Charles William Post^[1]

1854 - 1914  (59 years)

• Name	Charles William Post
  Birth	26 Oct 1854	Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois
  Gender	Male
  Death	9 May 1914	Santa Barbara, Ventura, California
  Burial	Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan
  Person ID	I7241	Scudder
  Last Modified	16 Nov 2011

  
  

  Father	Charles Rollins Post,   b. 15 Jan 1826, Cornwall, Vermont d. 15 Jul 1919, Los Angeles, California (Age 93 years)
  Mother	Caroline Cushman Lathrop,   b. 27 Nov 1824, Ashford, Connecticut d. 17 Oct 1914, Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas (Age 89 years)
  Marriage	10 Oct 1853	Hartford, Connecticut
  Family ID	F2471	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Ella Letitia Merriweather,   b. 18 Sep 1853, Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois d. 22 Oct 1912, Washington, District of Columbia (Age 59 years)
  Marriage	4 Nov 1874	Pawnee, Illinois
  Divorce	Oct 1904
  Notes	They were married by Rev. Albert.
  Children	1. Rollin Tracy Post,   b. 17 Dec 1883, Springfield, Illinois d. 17 Dec 1883, Springfield, Illinois (Age 0 years)   2. Marjorie Merriweather Post,   b. 15 Mar 1887, Springfield, Illinois d. 12 Sep 1973 (Age 86 years)
  Family ID	F2621	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2024

  
  

  Family 2	Leila D. Young,   b. 20 Apr 1877, Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan d. 27 Apr 1946, Los Angeles county, California (Age 69 years)
  Marriage	Nov 1904	Battle Creek, Michigan
  Family ID	F2622	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2024

  
  

• Notes

  With his inventions of the coffee substitute Postum and several popular grain-based food products including the breakfast cereals Post Toasties and Grape Nuts, Charles William founded the Postum Cereal Company, a food-manufacturing empire that generated one of the largest fortunes of the early twentieth century. In late 1913 and early 1914, Charles' health deteriorated to the point that he canceled public appearances, which prompted speculation in the press regarding his well-being. In early March, the president of the Santa Fe Railroad arranged for Post to be rushed via a nonstop train ride in a private car from California to Rochester, Minnesota, where he was operated on for acute appendicitis on March 10. The operation was a success and he was allowed to return to his home in Santa Barbara, California to recuperate. He died in Santa Barbara on May 9, 1914, by a self-inflicted gun wound. It is believed that his suicide was committed due to frustration over continued health problems (thinking he had stomach cancer). His 27-year-old daughter, Marjorie Merriweather Post, inherited his company along with most of his vast fortune.

  
  

• Sources

  [S109] Partial Genealogy of Descendants of Elizabeth Scudder-E, Section II, Bulletin XXX, p. 32.