Caledonia

FAIRBANKS, Franklin

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 127-128 
(portrait p 128)

Franklin FAIRBANKS, of St. Johnsbury, was born 18 June 1828 in St. Johnsbury 
[Caledonia County, Vermont], son of Erastus and Lois (CROSSMAN) FAIRBANKS. 
[Erastus FAIRBANKS was a brother of Thaddeus FAIRBANKS and also of Joseph P. 
FAIRBANKS.] He received his early education in the public schools of his 
native town, the Pinkerton Academy, Derry [Rockingham County], New Hampshire, 
and in the academies at Peacham [Caledonia County, Vermont] and St. 
Johnsbury. At the age of seventeen he entered the scale works and by actual 
labor in the various departments, and having a natural genius for mechanics, 
made himself familiar with everything that had to do with the making of a 
scale. He afterwards was clerk in the store and in all the departments of 
the office of the establishment, and these years of practical experience in 
the shop, store, and office, served as a school to give him a technical and 
business education.

When he was twenty-seven years of age he was admitted as a partner in the 
firm of E. & T. Fairbanks Company. For many years he was superintendent of 
the works, a position for which he was prepared by his practical knowledge of 
all the operations of the establishment. To his efficient management is due 
much of the success and growth of the company. He naturally assumed the 
practical, while his brother Horace undertook the business administration. 
He was active in the construction of the St. Johnsbury & Lake Champlain 
Railroad, a work demanding courage, the most skillful engineering, and great 
executive ability. In 1876 at the organization of the firm as a corporation, 
he was elected vice president, and at the death of his brother in 1888 he was 
made president, and has held this office to the present time.

While Colonel FAIRBANKS has not been in politics, he has always manifested a 
consistent and active interest in public affairs; was elected by the 
Republican party as representative from St. Johnsbury to the state 
Legislature in 1870 and again in 1872, at the latter session being chosen 
speaker of the House; has been a member of the state Republican committee for 
more than twenty years; was appointed aid-de-camp with the rank of colonel in 
Gov. HALL's staff in 1858; received the same appointment in 1861 from Gov. 
FAIRBANKS. At this time he did effective service in raising troops, caring 
for their disposition and arranging for their comfort at the front.

Since 1888 he has been president of the First National Bank of St. Johnsbury; 
is also president of the Ely Hose and Fork Company of St. Johnsbury; is 
treasurer of the Northfield Seminary (Massachusetts), the Soldiers' Home, the 
St. Johnsbury Academy, the Athenaeum, and the Museum of Natural Science. 
From his boyhood he has had an earnest and intelligent interest in natural 
science. When a young man he became a collector of illustrations of 
anthropology, mineralogy, and ornithology. These studies have been his 
recreation and at times have shared, while they have relieved, his business 
cares. Having a conviction that a more extended knowledge of the sciences 
would elevate the community, he erected and presented to the town a museum of 
natural science, which was dedicated in December 1891. This museum has been 
by his liberality fully equipped for scientific study, and amply endowed.

On 08 December 1852 Colonel [Franklin] FAIRBANKS married [Miss] Frances A. 
CLAPP, daughter of Rev. Sumner G. and Pamelia (STRONG) CLAPP. They have had 
four children: (1) Alfred, deceased; (2) Mary Florence, now Mrs. Joseph T. 
HERRICK, of Springfield [Hampden County], Massachusetts; (3) Margaret Jane, 
deceased; and (4) Ellen Henrietta. Since 1861 Colonel FAIRBANKS has been 
superintendent of the Sunday school of the North Church of St. Johnsbury 
[Caledonia County, Vermont], a continuous service of thirty-two years. For 
ten years he was a member of the international lesson committee.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly