Not long ago I became aware of a large hardcover book at the Albert Lea Public Library with the title of “MacMillan – The American Grain Family.” This book’s author is W. Duncan MacMillan and it’s published by the Afton Historical Society Press of Afton in 1989. (Afton is located east of St. Paul and Woodbury and next to the St. Croix River.)

Now the MacMillan name might not make a real connection with Albert Lea. However, if I add the name of Cargill, then the link with this city might become somewhat more obvious.

In the past I’ve written several columns and articles based on William Wallace Cargill and his part in the history of Albert Lea and even Freeborn County. So before getting involved with the MacMillan affiliation, allow me to explain more about W.W. Cargill the grain merchant.

Cargill started his career with wheat buying and selling in 1866 at Conover, Iowa, a railroad town that only lasted for a year or two. He soon left this town, located south of Decorah, Iowa, and moved to Cresco, Iowa. After becoming married, he and his wife moved to Austin, where they lived for about a year and where their son was born. About 1870 the Cargills moved to Albert Lea where his business based on wheat, then the area’s major farm crop, really became established.

During their nearly five years as Albert Lea residents, the Cargill family lived in a home on Grove Avenue. W.W. had his office and first elevator on Front Street. By 1875 the new Cargill firm had 47 grain warehouses and elevators in 27 area towns..

One detail of Cargill’s life I wasn’t aware of was mentioned in this book. It said that in 1871 W.W. “was elected Freeborn County coroner. In those days the coroner was a judicial official, not a physician, charged with conducting inquests into suspicious deaths.”

Also, in September 1871, the Cargills had the first of their daughters, Edna Clara Cargill. I’ll soon explain how she became the link with the MacMillan family. A second daughter, Emma, was also born in Albert Lea.

Another facet of Cargill’s life in Albert Lea was his membership in the Western Star Lodge No. 26, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. I became aware of this fact while doing research for my article about this fine organization which was published in the Oct. 5, 2008, issue.

In late 1875 the Cargill family moved to La Crosse, Wis., to take advantage of that city’s assets with both railroad and riverboat transportation.

The MacMillans were a very prominent family in the La Crosse area and also involved in the grain business, plus other commercial ventures. Thus, just to simplify this narrative, John Hugh MacMillan and Edna Clara Cargill became friends and this evolved into their marriage on Feb. 6, 1895. (The author of this book is their grandson, who became a director of the Cargill firm.)

This book also mentions how W.W. Cargill, who had other business ventures besides grain buying and selling, became involved in a separate firm which tried to prospect for coal in the Freeborn area during 1881.

There’s still one very tangible reminder of the Cargill association with Albert Lea which isn’t mentioned in this book. It’s the large building near the corner of Abbott Street and Summer Avenue. At the present time this structure is named the Abbott Apartments.

However, when this building was dedicated on Jan. 22, 1909, it was called the Cargill Science Hall. It was part of the Albert Lea College for Women, located right across the street where the Lakeview Elementary School is now.

W.W. had donated a good portion of the funds for the construction of this building in 1908. He died the following year on Oct. 17, 1909, and is buried in La Crosse.

The college ceased operations in 1916. The science hall became a temporary hospital during a local influenza epidemic a few years later, the Abbott Grade School from 1921 to 1966, and is now an apartment house.

By the way, this year is the centennial for both the former Cargill Science Hall, and for the end of life for the famous grain merchant who once lived in Albert Lea.

Ed Shannon’s column has been appearing in the Tribune every Friday since December 1984.