Star of the West Milling Company, Frankenmuth, MI, USA

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Star of the West Milling Company in the past five decades has continued to grow. Expanding from one mill to todays five flour mills in four different states and nine country elevators handling corn, soybeans, processing edible beans and providing local farmers with their crop inputs.

The name of the company, "Star of the West " was taken from a side-wheel merchant steamer of that name. It was normally used on a New York to New Orleans run but had been secretly chartered for $1,250 a day to carry soldiers and supplies to Fort Sumpter in January, 1861. On January 9 the ship approached Charleston harbor and Fort Sumpter when South Carolina gunners and Confederate forces fired on it. The ship was hit and fearing sinking, it turned around and headed for open seas. The northern forces on Fort Sumter did not return the hostile fire until April 12, 1861. The reason for Hubinger naming his mill Star of the West is not really known. Patriotism is the most logical explanation.