The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-05-23
From the Rutland Herald.
THE MEN OF VERMONT.
19. ERASTCS FAIRBANKS.

Erastus Fairbanks, the nineteenth cover
nor of Vermont, was born at B:imfeld in the
county of Hampden, and state of Massachu-
setts, on the 2Sth day of October 1872. He
still lives, the earliest. but ole, of our sur
yiving governors, and with the exception OF
the present incumbent, the last chief magls-
trate Of Vermont.
Since he came to Vermont, he has mostly,
if not entirely, resided at St Johnsbury, in
the county of Caledonia, and has Leen exten-
sively engaged in the manufacturing busi-
ness. He is the senior partner, of the widely
known firm of "E. & I. Fairbanks X Co.
Their mandatory is situated on the stream
known as Sleeper's river, in St Johnsbury.
and has been principally devoted to the man
ufacture of cast iron plews and patent bal
ances. "Fdirbank's Scales" are known and
extensively used throughout the United
States and in most of the European states,
possessing the entire confidence of the pub
lc." These scales are extensively manufac-
tured by them, at their establishment in ST
Johnsbury, being variously modified and 'ad-
apted to all the various operations required
to be transacted by weight, from the small
counter scale used bv country retail traders
and merchants, to the ponderous railroad
scales from fifty to one hundred feet, and ev-
en- longer, for weighing heavily loaded trains
of cars. The Fairbanks Improvement, so
called. has been patented in the United
States and England, and was for long time
used to the exclusion of all other scales, and
is now in extensive use.
1t was chiefly. through the instrumentality
of Erastus Fairbanks that the Connecticut
and Passumpsic rivers railroad company was
enabled successfully to construct their rail-
road from White River Junction, on the
Connecticut river to ST Johnsbury. Of this
corporation he was III" first PRESIDENT
While under his supervision. the affairs of
the company were better and more success
fully managed than those of any other slmi-
lar company in Vermont. On the first day
of December 1856, on account OF the embar
rassment of its finances, the management. Of
this road again passed into the hands of
. Governor Fairbanks as one OF the trustees OF
the mortgages on the road.
Gov Fairbanks represented the toxn ot St
Johnsbury in the general assembly of Yer
mont in 1886. 81, 3S, and 80. He was one
of the presidential electors in 1914, when the
vote of Vermont was given for Henry Clay
and again in 1SIS, he was chairman of the
board of electors voting for Tyler and Fill
: more.
In lS4S, he was appointed. by Governor
Coolidge, in connection with Hon Charles
X. Williams and Hon Lucius B. Peck, a
commissioner ",o digest and prepare a gen.
eral law regulating and governing all rail-
| road companies of this state" As the re-
suit of their labors they prepared ard pre-
sented a general railroad law and a general
law in reference to manufacturing companies
, both of which, in their main features were
adopted. and still remain laws of the state.
In 1852, he was elected governor of Yer
mont by the legislature. He was again the
candidate of the whig party for reelection t.
5 that office, in 1858, and although he received
: a greater number of votes than any other
candidate. he was defeated in the legislature
BY coalition of all the opponents of the
whig party.
During his administration was passed "An
/ act to prevent traffic in intoxicating liquors
for the purpose of drinking" better known a:
> the Maine Liquor Law of Vermont. Thi.
+ law, for the first time in this state, authoriz
t ed the seizure and destruction of Intoxicating
{ liquor. if found under circumstances war
rantng the belief that it was intended fol
sale This law forms the principal ground
Il work of our present liquor law, it havins
been from time 10 time altered and amended
to dispose of doubts in reference 10 its Con
stitu,ionality and to increase its efficiency, ,bu
in all essential particulars, it remains th'
same. Two other very important alterations
d were made in our code of laws during his ad
/ minis,ration. One, allowing insolvent debt
o ors to make an assignment Of all their prop
l. srty for the equal benefit of all their credit
/ ors. The other, providing that NO persor
r should be disqualified as witness in any civ
il suit or proceeding. at law or in equity. %,
A. reason Of his interest in the event of the same
lie as a party or otherwise.
lie Previous to the annual election in 1851
p Governor Fairbanks was extensively men
be toned as a candidate for reelection, and
ST was generally expected that he would be tn
rs candidate of the whig party for that ofics
lie but prior to the assembling of the conventio
re of that party for the purpose of making nom
D. nations for state officers, he declined bein
N "a candidate for another election on accoun
b. of extensive and pressing business engage
d ments."
to Again in 1850 he was presented,with grea
D. unanimity by the republican party as the
ID candidate for governor, and at the ensuin
IN election was elected gOveronOr Of Vernon
IT, by over ten thousand majority OF the pOpula
in vote.
at The events of his administration and th
r. extraordinary amount Of labor thrown upo
10 him, and the ability with which he discharge
a the arduous and perplexing duties of his o
fee. are too well known to our readers TO n
quire especial mention here
He was honored in 1860 with the degrs
5. of doctor of laws, by the University of We
mont
tic He still resides at St Johnsbury, where I
- is actively engaged in business.
ng