Major William D. Hale
William
Dinsmore Hale was born at Norridgewock, Maine, Aug. 16, 1836. He came to
Minnesota in 1856, locating first in Goodhue County. At the breaking out of the
Rebellion he enlisted as a private in Co. E, Third Minnesota Regiment. In July,
1862, he was captured and paroled, returning to Minnesota and taking part in
Colonel Sibley’s campaign against the Sioux. Having been exchanged, he was
again ordered south, and participated in the capture of Vicksburg and Little
Rock. Later he became major of the Fourth Regiment of Colored U.S. Artillery,
and served in that capacity until the close of the war. After the war he came to
Minneapolis and entered the employ of W. D. Washburn & Co., and in 1876
became a partner in the company and manager of its growing business. Here has
extraordinary talent for details found an abundant field for development. Every
part of the Lincoln mill at Anoka, from the piling under the foundation wall to
the weather vane on the pinnacle of the flagstaff was the product of his care
and forethought, and his ability in the selection of fit assistants reduced the
complicated combination of manufacturing and marketing both lumber and flour to
a system which ran as smoothly ran as smoothly as one of their own Corliss
engines. Major Hale’s connection with Anoka business affairs terminated with
the transfer of the Lincoln mill to the Pillsbury-Washburn Flour Mills Co., but
he still holds a high place in the respect and esteem of her citizens. Major
Hale has held various official positions of trust, and at the present time is
postmaster of Minneapolis.
source: History of Anoka County by Albert M. Goodrich – published 1905