Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/46

 FAIRBANKS

FAIRBANKS

tliurized salary. He was a promoter and president of the Passumpsic railroad and a member of the company that constructed the Sault Ste. Marie canal. With his brothers he founded the acad- emy at St. Johns-bury in 1842, and a fund left by him for that purpose assisted in maintaining the Atheneum, the Museum of natural science and the North church. He was president of the Vermont domestic missionary society, 1849-64, and for many years a corporate member of the American board of foreign missions. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the Univer- sity of Vermont in 1860. He was married, jUay 30. 1815, to Lois Cro.ssman of Peacham, Vt. Two of their sons, Horace and Franklin, were brought up in the business of their father and uncle and succeeded to the management of the concern. He died in St. Jolinsbury, Vt., Nov. 30, 1864.

FAIRBANKS, Franklin, manufacturer, was born ill St. Jolinsl)ury, Vt., June 18, 1828; son of Gov. Erastus and Lois (Grossman) Fairbanks. He was educated in the public schools, Derry, N.H., and at the academies at Peacham and St. Johnsbury. He entered the scale works of his father and uncles in 1845 and %vorked his way througli all the departments up to a partnership and the superintendeney of the works in 1855. His inventions of various parts and improvements in the scales were patented. He aided in the construction of the St. Johnsbury & Lake Cham- plain, railroad and in 1876, on the incorpo- ration of E. & T. Fairbanks & Co., he was elected its vice-president and became president on the death of his brother Horace in 1888. He represented his native town in the state legislat- ure in 1870 and 1872 and was speaker of the house in 1872. He was an aide-de-camp with the rank of colonel on the staff of Governor Hall, 1838, and on the staff of Governor Fairbanks in 1861. He was president of First national bank of St. Johnsbury, 1888-95; was a trustee of the Northfield (Mass.) seminary, of the Soldiers' home, of Rollins college. Winter Park, Fla., of St. Johnsbury academy and of the St. Johnsbury AtheiicBum; was a corporate member of the American board of commissioners for foreign missions, and held prominent positions in many public and private enterprises. The Museum of natural science was built, equipped, endowed and presented to the town by liim in 1891. He was married, Dec. 8, 1852, to Frances A., daughter of the Rev. Sumner G. and Pamelia (Strong) Clapp. Dartmovith conferred upon him the hon- orary degree of A.M. in 1877. He died at Under- clyffe, St. Johnsbury, Vt.. April 24. 1895.

FAIRBANKS, GeoKe Rainsford, historian, was born at Waterto^n, X.Y.. July 5. 1820: son of Jasan and Slary (JIassey) Fairbanks; grandson of Samuel Fairbanks of Mendon, Mass.; and a

descendant of Jonathan Fairbanks, who came to Dedham, Mass., in 1033. He was admitted to the bar in 1842 and in the same year removed t<j St. Augustine, Fla. He was soon afterward ap- pointed clerk of the United States superior court and in 1846 was elected a state senator. When the civil war broke out he enlisted in the Confed- erate service and held the rank of major. In 1861 he was a deputy to the general convention of the Protestant Episcopal church in the Con- federate States. At the close of the civil war he removed to Sewanee, Tenn., and with others endeavored to rebuild the University of the South, of which he was one of the original trustees. In 1880 he removed to Fernandina, Fla. In 1880 he became editor of the Florida Mirror, and in 1890 was elected president of the Florida press association. He was a member of tne general convention of the Protestant Episco- pal church almost continually from 1853. In 1886 he was appointed by the general convention to represent the Protestant Episcopal church at the synod of the Dominion of Canada. He is the author of: The History and Antiquities of St. An- (liisline (1859); and A General History of Florida (1870).

FAIRBANKS, Henry, educator and inventor, was born in St. Jolinsbury. Vt., May 6, 1830; son of Thaddeus and Lucy (Barker) Fairbanks. He was graduated at St. Johnsbury academy in 1847, spent one year in Europe in study, and was grad- uated from Dartmouth in 1853 and from Andover in 1857. He visited Egypt, Palestine and southern Europe,

making the ascent of Mt. Blanc in 1856. He was a home mission- ary and conductor of vacation labors of theological students, 1857-59; Appleton professor of natural philosophy in Dart- mouth college, 1859- 65, and professor of natural history. 1865- 68. He returned to St. Johnsburj' in 1868 and devoted his time to perfecting various inventions and to local religious work as his health permitted. He led the evan- gelistic work of the Y.M.C.A. of the state, was president of the State missionary society, presi- dent of St. Johnsbury academy, a trustee of Dartmouth college from 1870, and a member of the International Congi-egational council. Lon- don. England. 1891. He was also elected lice-president of the E. & T. Fairbanks & Co.

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