William Henry Eustis
Encyclopedia
William Henry Eustis was Mayor of Minneapolis, Republican nominee for Governor of Minnesota
in 1898, and a philanthropist.
on July 17, 1847. When he was 15 years old, he contracted a hip disease, which required him to walk with a cane and then with crutches. He graduated from Wesleyan University
in Connecticut
in 1873 and then got his law degree from Columbia Law School
the next year. He moved to Minneapolis in 1881 and started dealing in real estate, becoming more well-known as an owner of downtown buildings than as an attorney. He served as the mayor of Minneapolis for one term, 1893 through 1895.
Later in life, he began to think about donating much of his wealth to charity, facetiously calling it "mostly unearned increment." In 1923, he bought 65 acres (26.3 ha) of land on the west side of the Mississippi River
and donated 21 acres (8.5 ha) to the Minneapolis School Board for the site of the Michael Dowling School, devoted to the education of handicapped children. He subsequently donated the remaining 44 acres (17.8 ha) of land, along with $900,000 in securities, to the University of Minnesota
for a hospital
and convalescent home. He did not want the hospital to bear his name, instead preferring it to be called the "Minnesota Hospital and Home for Crippled Children." Eustis eventually donated his interest in the Flour Exchange Building
and Corn Exchange Building to the university, along with the rental income. Hospital construction began on November 10, 1928, but by that time Eustis was too ill to attend. Eustis died of heart disease on November 30, 1928. The hospital included an outpatient department, two floors of rooms for inpatient treatment, space for an on-site school, and an amphitheater for teaching purposes. The university eventually named the hospital after Eustis to recognize his generosity.
When the Mayo Memorial Building on campus was completed in 1954, the Eustis Hospital, along with Elliot Hospital, were incorporated into the structure.
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
in 1898, and a philanthropist.
Biography
Eustis was born in Jefferson County, New YorkJefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
on July 17, 1847. When he was 15 years old, he contracted a hip disease, which required him to walk with a cane and then with crutches. He graduated from Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
in 1873 and then got his law degree from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
the next year. He moved to Minneapolis in 1881 and started dealing in real estate, becoming more well-known as an owner of downtown buildings than as an attorney. He served as the mayor of Minneapolis for one term, 1893 through 1895.
Later in life, he began to think about donating much of his wealth to charity, facetiously calling it "mostly unearned increment." In 1923, he bought 65 acres (26.3 ha) of land on the west side of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
and donated 21 acres (8.5 ha) to the Minneapolis School Board for the site of the Michael Dowling School, devoted to the education of handicapped children. He subsequently donated the remaining 44 acres (17.8 ha) of land, along with $900,000 in securities, to the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
for a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
and convalescent home. He did not want the hospital to bear his name, instead preferring it to be called the "Minnesota Hospital and Home for Crippled Children." Eustis eventually donated his interest in the Flour Exchange Building
Flour Exchange Building
The Flour Exchange Building is an office building in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota designed by architects Long and Kees, who also designed Minneapolis City Hall and the Lumber Exchange Building. Construction originally began in 1892, but halted abruptly in 1893 after only four floors had been...
and Corn Exchange Building to the university, along with the rental income. Hospital construction began on November 10, 1928, but by that time Eustis was too ill to attend. Eustis died of heart disease on November 30, 1928. The hospital included an outpatient department, two floors of rooms for inpatient treatment, space for an on-site school, and an amphitheater for teaching purposes. The university eventually named the hospital after Eustis to recognize his generosity.
When the Mayo Memorial Building on campus was completed in 1954, the Eustis Hospital, along with Elliot Hospital, were incorporated into the structure.