George W. Van Dusen

Biography

George W. Van Dusen, born in 1826, was a leader in Minnesota’s grain trade, building a respected firm that helped nourish a nation and brought prosperity to Rochester and the wider Upper Midwest. His business brilliance was matched by a generous commitment to civic betterment and educational advancement.

When he passed in 1915, Van Dusen was remembered as a benevolent entrepreneur whose investments supported schools, libraries, and public works, leaving a legacy of places that continue to serve their communities.