel Chester Gale. Edward Gale was also an art collector and contributed to the MIA as well.
References
- John S. (Sargent) Pillsbury. (http://www.mnhs.org/people/governors/gov/gov_10.htm) Governors of Minnesota. Minnesota Historical Society.
- The Washburn-Fair Oaks Historic District: History and Walking Tour. (http://www.hhmuseum.org/mu/mu_wowt.htm) Hennepin History Museum.
| Preceded by: Cushman Davis | Governor of Minnesota 1876 – 1882 | Succeeded by: Lucius Frederick Hubbard |