George W. Cargill

(1834-1912)

Born February 22, 1834, in Wheeling, WV, George Washington Cargill came with his family in 1843 to the Blacksnake Hills, which was christened St. Joseph the following year. After his father died in 1858, Cargill, his mother, and his brother continued to operate the steam flour mill situated on Felix Street between Eighth and Ninth Streets. They also raised hemp, which was either put into bales or made into rope for rope walks, on their plantation southeast of St. Joseph.

On November 7, 1860, Cargill married Mary Blair Shaw from Point Pleasant, VA. They were the parents of five children: Samuel Glover (1861), Mary Blanche (1865), Lawrence Waldo (1868), James (1871), and Florence Rebecca (1873).

Cargill was six feet two, handsome, and had a wealth of curly hair. Being a southern sympathizer during the War Between the States, Cargill was accused of harboring a southern officer, Captain Reuben Kay, and helping him to escape. With his crops burned, his cattle driven off, and his slaves freed, Cargill managed to flee by horseback through the Union lines all the way back to West Virginia, taking with him the brass key to the doors of the Cargill Flour Mill. With Cargill gone, the Yankees burned down the flour mill.

Cargill made Winfield, VA his home, where he later became circuit judge. He passed away on February 5, 1912. The brass key is framed and currently hangs at the John P. Cargill residence in Kansas City, MO.

Boder, B. (1956, Winter). The pioneer Cargills. Museum Graphic, 8(1), 11-12.

Cargill, J. & Cargill, H. (1963). Cargill family, (pp. 24-25). New England Genealogical and Historical Register.

The Lozo-Needles Photo Album collection contains photographs of prominent citizens from St. Joseph, Missouri during the late 1800's.  Alexander Lozo had a photography studio during the years 1871 to 1889 at various locations in the Downtown area.  Lozo passed away on April 23, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois.  John T. Needles had a photography studio during the years 1874 to 1882 at various locations in the Downtown area.  Needles passed away in 1891 in Colorado.