William Drew Washburn | |
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_(cropped).jpg) Washburnc. 1891–1894 | |
| United States Senator fromMinnesota | |
| In office March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1895 | |
| Preceded by | Dwight M. Sabin |
| Succeeded by | Knute Nelson |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMinnesota | |
| In office March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1885 | |
| Preceded by | Jacob H. Stewart |
| Succeeded by | John Gilfillan |
| Constituency | 3rd district (1879–1883) 4th district (1883–1885) |
| Member of theMinnesota House of Representatives from the 5th district | |
| In office January 3, 1871 – January 1, 1872 | |
| Preceded by | Albert R. Hall |
| Succeeded by | E.D. Rogers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1831-01-14)January 14, 1831 Livermore, Maine, U.S. |
| Died | July 29, 1912(1912-07-29) (aged 81) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Resting place | Lakewood Cemetery |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lizzie Muzzie |
| Children | Cadwallader andWilliam Jr. |
| Relatives | Elihu B. Washburne (brother) Cadwallader C. Washburn (brother) Israel Washburn Jr. (brother) Dorilus Morrison (cousin) C. Langhorne Washburn (grandson) |
| Alma mater | Bowdoin College |
| Signature | .png) |
William Drew Washburn Sr. (January 14, 1831 – July 29, 1912) was an Americanpolitician. He served in both theUnited States House of Representatives and theUnited States Senate as aRepublican fromMinnesota. Three of his seven brothers became politicians:Elihu B. Washburne,Cadwallader C. Washburn, andIsrael Washburn, Jr. He was also cousin ofDorilus Morrison, the firstmayor of Minneapolis. He served in the46th,47th,48th,51st,52nd, and53rd congresses.
Washburn was born on January 14, 1831, inLivermore, Maine. A graduate ofBowdoin College, he first studied law in the office ofJohn A. Peters inBangor, Maine, before moving toMinneapolis, Minnesota, around 1857.[1][2] There he practiced law, and worked for theMinneapolis Milling Company (founded by his brother Cadwallader). His business ventures inlumber andflour milling allowed him to amass a large fortune, and by the 1880s, he was among the wealthiest men in Minnesota. Washburn served as the first president from 1883 to 1889 of what was to becomeSoo Line Railroad.[3] He also founded the Pillsbury-Washburn Milling Company, which later became thePillsbury Company, and was eventually absorbed by his brother's firm,General Mills.
Washburn built a mansion known as "Fair Oaks" in 1883. It was designed byE. Townsend Mix, who also designed Minneapolis'sMetropolitan Building, and the outdoor landscape was laid out byFrederick Law Olmsted. The grounds included an artificial stream leading to apond, a rusticfootbridge, agreenhouse, and a carriage house. The home was demolished in 1924 to make way for a park, although the region is now part of theWashburn-Fair Oaks Mansion District, which was added to theNational Register of Historic Places in 1977.
Washburn served in theMinnesota House of Representatives in 1871.[4] In 1873, he ran for the Republican nomination forGovernor of Minnesota. Despite leading initially, he would be defeated with three votes in the primary byCushman Kellogg Davis.[5] He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1878 and served from March 4, 1879, to March 3, 1885. He was elected to the Senate in 1888 and served from March 4, 1889, to March 3, 1895.[2]
Washburn was a founder of the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis in 1859. A major benefactor, he served as a trustee and President for much of his remaining life.[citation needed] He died in Minneapolis on July 29, 1912. He was buried inLakewood Cemetery.[2] His grandsonC. Langhorne Washburn was to be active in the Republican Party from the 1950s through the 1970s.
William Washburn's son,Cadwallader Lincoln Washburn, was born in 1866. Cad became deaf as a child. His talent as an artist was noticed at an early age. Cad eventually became a noted artist and news correspondent who pioneered many new painting techniques in the west. The arts center at his alma mater,Gallaudet University, is named for Cad Washburn.[6] Another sonWilliam Drew Washburn Jr. also served in the Minnesota House of Representatives.[7]
Media related toWilliam D. Washburn at Wikimedia Commons| U.S. Senate | ||
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| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 2) from Minnesota 1889–1895 Served alongside:Cushman Davis | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. Representative fromMinnesota's 3rd congressional district 1879–1883 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by — | U.S. Representative fromMinnesota's 4th congressional district 1883–1885 | Succeeded by |
| Business positions | ||
| New title | President ofSoo Line Railroad 1883–1889 | Succeeded by |
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| Class 2 | ||
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