Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/48

 FAIRCHILD

FAIRCHILD

new business, he gave his patents away and they were afterward estimated to be worth a million dollars. He was also a skilled architect and draughtsman, but his chief achievement and the one that made his name known over the civilized world, was the Fairbanks scales. He gained gold medals and other honors from all the interna- tional expositions and from the sovereigns of Europe. Austria, Siam and Tunis, through their respective rulers and potentates, gave him the higliest awards and decorations known to regal courts and this is iiarticularly noteworthy, as these countries represent the three great religions of the world. He gave for the foundation and sustaining of the St. Johnsbury academy over

■•■,?T. J0HAJ5BURY

$300,000, and to lliddlebury college, of which he was a trustee, 1858-86, liberal donations. He received from Middlebury the honorary degree of A.M. in 18.M. He was married, Jan. 17, 1820, to Lui_y P., daughter of Barnabus Barker of St. Johnsbury. Their son was the Rev. Henry Fair- banks. Ph.D., and. their daughter, Charlotte, married the Rev. George Nelson Webber, D.D., professor of intellectual and moral philosophy in Middlebuiy college, 1866-74. Thaddeus Fair- banks died in St. Johnsbury, Vt., April 13, 1886. FAIRCHILD, Cassius, soldier, was born in Kent, Ohio, Dec. 16, 1828; son of Jairus C. Fair- child, state treasurer of Wisconsin, 1848-53. Cassius migrated with his father's family to Wisconsin Territory in 1846, settling at Madison, and acted as private secretary and assistant to his father in his ijublic and personal business affairs He was a member of the state assembly in 1860 and in 1861 was commissioned major of the 16th Wisconsin volunteers. He was wounded at Shiloh, April 6, 1862, and was unable to rejoin his command until April 18, 1863. From October, 1863. to March. 1864, he was on court-martial duty at Vicksburg, Miss. He commanded his regiment in the battles of Big Shanty, June 3, and Kenesaw Mountain. June 27, 1864, marching from Clifton, Tenn.. to Ackworth, Ga. After the capture of Atlanta. Ga., he was detailed on recruiting service and rejoined his regiment at

Beaufort, S.C, in Januaiy, 1863. He commanded a brigade of the 3d division, 17th army corps, in the Carolina campaign and was mustered out of the service in July, 1865, his commission as brevet brigadier-genei-al of volunteers dating from March 13, 1860. He was aiipointed by President Johnson U.S. marshal for the eastern division of Wisconsin and continued in the office until his death, which was caused by the re- opening of the wound received at Shiloh. He died at Milwaukee, Wis., Oct. 26, 1868.

FAIRCHILD, Charles Stebbins, cabinet offi- cer, was born in Cazenovia, N.Y., April 30, 1842; son of Sidney Thompson and Helen (Childs) Fairchild; grandson of John Flavel and Flavia (Merrill) Fairchild; great-grandson of Abijah and Sarah (Howell) Fairchild; great^ grandson of David and Cather- ine (Gregory) Fair- child; great' grand- son of Zaoharias Fairchild of Morris Plains, N.J.; and a descendant of Tliomas Fairchild, who settled in Stratford, Conn., in 1646. His father, who was graduated at Union in 1839, was a distinguished lawyer and president of the -^ > /' village of Cazenovia; ^^^^ ^'.^^.^WO^ and his great' grand- ^ ^ r

father, Abijah, of Cooperstown, N.Y., was a na- tive of Morristown, N. J., and served under Wash- ington in the Jersey line. Charles was graduated from Harvard, A.B., 1863, LL.B., 1865. He was married, June 1, 1871, to Helen, daughter of Ledyard and Helen Clarissa (Seymour) Linck- laen. He was a member of the law firm of Hand, Hale, Swartz & Fairchild, Albany, N.Y., 1871-76; served as deputy attorney-general of New York in 1874 and 1875, and was elected in 1875 attorney -general of the state, serving 1876- 77. He then spent some time in European travel and in 1880 settled in New York city where he opened a law office. In 1885 he was made assistant secretary of the U.S. treasury and served as acting secretary during the inca- pacity from sickness of Daniel Manning. Uiion the resignation of Secretary Manning, April 1. 1887, Mr. Fairchild was appointed by President Cleveland to the head of the department and lie continued a member of the official family of the president until the close of the administration, March 4, 1889. He was then made president of the New York security and trust company. In 1893 he was elected president of the Reform club and in May, 1895, he succeeded William R Grace