USA > Vermont > Essex County > Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887 > Part 40
USA > Vermont > Caledonia County > Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887 > Part 40
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In 1815 Joseph Fairbanks, a substantial farmer of Brimfield, Mass., moved to St. Johnsbury. He was in the sixth generation from Jonathan Fairbanks, who came to this country from Yorkshire, England, in 1633, who built the "Fairbanks House," still standing, in Dedham, Mass.
Joseph Fairbanks having settled in St. Johnsbury, built saw and grist- mills on the water-power around which Fairbanks village subsequently grew. He was a man of solid qualities, never prominent in society, but respected by all for his practical sense and character. His wife, Phebe Paddock (sister of Judge Ephraim Paddock), was a woman of uncommon strength and energy of mind, and many of the above qualities were inherited by her three sons, Erastus, Thaddeus and Joseph P., all of whom were born at Brimfield and died at St. Johnsbury.
Erastus Fairbanks (October 28, 1792-November 20, 1864). His early life was one of great struggle. He won his way through repeated difficulties, obstacles, disappointments, till in 1830 he established a manufacturing busi- ness with his brother Thaddeus, producing stoves, plows, forks, machines, and finally platform scales. From this time till his death, thirty-four years later, he was senior partner of the firm of E. & T. Fairbanks & Co., and to a large degree manager of its work and prosperous business. During these years he was also prominent in public life and in various enterprises. He became a trusted leader in state politics. As first president of the Passumpsic railroad, his energy and perseverence secured its construction in face of great obstacles. In 1852 he was made Governor of Vermont; again in 1860 he was called to the same post. On the breaking out of the Civil war, the state placed a mil- lion of dollars at his disposal, relying entirely on his judgment as to its appro- priation. The results justified this mark of confidence ; his administration was energetic, wise, firm and successful ; the salary to which he was en- titled was never drawn. During his entire life Gov. Fairbanks was active in support of morality, political honesty, temperance, religion. He felt pro-
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foundly his obligation, not only to seek the favor of God upon all his affairs, but to further the world's progress by energetic christian influence and liberal benefactions. His fine presence and dignified manners indicated native strength ; by his strict integrity and prompt handling of affairs he became widely useful in social and civil life.
Thaddeus Fairbanks (January 17, 1796-April 12, 1886). From early life his mechanical genius was marked. In almost any direction he could invent and construct. He obtained patents for the cook stoves and cast-iron plows manufactured by himself and brother, and also was the original inventor of the refrigerator system now universally adopted ; but his most important in- vention was that of the platform scale, patented in 1831. The manufacture of scales involved the planning and construction of a great amount of new machinery, and the variety of modifications in the scales themselves (over 400 in all), kept his brain and hand busy almost to the last. During his life he received forty-three patents, the last one reaching him in his ninety-first year, shortly before his death. He lived to see the results of his genius in prac- tical use the world over, having from the first the belief that " a just balance and scales are the Lords," and that the pattern thereof was given him for the benefit of mankind. He was a man of most childlike simplicity of character and bearing. He shrunk always from public notice. After he had been knighted by the Emperor of Austria, and decorated with various foreign in- signia, he was familiarly known as "Sir Thaddeus," but the only honor he ever desired was that his life might be accepted of God and wrought into the great plan of elevating human life. His benefactions were large and varied, ac- companied always with warmest sympathy in whatever good cause needed help at home or abroad. St. Johnsbury Academy owes its fine buildings, also its rank and influence, for the most part, to his liberality and unwearying devo- tion. Prominent among the objects of interest in the town where he had wrought for seventy years, was his patriarchal figure of most benignant aspect, crowned with silver-white hair, revered and loved by all who knew him.
Joseph P. Fairbanks (November 26, 1806-May 15, 1855). Though youngest of the "three brothers," and taken away in mid-life, the name of Joseph P. Fairbanks went deeply into the heart of his generation. His mind was strong, capacious, alert and remarkably well balanced. He was intel- ligently familiar with business, science, law, history and literature. He had singular capacity for absorbing ideas, collating facts, transacting business, influencing men. Few could excel him in stoutly maintaining personal convic- tions, at the same time securing the love and confidence of all who differed in opinion. He was averse to public life, though in more ways than men ever knew he was influencing public opinion, and securing the public good. In all current questions of education, politics, temperance, morality and religion, his mind and heart were incessantly engaged-his pen busy, his purse open. He crowded a long life into a few years, and died as a consequence prematurely,
Thaddeus Jen
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at the age of forty-eight years, lamented by all. The larger part of his property was bequeathed to benevolent objects, religious and educational.
Horace Fairbanks, (March 21, 1820,) son of Erastus, is president of the cor- poration of E. & T. Fairbanks & Co., also of the First National Bank of St. Johnsbury. He was Governor of Vermont in 1876-1878. In 1870 he pre- sented to the town the public library and art gallery, known as "The St. Johnsbury Athenæum," containing 10,000 volumns, and carefully selected works of art. He is trustee of the University of Vermont, also of Andover Seminary.
Franklin Fairbanks, (June 18, 1828,) son of Erastus, is manager of the manufacturing department of the scale business. He has been twice speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, and for many years was member of the International Sunday-school committee.
Henry Fairbanks, Ph. D .. (May 6, 1830,) is the only son of Thaddeus. He was nine years professor of philosophy at his Alma Mater, Dartmouth, is a trustee of that college, also of Hartford Theological Seminary. He is presi- dent of the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society, and chairman of the Y. M. C. A. of Vermont.
Edward T. Fairbanks, (May 12, 1836,) son of Joseph P., was educated at Yale College and Andover Seminary. He has been pastor of South church, St. Johnsbary, since 1874.
William P. Fairbanks, (July 27, 1840,) son of Joseph P., is secretary and treasurer of the corporation of E. & T. Fairbanks & Co.
Robert Stark. born in Dunbarton, N. H., married Mary Ayer, of his native town, first settled there, and in 18rr he emigrated to St. Johnsbury, locating on the farm now owned and occupied by his grandson, David Stark, in the northern part of the town. His farm, then containing 100 acres, had only a small clearing of three acres and a log house, which was his home sev- eral years. He gave his energies to clearing his farm, and in a few years built more commodious buildings and made himself and family a comfortable home, where he remained till he died, at the age of sixty-six years. His wife survived, as near as can now be ascertained, till she was about eighty years of age. They were parents of six children, only one now living. Of their children, Betsey married John Armington, a farmer, settled in St. Johnsbury, removed to Iowa, where she died. She was the mother of eight children. Sally married Gayland Roberts, a farmer, of St. Johnsbury, was the mother of eight children, and died in this town. Charles Stark, oldest son, born in Dun- barton, in 1801, was ten years of age when his father came to St. Johnsbury, was educated in the common schools, and succeeded his father on the old homestead. He was always a farmer, held the office of lister a number of years, added 260 acres to the farm, but reduced by sale of 100 acres before he left it. He married, January 29, 1829, Mary Ayer, daughter of Samuel Ayer, of St. Johnsbury, and they had born to them four children, viz .: Luella, David, Sarah and Mariette. Luella died aged ten years. Mrs. Stark died in
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February, 1874. Mr. Stark married for his second wife Mrs. Rosetta Grout, of East St. Johnsbury, when he removed to her residence, where he lived till he died, in July, 1877. His widow still resides at her home in East St. Johnsbury. David, as before mentioned, resides on the homestead, and mar- ried Viola Ayer, in 1859. Their children are Cora (Mrs. Eugene Joyce), who resides at the Center Village, and Nellie, who resides with her parents. Sarah, daughter of Charles Stark, born in 1839, married Artemas Whitney, living in St. Johnsbury, and has three children. Mariette, youngest daughter of Charles Stark, married Frank Hill, has two children, and resides in Lyndon.
Edward Allen, born in Lyme, N. H., April 26, 1812, was educated in the common schools of his native town, where he resided until about twenty-four years of age. He married Rhoda Flint, of Lyme, March 10, 1836, and re- moved to St. Johnsbury on the sixteenth of the same month. He located on the farm purchased of Maj. Daniel Pierce. Maj. Pierce was its first owner, taking it when a dense wilderness, in 1792, and made it his home until con- veyed to Mr. Allen. Mr. Allen and his son Edward P. are now its joint owners and occupants. Mr. and Mrs. Allen were parents of two sons, Ed- ward P., before named, and John Allen, a farmer, residing in Lyndon. Mrs. Edward Allen died March 13, 1886, and was buried on the fiftieth anniver- sary of their settlement in St. Johnsbury. Mr. Allen has served one year as lister, but has declined further honors offered by his townsmen.
Samuel Ward, born in Peabody, Mass., or an adjacent town, removed to Dublin, N. H., where most of his large family of children were born. About 1796 he removed to South Wheelock, Vt., where he remained a few years, and then removed to Canada, where he eventually died. Several of his older children remained in South Wheelock, among whom were the oldest two sons, Thaddeus and Samuel, who ultimately settled in North Danville. The third son, Josiah, removed with his father to Canada, where he remained until of age. He then returned and settled in North Danville, in the neighborhood of the two older brothers, where they all together were parents of thirty chil- dren who attained adult age, and three who died in infancy. Josiah Ward married Susannah Hayward, whose father, Nathaniel Hayward, was one of the first settlers in Danville. Josiah Ward remained in Danville until 1838, when he removed to St. Johnsbury and located on the farm now owned and occupied by his son Josiah Ward. In 1850 he removed to St. Johnsbury Center, where he died in 1859, aged seventy-one years. Mrs. Ward survived him until 1873, when she died, aged eighty years. They were parents of eight children, only four now living, two in St. Johnsbury, one in Lyndon, and one in Illinois, Josiah, son of Josiah, born in North Danville, in 1825, married Mianda M. Ayer, of St. Johnsbury, daughter of Hiram Ayer, in 1850. Mrs. Ward was born in Burke, in 1825. Mr. Ward has given his attention to his farm, and sustains the relation of local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has also held offices of trust in town.
Lewis Bailey removed from Ox Bow, N. Y., to Compton, Canada, about
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1842, where his only child, Alden L. Bailey, the subject of this sketch, was born, in May, 1845. His father died when he was eighteen months old, and his mother when he was but nine years of age. He was then taken into the family of his mother's brother, Mr. Amos Hartwell, of that town, where he resided until he was twenty-one years of age. With a common school educa- tion, and two terms at the academy of the town, and nothing besides but a good physical constitution and indomitable energy, and habits of persevering industry and sterling integrity, he started out for himself and wended his way to White River Junction, Vt. He entered into the employ of Messrs. Gates & Barnes who were extensively engaged in farming and running a line of coaches to the White Mountains, acting as their foreman for two years. He then went to St. Johnsbury, Vt., and was in the employ of Messrs. E. & T. Fairbanks for a short time, when in September, 1870, he went into busi- ness with H. P. Shorey in the sale of sewing machines and organs. After the death of Mr. Shorey, Mr. Bailey discontinued the sale of sewing machines, and has since continued the sale of organs, pianos and musical supplies alone. His fine salesrooms and large stock may be seen on Eastern avenue, St. Johnsbury. He also has an extensive branch store in Burlington, and another in Barre, and gives employment to twelve traveling salesmen. Mr. Bailey is reported the largest dealer in pianos and organs north of Boston. Besides conducting his large business, Mr. Bailey finds time to give aid and support to the benevolent and religious interests of his town. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was one of the first in influence and means in aid of building their present fine church edifice, and is a gen- erous contributor to the finances of the church.
John Higgins, son of John and Polly (Hoyt) Higgins, was born in Dan- ville, Vt., July 22, 1805, was educated in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-one years came to St. Johnsbury. In 1830 he married Ella Ide, daughter of Timothy Ide, and settled on the farm where his son William Higgins now lives, where he continued to the close of his life, July 18, 1883. Mrs. Higgins died in 1865. He gave his attention mainly to his large farm, was selectman and lister several years. He had three sons, viz .: J. Clark Higgins, who was a farmer and died in November, 1884; George I., who has had various occupations, resides in West Concord, and is now engaged in breeding blooded horses; and William, the youngest son, who owns and resides on the old homestead. He is serving his town as first selectman, which position he has held the last ten years, and was member of the board two years previous.
Israel Brainerd, a lineal descendant of Daniel Brainerd, who emigrated from England, and settled in Haddam, Conn., in 1662, was born in Haddam, September 14, 1772. In early life he settled in Campton, N. H., where he resided about twenty years. He went to Danville, Vt., in 1786, where he lived until his death, in 1819. He was regarded as a man of superior ability and de- voted piety. He was the first deacon of the Congregational church, twenty-
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six years. Asa, son of Israel, was born January 5, 1773. He died April 16, 1857, aged eighty-four years. Ira Brainerd, son of Asa, was born in Danville, June 14, 1803, was nearly forty years in the mercantile business at Danville, and president of Caledonia bank several years. He married Mar- tha Page, daughter of Kimball Page, of Ryegate, January 12, 1821, by whom he had an only son, George, born May 19, 1833, who succeeded his father in the mercantile business, which he continued about twenty-five years. He then removed to St. Johnsbury, where he was for a time, extensively engaged in the grocery trade. On account of ill health he has now retired. He mar- ried Martha L. Hale, May 31, 1854. All of their three sons died in youth. and early manhood.
Horace Carpenter, son of William and Sophronia (Seaver) Carpenter, was born in Taunton, Mass., February 17, 1811. When he was one year old his father removed his family to Williamstown, Vt., and two years later to Wash- ington, and finally to Chelsea, where he died in February, 1844, aged sixty- two years. Horace left his father's farm at the age of twenty-one years, and has been engaged as a carpenter, contractor and builder up to the present time. Among the many structures that rose up under his creative hands are the court-house at Chelsea, in 1847 ; Universalist church, in Washington, in 1848 ; the residence of General E. B. Chase, of Lyndon, in 1850; South Congrega- tional church, of St. Johnsbury, in 1851 ; the fine residence of Governor Horace Fairbanks, in 1852 ; the Caledonia county court-house, in 1856. In 1861 he en- gaged in the manufacture of doors, sash and blinds, builders' materials, and the sale of lumber, and continued building also from 1861 to 1876, when his shops were burned. In 1884 he built the Savings bank, and now, at the age of seventy five years, he claims to have retired from active life, and is living in his pleasant home on Summer street, yet vigorous and well preserved. In February, 1836, he married Rachel R. Barron, of Washington, Vt., and they have had seven children, four now living, viz .: Charles L., the eldest of the family, a carpenter ; Fred E., a molder ; Lizzie J. (Mrs, Charles P. Carpen- ter), who resides in St. Johnsbury ; and Sarah A. (Mrs. Thomas Bishop), who resides in Brooklyn, N. Y. Mrs. Carpenter died October 15, 1879. In Feb- ruary, 1882, Mr. Carpenter married a second wife, Miss Helen A. Parker, of Lyndon, Vt.
Jonathan Lewis, son of Jonathan and Persis (Crosby) Lewis, was born in Billerica, Mass., March 20, 1758. He removed to Concord, Vt., March 20, 1788, with his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Warren, and a son, Jon- athan, Jr., then about eight months old, and settled in the wilderness near where the village of West Concord now stands. At this time some ten or twelve pioneers had made a pitch in the woods before him. He encountered and endured the hardships incidental to pioneer life, going long distances to mill, by marked trees, carrying his bag of grain on his shoulders. His sec- ond child, Sarah, born August 1, 1789, was the first female white child born in Concord. He was a farmer and shoemaker, and officiated as proprietor's
Horace Fairbanks.
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clerk from the time he entered the town until its organization. He was also a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was on duty at the battle of Bunker Hill, and also present at the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne. In 1806, March 20, he removed to Hopkinville, now the town of Kirby, where he resided till his death, August 1, 1841, aged eighty-three years. He officiated as town clerk in Kirby several years. He was father of ten children, none of whom are now living. Jonathan Lewis, Jr., born in Harvard, Mass., July 6, 1787, . came to Concord, Vt., with his parents in 1788, was educated in the com- mon schools, and taught in the district schools during several winter terms. He learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, which occupation he pursued until his marriage with Lucretia M. Willard, of Hartland, Vt., January 5, 1819. He then settled on a farm where the village of West Concord now stands, where he remained until 1834, when he removed to Kirby. He died at West Concord, August 6, 1877, at the great age of ninety years. His wife survived him until February 26, 1881, aged nearly eighty-seven years. They had nine children, only two of whom are now living. Warren C. Lewis, born in Concord, August 18, 1821, fitted for college but did not graduate. In early life he was a successful teacher, and dealer in jewelry and silver- . ware, and later a manufacturer of lumber and woolen goods in his native town, in connection with others. About four years since he removed to the village of St. Johnsbury, where he is engaged in fire insurance, practicing land surveying and farming. The other son, Ethan N. Lewis, now resides in Springfield, Mass.
James Harris, born July 21, 1803, in Chesterfield, N. H., received his edu- cation in the common schools, and early in life engaged in navigating the Connecticut river on flat boats and rafts. January 6, 1831, he married Arlinna Locke, daughter of Timothy Locke, of Kirby, Vt., and settled on a farm in the northeastern corner of the town of St. Johnsbury, were he resided until 1835. He then sold, and conducted the town poor farm the en- suing five years. In the spring of 1840 he removed to a farm which he pur- chased in what is now the village of Summerville. In 1855 he was influential in laying out Portland street, through his farm, and building the Portland street bridge, which spans the Passumpsic river.
In 1854, in company with Jona- than Lawrence, he built the saw-mill on Moose river, now owned by Mr. E. L. Hovey. In 1855 he removed his barns from Concord avenue to Portland street, and also built the fine two story house now owned and occupied by his son, Edwin Harris. By his generosity in the sale of building lots, the flour- ishing village of Summerville, now numbering about 900 inhabitants, rapidly sprung into existence. As a citizen he was reliable, liberal and honorable. He officiated as collector for the town, and as deputy sheriff several years. Mrs. Harris died October 28, 1876, aged seventy-five years, and Mr. Harris November 13, 1877, aged seventy-four years. Of their three sons and three daughters, three are now living, viz .: Dealia A. (Mrs. John E. Forrest), whose husband is a manufacturer of sash, doors and blinds, at West Burke, Vt .; Ed-
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win Harris, residing on the homestead, as before mentioned, is a farmer; and Albert Harris, a farmer and trader, resides on Harrison avenue, Summerville. He was a soldier in the 15th Vt. Vols., in the capacity of color corporal, nine months, and in the quartermaster department of the trans- Mississippi depart- ment, three years.
Daniel B. Batchelder, born in Stanstead, Canada, March 20, 1804, went to Danville, Vt., when about nineteen years old, and learned the trade of house- joiner. Two years later he married Sally Shattuck, of Danville, daughter of Simeon Shattuck, one of the pioneers of that town, and a prominent citizen and farmer. Here he remained and prosecuted his trade, and cultivated a small farm the remainder of his life, with the exception of seven years spent in his native town. He died in Danville, in February, 1874, aged about sev- enty years. Mrs Batchelder died December 30, 1843. They had eight chil- dren. Judkins R. Batchelder, the eldest, was born in Dinville, September 13, 1826, was educated in the common schools, was a carpenter. At the age of nineteen years he engaged in a cotton-mill in Lowell, where he spent five or six years. June 10, 1848, he married Martha W. Root, of Royalton, Vt. In 1855 he settled in Peacham, manufacturing carriages and furniture, which he continued until 1863, when he removed to St. Johnsbury and engaged in ornamental and sign painting for E. & T. Fairbanks & Co., under a contract, employing from six to twelve men, which business he continued about sixteen years. Since that time he has owned and conducted a fine farm in Danville about two years, and conducted a large shoe store in St. Johnsbury over two years. He is now proprietor of the Batchelder block, conta ning eleven ten- ements, on Prospect avenue, St. Johnsbury.
George W. Sargent was born in Haverhill, Mass , in 1797. At about the age of twenty years he came to St. Johnsbury, and bought a farm with his father, about a mile and a half west of the Center, where his son, Wesley Sargent, now lives. He married Rumina Roberts, of St. Johnsbury, daughter of Gen. Joel Roberts, a pioneer of the town. They remained on the farm until the close of his life, in 1863. Mrs. Sargent survived her husband three years. Mr. Sargent was a man of the old school style, honest, upright, industrious and pru- dent, abhorred debts, and when he died owed no man, and bequeathed to his family a good farm of 180 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Sargent had six children, three sons and three daughters, all living in St. Johnsbury. Carlos resides at the Center village, and is engaged at the E. & T. Fairbanks & Co. scale works. Lovina (Mrs. C. O. Pierce), has two children, and lives at the Center. . Cyrus married Sophronia Russ, is chief of police, and is also engaged at the Fairbanks scale works. He resides at St. Johnsbury, and has two children. Wesley, as before stated, resides on the homestead, married Orlane A. Hall, and has a son and daughter. Sarah P. (Mrs. Thomas Randall) resides at the Center village, and has no children. Martha A. (Mrs. E. W. Miles) also resides at the Center village, and has one daughter.
Christopher Sargent was born in 1791, married Mary Webster, and reared
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six children, of whom Asa married Hannah Fitch, and reared four children, viz .: Mary A., Sarah I., Rosetta M. and John F. The latter was born in Danville, came here in 1860, and married, first, Savannah Houghton, and second, Fanny Dexter.
Warren Esterbrook, a native of Danville, located in St. Johnsbury, in 1872, and engaged in the dry goods and grocery business. He married Elizabeth Copp, and has had two children, Henry F. and Fred. The latter married Lydia A., daughter of Abial and Jane (Fulford) Richardson, and has one daughter, Mand. He is a miller at East St. Johnsbury.
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