Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/50

 FAIRCHILD

FAIRCHILD

Thomas Fairchild of Stratfonl, Conn., 1G39. The FairchilJs were from Litchfield county, Conn., and the Bissells were from Cooperstown. N.Y., but earlier from Rhode Island. In 1869 he left - the homestead farm, at Brooklyn, Pa., and spent one year as clerk in a railroad office at Scranton, Pa. He was graduated from Cornell with honor m 1874 with the degree of B.S. The years spent at Cornell during the early life of the institu- tion and in tire labora- tory of Charles Fred Hartt determined his in- clination toward science, and geology in particu- lar. He was professor of natural sciences in Wyo- ming seminary, near ^yfl/' iS^' /^'/fy, Wilkesbarre, Pa., 18T4-

■ ./ ^^V5^.^«% ZC. 76. and engaged in

-— * science lecturing in the

eohools and institutions of New York city and vicmity, 1877-88. Meanwhile he published nu- merous articles on paleobotany, zoology and geol- ogy. He became secretary of the New York academy of sciences and published its history in 1887. In 1888 he was called to the chair of geol- ogy in the University of Rochester, where in addition to the work of instruction he was active in the investigation of the Pleistocene geology of western New York, publishing numerous extended articles in geological journals. The more important articles describe the glacial lakes which wei"e held at the ice front during the retreat of the glacial ice sheet across New York state. In the American association for the ad- vancement of science he was the local secretary for the New York and Rochester meetings and was secretary of the council, 1893 ; general secre- tary, 1894, and vice-president and chairman of Section E (geology), 1898. In 1889 he was elected president of the Rochester academy of .science, and in 1890 secretary of the Geological society of

■ America. His writings include : two papers on zoology, nine on physiology, eight on paleontol- ogy and nineteen on geology ; thirteen official reports of proceedings of the American geological association (1892-97) ; History of tho Nnn York Academy of Science (1887) ; and Memoir of John Strong Xewherry (1893).

FAIRCHILD, James Harris, educator, was born in Stockbridge, Mass., Nov. 25, 1817; son of Grandison and Nancy (Harris) Fairchild. He was a brother of George Thompson Fairchild. He entered the first freshman class at Oberlin in 1834 and was graduated in arts in 1838 and in theology in 1841. He was professor of ancient

languages in Oberlin college, 1841-47; of mathe matics, 1847-58 ; and of moral philosoph}- and tlieology, 1858-G6, and president of the college, 1866-89, He resigned the presidency in 1889, re- taining the chair of theology until June, l>i97, wlien he resigned, but retained his position on the board of trustees and on the presidential com- mittee of the college. He was married on Nov. 39, 1841, to Mary Fletcher Kellogg of Minden, La. He edited Memoirs of Charles G. Finney (1876) ; and Finney's Systematic Theology (1878); and is the author of: Moral Philosophy (1869) ; Oberlin, the Colony and the College (1883); Woman's Right to the Ballot (1870); Elements of Theology (1892). He died in Oberlin, Ohio, March 19, 1902.

FAIRCHILD, Lucius, governor of Wisconsin, was born at Franklin Mills, now Kent, Ohio, Dec. 27, 1831 ; son of Jairus Cassius and Sally (Blair) Fairchild; grandson of Sueton and Lucy (Hub- ble) Fairchild and a descendant of Oliver and Sarah (Turner) Fairchild. He attended the l)ublic schools in Cleveland, and the Twinsburg (Ohio) academy, removed to Madison, Wis., in 1846, and continued his education at Car i-oll college, Wauke- sha, Wis., 1847-19. He joined a caravan or- ganized at Madison and with the party crossed the plains to California in 1849 and after engaging in '^~

mining merchandis- c^^^^^ P?U^rtAc/l ing and farmmg with

no great success, he returned to Madison in 1857. He was clerk of the circuit court of Dane county, 1859-60, and in the fall of 1860 was admitted to the bar. He joined a volunteer militia comjiany known as the " governor's guard " in March, 1858, and by March, 1861, he had attained the rank of 1st lieutenant of the company. On April 17, 1861, the organization was accepted as com- pany K. 1st Wisconsin volunteers, enlisted for three months' service with Faircliild as captain, he declining the position of lieutenant-colonel. In June, 1861, the regiment was assigned to Gen- eral Patterson's command at Hagerstown and on July 2, 1861, they took part in the skirmisli at Falling Waters, Va., against the " Stonewall bri- gade " of Jackson. They were mustered out of service at Harper's Ferry, July 31, 1861, and on Aug. 5, 1861, Captain Fairchild was promoted to the rank of captain in the regular army and as- signed to the Ifitb U.S. infantry. Preferring the volunteer service he was commissioned major by