Frank Wilbur Pillsbury Biography


	This biography appears on pages 844-847 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				FRANK WILBUR PILLSBURY. 

	Frank Wilbur Pillsbury, who for one term of two years served ably 
as mayor of Sioux Falls, doing much in that time for the welfare of the 
municipality, was by profession a lawyer and for twenty-seven years 
successfully engaged in practice, but for the greater part of the time 
after removing to Sioux Falls lived practically retired. He was born in 
Bitterford, Maine, March 2, 1846, a son of Stephen and Susan (Averill) 
Pillsbury. The father was of English and the mother of Scotch 
extraction. Frank W. Pillsbury remained in his native state until he 
was ten years of age and began his education in the public schools 
there, continuing it in Bureau county, Illinois, to which locality the 
family removed. When seventeen years of age he enlisted in the Seventy-
seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry as a private and served throughout 
the Civil war, making a splendid record. His ability and courage were 
recognized and he was mustered out with the rank of second lieutenant. 
Although he was never wounded nor taken prisoner his health was greatly 
impaired. His company saw such hard service that at the close of the 
war there were only nineteen of the men who originally composed it 
left. 

	After returning from the front Mr. Pillsbury studied law in the 
office of his brother, N. J. Pillsbury, at Pontiac, Illinois, and 
following his admission to the bar practiced in Fairbury, Illinois, in 
partnership with a brother-in-law, D. L. Murdock. In 1871 he removed to 
Grundy county, Iowa, and later took up his residence in Union, Hardin 
county, that state, where he was actively identified with public 
affairs, helping to incorporate the town of Union and becoming the 
first mayor of the municipality, which office he held for six years. 
Subsequently he went to Eldora, Iowa, where he practiced his profession 
successfully for four years, after which he located in Eagle Grove, 
that state, where he engaged in practice for thirteen years. He gained 
a high standing professionally and was accorded a large and 
representative clientage. 

	On the 29th of July, 1898, Mr. Pillsbury became a resident of 
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and for eight or nine months engaged in the 
real-estate business, after which he practically retired from active 
life. However, he continued to take a great interest in the general 
welfare, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his ability and public 
spirit, elected him mayor of Sioux Falls, in which capacity he served 
in 1906 and 1907. His administration was characterized by 
progressiveness and efficiency and among other things that were 
accomplished during that time the street railway was established and 
also the power plant of the waterworks was put in operation. About 1910 
Mr. Pillsbury began failing in health but he had nearly recovered when 
he fell on a cement step in his cellar, from the effects of which he 
died one and a half years later on the 23d of May, 1911. His demise was 
sincerely regretted throughout the city and his many friends still 
cherish his memory. 

	Mr. Pillsbury was married in what is now Conrad, Grundy county, 
Illinois, on the 17th of March, 1872, to Miss Catherine Parke, a 
daughter of John and Rebecca (Sigler) Parke, both now deceased. On 
coming west her parents first located in Ogle county, Illinois, but 
when she was eighteen years of age they removed to Grundy county, that 
state. In early life her father followed the shoemaker,s trade but 
later turned his attention to farming. The Parke family was early 
established in America, the original home being in Maryland. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Pillsbury was born a daughter, Grace, who is now the wife of F. R. 
Brady, a traveling man living in Sioux Falls. They have two children: 
Frank, sixteen years of age; and Florence, eight years old, both of 
whom are attending school. 

	Mr. Pillsbury was a Mason and an Odd Fellow and was well known in 
local fraternal circles. Previous to removing to Sioux Falls he 
belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic, the Knights of Pythias, and 
the Modern Woodmen, but did not renew his membership in those 
organizations after taking up his residence in this state. The family 
are Methodists in their religious faith and Mrs. Pillsbury is active in 
the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society and the Ladies Aid. She is also 
affiliated with the Eastern Star, the Rebekahs and the Ladies History 
Club. She is well known and highly esteemed and her influence is cast 
on the side of advancement and progress.