Collection on William H. Dunwoody

William H. Dunwoody, banker and flour manufacturer, was born in Chester Co., Pa. in 1841. He was educated in Philadelphia and began an active career by working in a grain and flour store of his uncle's in Philadelphia in 1859. He entered the same business a few years later as a member of the firm of Dunwoody & Robertson. He and his wife, Kate Dunwoody, came to Minneapolis in September 1869 as a buyer of flour for Eastern investing firms. Later he became a member of the firm of Tiffany, Dunwoody & Co., operating Artic Flour Mills and also of H. Darrow & Co., operating Union Flour Mill in 1871. He organized the Millers' Association and became its manager and general agent. He was the first to introduce a new process for milling wheat and also the first to engage in exportation of Minneapolis flour direct to Europe, at the solicitation of Governor Washburn in November 1877. He was one of the organizers and members of firm of Washburn, Crosby & Co., operating the Washburn Mills, commencing business February, 1879. The firm later introduced the roller process of making flour into its plants. Dunwoody was president of Northwestern National Bank, St. Anthony & Dakota Elevator Co., and the Barnum Grain Co., vice president of St. Anthony Elevator Co., the Washburn Crosby Co., and director of Minneapolis Trust Co.

William H. Dunwoody died February 8, 1914. In his will, he left a provision that requested the establishment of the Dunwoody Industrial Institute, because he believed it was important to give young men a solid training in the trades so they could be successful in life. After Kate died in 1915, the Dunwoody estate left another large endowment to the school to ensure it continued to operate.