George A. Archer

George A. Archer was born circa 1850 in Dayton, Ohio.[1] His grandfather made linseed oil[2] and his father, William S. Archer, was the owner of a linseed factory in Dayton, where he had co-founded Clegg, Wood & Co. (later known as Wood, Archer & Co.) in 1844.[2]

Archer began his career by working in his father's factory in the 1870s.[2] By 1884, he opened his own linseed factory in Yankton, South Dakota, and founded Archer & Co.[2] Archer moved his business to Minneapolis in 1889, and sold the factory to American Linseed Co.[2]

Archer partnered with John W. Daniels, and they co-founded Archer-Daniels in 1904.[2] When they purchased Midland Linseed Products Co. in 1912, it became known as Archer Daniels Midland.[2] Archer served as its chief executive officer and chairman.[2] The company turned linseed or flaxseed into oil.[2] By the 1930s, the company had become "the largest in the world."[2]

Archer had a wife, Harriet.[1] They had a son, Shreve, and a daughter, Luella.[1] They resided at Dellwood in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and they spent their winters in Phoenix, Arizona.[1]

Archer died of pneumonia on November 12, 1932 in White Bear Lake, at the age of 82.[1] He was buried in Dayton, Ohio.[2]