Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/356

 PILLOW

PILLSBURY

break of the war with Mexico, he was commis- sioned bripnUer-Kent-ml, U.S. army, July 13, 1846, and reporttnl wilh a hrigade of Tennessee volun- teers to General Taylor, at Caiuargo, Mexico. He was engaj^ed at the battle of Vera Cruz, where he was complimented for gallantry; Cerro Gordo, where he was severely wounded and was commis- sioned major-general, and during the campaign that followed was second in command. He was present at Contreras. Clierubusco and Chapulte- pec. and at the latter place his ankle was crushed by a grrape shot and lie was in hospital for three months. He favored pressing the Mexican army to the extreme bcmndary of tlie country, making the final capitulation beyond the Sierra Madre, which became known as the " Pillow line " and wasafterward admitted by military experts to be correct. He was later arrested by General Sc<jtt, on charges of insubordination, but was com- ph'tely vindicated by the court of inquiry. He returned to his home in Maurj- county, Tenn., relinquished his law practice and engaged ex- tensively in farming in Tennessee and Arkansas. He was a delegate to the Southern convention held at Nashville in IS.jO, and favored a conserva- tive policy. At the Democratic national con- vention of 1852 he received twenty-five votes for nomination for vice president. He opposed sec- ession until the outbreak of the civil war, when he was appointed by Gov. Isham G. Harris major- general in the provisional army of Tennessee, May 9. 1861. He organized a force of 35,000 men, and on July 9. 1861, was commissioned brigadier- general in the Confederate army. He commanded the Confederate forces stationed at Belmont, Mo., and on Nov. 7, 1861, an attack was made on the town by General Grant. After a severe battle last- ing the entire day he found that he was unable to hold his position and attempted to dislodge the concealed Federal force by a series of gallant charges. These proving of no avail, he was obliged to retreat. In the battle of Fort Donelson, he ranked second in command of the Confederate forces. He reached Fort Donelson Feb. 9, 1862, and on Feb. 14, 1862, the battle with the Federal gun boats was fought. On the l.'ith the situation was debated by General Floyd and his chiefs of brigade, and an immediate attack was decided upon against the advance of General Pillow. After the Confederate defeat he was relieved of his command and assigned to post duty until the close of the war. While on a visit to General Bragg at Murfreeslmro, Tenn., he was given a temporary command in the battle of Murfrees- boro, and took part in the famous charge of General Breckinridge. At the close of the war he returned to Tennessee and found his e.states devastated. He engaged in farming, but in 1868 he formed a law partnership in Memphis, Tenn.,

with Isham G. Harris. His last years were spent in a vain effort to pay off his debts incurred during tiie war. He was married to Mary Martin of Columbia, Tenn. He died on the Mound Plan- tation. Pliiilips county. Ark.. Oct. 8, 1878.

PILLSBURY, John Sargent, governor of Minnesota, was born in Sutton. N.H., July 29, 1828 ; son of John and Susan (Wadleigh) Pills- bury ; grandson of Caleb and Sarah (Sargent) Pillsbury and of Benjamin Wadleigh; and a de- scendant of William Pillsbury, who came from England to Boston in 1640; and of Capt. Thomas Wad- leigh of Exeter, son of Robert Wadleigh, member of Pri - vincial Legislature of Mass- achusetts. John Sargent Pillsbury engaged in various pursuits in New Hampshire and in 18o3 he established a hardware store at the village of St. Antliony, (now Minneapolis) Minne- sota. He was married, Nov. 3, 1856, to Mahala, daughter of Capt. John Fiske of Warner, N.H. The burning of his store in 1857 and the hard times ensuing did not prevent his success in this as in every other business venture. In 1872 he engaged in the flour milling business in Minneapolis, be- coming a partner in the firm of Charles A. Pills- bury and Co., and subsequently one of the organ- izers of Pillsbury- Washburn Flour Mills company. He was state senator, 1864-76 ; and governor of the state of Minnesota for three consecutive terms, 1876-82, saving the state from repudiation, by a settlement of the state railroad bonds. He built and presented a town hall to the village of Sut- ton, N.H., in 1893 ; gave to the Home for Children and Aged Women of Minneapolis, in the name of his wife, an endowment fund of $100,000 in 1899 ; presented an expensive library building to East Minneapolis, Minn., in 1900, and a Girls' Home to the city of Minneapolis in 1901. He was a regent of the University of Minnesota, 1863-1901 ; built and presented Science Hall to the university in 1889, and in 1897 he was made life regent. He died in Minneapolis, Minn., Oct. 18, 1901.

PILLSBURY, Parker, abolitionist, was born in Hamilton, Mass., Sept. 22, 1809; son of Dea. Oliver and Anna (Smith) Pillsbury. He was brought up on his father's farm in Henniker, N.H. ; and in 1830-33 resided in Lynn, Mass., but returned to Henniker in 1833 and resumed his farm work until 1835. He was graduated from Gilmanton Theological seminary, 1838 ; attended Andover Theological seminary, 1838-39 ; and was ordained to the Congregational ministry in 1839. He was stated supply at the Congregational church, London, N.H., 1839-40 ; abandoned the ministry in 1840 ; and became a member of a band of abolition lecturers, representing the New