Charles Alfred Pillsbury
Encyclopedia
Charles Alfred Pillsbury (December 3, 1842 – September 17, 1899), was a U.S. flour industrialist and the founder & namesake of the Pillsbury Company.
Charles Alfred Pillsbury was born December 3, 1842 in Warner
, New Hampshire
, first of three children born to George Alfred Pillsbury (1816 – 1898) and Margaret Sprague Carleton (1817 – 1901). His sister Mary A. died in infancy. His brother was Frederick Carleton Pillsbury (1852 – 1892). Charles was a prominent flour miller of Minneapolis, Minnesota
. From 1877 to 1897, he was Minnesota State Senator
and held the chairmanship of the Finance Committee of the Senate. He was responsible for introduction and implementation of legislation, recommended by his uncle, Governor John S. Pillsbury
, for the adjustment of the state debt.
in 1863, paying for his college education by teaching part-time.
Pillsbury worked for six years as clerk and partner in Montreal
, Canada, at a mercantile enterprise. During this time, he met his future wife, Mary Ann Stinson (1842 – 1902), daughter of Capt. Charles Stinson
of Goffstown, New Hampshire
and his wife Mary Ann Poore. On 12 September 1866 he married Mary Stinson and they had four children. The two first-born children, George Alfred (1871 – 1872) and Margaret Carleton (1876 – 1881), both died in childhood. On 8 December 1878 twin sons were born, Charles Stinson and John Sargent II, both of whom lived into adulthood. Charles married Helen Pendleton Winston in 1901, while John married Eleanor Jerusha Lawler in 1911.
Pillsbury was drawn to business in Minneapolis after experiencing and observing the commercial interests in Montreal, which processed grain from the west. Pillsbury's uncle, John S. Pillsbury
, had settled at the Falls of St. Anthony
at Minneapolis in 1855; in 1869, Charles Pillsbury moved to the growing city of Minneapolis and established his flour business.
and the Washburn family, Mr. Christian, and other millers in the production of what was called "new process" flour.
Pillsbury created his own brand called "Pillsbury's Best." It was claimed that "Pillsbury's Best" was the finest flour in the world, and its production techniques allowed Pillsbury to capture a niche in the marketplace demanding high-quality flour. The use of a series of carefully gauged steel rolls in the crushing of grain into flour effected an entire revolution in all the large flour mills of the United States, as it was efficient and produced excellent quality. It led to important changes in wheat growing, because it created a demand for hard "spring wheat", which had, up to that point, a less-esteemed reputation than that of the softer winter wheat of the South.
The company's history in flour milling became synonymous with the history of the industry. Minneapolis became one of the best and largest markets for grain in the world. The care, thoroughness and soundness of Pillsbury's business practices gave the Pillsbury mill a foremost position in the flour manufacturing industry of the United States. Later, four new mills were added to the original plant, either by purchase or lease, including the Pillsbury "B", Empire, Excelsior and Anchor mills, and each of the new properties was rebuilt and equipped with the most modern equipment.
To ensure an ample supply of the finest wheat, the firm brought into being the Millers' Association, whose agents inspected and purchased only the finest grain in the Northwest. A system of grain elevators for storage and shipment purposes was also created, under the ownership of the Minneapolis & Northern Elevator Co., of which Mr. Pillsbury was president; and the warehouses and elevators of this concern may now still be seen near the Mississippi riverfront in Minneapolis.
The final step in the extension of the business of the firm was the construction of the huge Pillsbury "A" Mill. In preparation for this expansion, Pillsbury had observed flour mills in Europe, including those of Budapest, Hungary, which had the reputation of production of the finest flour in the "old world". The Pillsbury "A" Mill, built in 1882, was the pride of the firm and the despair of every rival in the business, with a capacity of 5,000 barrels of flour a day, later increased to 10,000 barrels. Among the nearly thirty great flour mills in Minneapolis, no mills were more impressive than that created by the Pillsbury firm. Production later increased to 24,500 barrels of flour a day, and the brands became known worldwide.
Pillsbury introduced a system of company profit sharing
in addition to regular wages, as reward for their interest in the success of the business. As a consequence, no strikes ever interrupted the Pillsbury business.
Charles Alfred Pillsbury was born December 3, 1842 in Warner
Warner, New Hampshire
Warner is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,833 at the 2010 census. The town is home to The College of Saint Mary Magdalen, Rollins State Park and Mount Kearsarge State Forest....
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, first of three children born to George Alfred Pillsbury (1816 – 1898) and Margaret Sprague Carleton (1817 – 1901). His sister Mary A. died in infancy. His brother was Frederick Carleton Pillsbury (1852 – 1892). Charles was a prominent flour miller of Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. From 1877 to 1897, he was Minnesota State Senator
State Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...
and held the chairmanship of the Finance Committee of the Senate. He was responsible for introduction and implementation of legislation, recommended by his uncle, Governor John S. Pillsbury
John S. Pillsbury
John Sargent Pillsbury was an American politician, businessman, and philanthropist. A Republican, he served as the eighth Governor of Minnesota from 1876 to 1882.John S. Pillsbury was born in Sutton, New Hampshire...
, for the adjustment of the state debt.
Education and early business career
Charles Pillsbury had a modest upbringing. He graduated from Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1863, paying for his college education by teaching part-time.
Pillsbury worked for six years as clerk and partner in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada, at a mercantile enterprise. During this time, he met his future wife, Mary Ann Stinson (1842 – 1902), daughter of Capt. Charles Stinson
Charles Stinson
Charles Stinson was a two time member of the New Hampshire legislature.-Life:Stinson, a military captain, was from Goffstown, New Hampshire. He was the father of four children, Jane, Letitia, Susan and Mary...
of Goffstown, New Hampshire
Goffstown, New Hampshire
Goffstown is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 17,651 at the 2010 census. The compact center of town, where 3,196 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Goffstown census-designated place and is located at the...
and his wife Mary Ann Poore. On 12 September 1866 he married Mary Stinson and they had four children. The two first-born children, George Alfred (1871 – 1872) and Margaret Carleton (1876 – 1881), both died in childhood. On 8 December 1878 twin sons were born, Charles Stinson and John Sargent II, both of whom lived into adulthood. Charles married Helen Pendleton Winston in 1901, while John married Eleanor Jerusha Lawler in 1911.
Pillsbury was drawn to business in Minneapolis after experiencing and observing the commercial interests in Montreal, which processed grain from the west. Pillsbury's uncle, John S. Pillsbury
John S. Pillsbury
John Sargent Pillsbury was an American politician, businessman, and philanthropist. A Republican, he served as the eighth Governor of Minnesota from 1876 to 1882.John S. Pillsbury was born in Sutton, New Hampshire...
, had settled at the Falls of St. Anthony
Saint Anthony Falls
Saint Anthony Falls, or the Falls of Saint Anthony, located northeast of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, was the only natural major waterfall on the Upper Mississippi River. The natural falls was replaced by a concrete overflow spillway after it partially collapsed in 1869...
at Minneapolis in 1855; in 1869, Charles Pillsbury moved to the growing city of Minneapolis and established his flour business.
Minnesota flour industry and Pillsbury's innovation
At that time of Pillsbury's arrival, four or five flour mills, deriving their power from the Falls, were small in size and ground their grain with large buhr stones. Pillsbury was employed by his uncle and soon gained part-ownership in his own mill. Mr. Pillsbury made a close and thorough study of the methods of flour milling and contemplated better results through the industry's innovative practices in flour processing. At his own mill, Pillsbury discarded the buhr stones, and introduced and improved on the newer practices. He competed with Cadwallader C. WashburnCadwallader C. Washburn
Cadwallader Colden Washburn 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...
and the Washburn family, Mr. Christian, and other millers in the production of what was called "new process" flour.
Pillsbury created his own brand called "Pillsbury's Best." It was claimed that "Pillsbury's Best" was the finest flour in the world, and its production techniques allowed Pillsbury to capture a niche in the marketplace demanding high-quality flour. The use of a series of carefully gauged steel rolls in the crushing of grain into flour effected an entire revolution in all the large flour mills of the United States, as it was efficient and produced excellent quality. It led to important changes in wheat growing, because it created a demand for hard "spring wheat", which had, up to that point, a less-esteemed reputation than that of the softer winter wheat of the South.
Flour mill development and expansion
In 1872, Mr. Pillsbury persuaded his father and his uncle to join him in an expansion of the business and the firm of Charles A. Pillsbury & Co. entered upon a career of remarkable enterprise. A brother, Frederick C. Pillsbury, came into the firm at a later date.The company's history in flour milling became synonymous with the history of the industry. Minneapolis became one of the best and largest markets for grain in the world. The care, thoroughness and soundness of Pillsbury's business practices gave the Pillsbury mill a foremost position in the flour manufacturing industry of the United States. Later, four new mills were added to the original plant, either by purchase or lease, including the Pillsbury "B", Empire, Excelsior and Anchor mills, and each of the new properties was rebuilt and equipped with the most modern equipment.
To ensure an ample supply of the finest wheat, the firm brought into being the Millers' Association, whose agents inspected and purchased only the finest grain in the Northwest. A system of grain elevators for storage and shipment purposes was also created, under the ownership of the Minneapolis & Northern Elevator Co., of which Mr. Pillsbury was president; and the warehouses and elevators of this concern may now still be seen near the Mississippi riverfront in Minneapolis.
The final step in the extension of the business of the firm was the construction of the huge Pillsbury "A" Mill. In preparation for this expansion, Pillsbury had observed flour mills in Europe, including those of Budapest, Hungary, which had the reputation of production of the finest flour in the "old world". The Pillsbury "A" Mill, built in 1882, was the pride of the firm and the despair of every rival in the business, with a capacity of 5,000 barrels of flour a day, later increased to 10,000 barrels. Among the nearly thirty great flour mills in Minneapolis, no mills were more impressive than that created by the Pillsbury firm. Production later increased to 24,500 barrels of flour a day, and the brands became known worldwide.
Pillsbury introduced a system of company profit sharing
Profit sharing
Profit sharing, when used as a special term, refers to various incentive plans introduced by businesses that provide direct or indirect payments to employees that depend on company's profitability in addition to employees' regular salary and bonuses...
in addition to regular wages, as reward for their interest in the success of the business. As a consequence, no strikes ever interrupted the Pillsbury business.