Editing C. W. Post (section)

==Early life and education==
[[File:PORTRAIT OF ELLA LETITIA MERRIWEATHER POST (cropped).png|thumb|In November 1874, Post married Ella Letitia Merriweather.]]
Post, commonly known as "C. W.", was born October 26, 1854, in [[Springfield, Illinois]], the son of Charles Rollin Post and [[Caroline Lathrop Post]], and grew up in the adopted hometown of [[Abraham Lincoln]], who served as [[President of the United States]] during Post's childhood.<ref name=NAM>"Obituary: C.W. Post," ''American Industries,'' vol. 14, no. 11 (June 1914), pg. 43.</ref>

Post graduated from public schools in Springfield, and then enrolled at [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign|Illinois Industrial University]], where he remained for two years before leaving without a degree.<ref name=TSHA>William M. Pearce, [http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fpo26 "Charles William Post,"] The Handbook of Texas Online, Texas State Historical Society, www.tshaonline.org/</ref>

After a brief stay in [[Independence, Kansas]], Post returned to Springfield, where he remained for over a decade working as a salesman and manufacturer of agricultural machinery. During this interval Post invented and patented several farm implements, including a [[Plough|plow]], a [[harrow (tool)|harrow]], and a [[hay]]-stacking machine.<ref name=TSHA />

In November 1874, Post married Ella Letitia Merriweather; they had one daughter, [[Marjorie Merriweather Post|Marjorie]]. Ella supported her husband throughout his career and cared for him when he was ill. As Post became wealthier and began spending more time away from Ella, who was often ill, his relationship with her waned. Against her wishes, Post separated from her in 1904 and married his second wife, Leila Young, his 27-year-old secretary, in November 1904.<ref name="TSHA" /> Marjorie, who remained close to her father, later said that her mother died of "a broken heart" after Post divorced her and married his secretary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paulbowles.org/marjoriemerriweatherpost.html|title=Marjorie Merriweather Post: a biography by Kenneth Lisenbee|website=www.paulbowles.org|access-date=October 14, 2018|archive-date=January 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125003116/http://www.paulbowles.org/marjoriemerriweatherpost.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In a deceitful attempt to have his daughter become closer with his secretary (soon to be wife), C. W. hired her to be a travel companion for Marjorie. When Marjorie realized the ruse, she deeply resented Leila.