Washburn, Algernon Sidney, 1814-1879

Banker, businessman, and farmer.

From the description of Papers, 1832-1884. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 20273620

The two most significant letter writers in the collection are bothers Elihu Washburne, a politician and statesman from Illinois, and William Drew Washburn, a Minneapolis lumber and flour milling businessman. Elihu Washburn was born September 23, 1817 on a farm in Livermore, Maine. After leaving home at 14, he read law and moved to Galena, Illinois in 1840. Elihu was a member of the U.S. Congress (1852-1868), minister to France (1869-1877), an active Republican Party leader, and a friend of Ulysses S. Grant. He married Adele Gratiot (July 31, 1845) and died October 23, 1887 in Chicago. He added the "e" to his last name at the age of 14.

William Drew Washburn, Elihu's younger brother (born January 14, 1831), was born on the family farm and graduated from Bowdoin College (1854). He studied law and settled in Minnesota (1857) as secretary of the Minneapolis Mill Company, which had been organized by his brother Cadwallader Washburn. William served as federal surveyor general in St. Paul (1861-1865); was instrumental in the development of water power at St. Anthony Falls; engaged in the real estate business; founded the W.D. Washburn and Company flour milling firm (1878); and was a member of the U.S. Congress (1879-1885) and Senate (1889-1895). He married Elizabeth Muzzy of Bangor, Maine (April 19, 1859), and was active in many Minneapolis civic, social, and business organizations. William died in Minneapolis on July 29, 1912.

From the guide to the Washburn family correspondence., 1833-1882., (Minnesota Historical Society)