River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-05-01
TO MARRY HIS WIFE AGAIN
Senator Fairs Domestic Trouble APP
preaching a Happy End-Fair's Mag
nanimity-A Lawyer Had a $500, 900

have effecteu RECOMMENDATION, ana the
long separated couple will be reunited
in marriage soon. The property in
terestes at stake have been so large, and
the intercessions of the children have
been so potential that the parents have
found it impossible to resist the in
fuences which seemed to draw them to-
gether.
Mr. Fair was the practical man ofthe
bonanza firm. He, like Mackey, was a
miner. HIS was mine foreman, and,
understanding his business thoroughly,
he became invaluable to his associates.
He knew every detail Of the business,
could tell what was the matter with a
machine, and was a good Judge of ore,
of rock, and of the hundred things which
enter into the calculations of a minor.
He was quiet and business like.
Mrs. Fair is a large, fine-looking
woman of the Irish type; with dark
hair and eyes. In the early days of the
silver mining excitement, when Fair
was poor, she was his mainstay. She
economical in a hundred ways and en-
couraged him to persist in his efforts
many times when he was disheartened
and inclined to abandon his enterprise
She was q good wife, as all admit and
Mr. Fair himself never made COM
plant against her, except that her de-
votion to the Roman Catholic church
was too great. -Four children were
born to them, two boys and two girls,
the eldest being James G.. Fair, Jr., now
81 years old, and the youngest Virginia,
aged 8. Mr.. md Mrs. Fair lived con-
tentedly together until year ago last
winter, when they separated, and doz-
en- different stories were put in circula-
ton concerning their cause. After the
separation Mrs. Fair took up her resi-
dence in the elegant home belonging to
the family on Mob hill in this city. The
senator, with his eldest son, took for
eign tour, and on their return secured
quarters at a hotel here:
In the meantime, the prospect which
divorce suit family of such enor-
nous wealth opened up had caused
several attorneys and others to take a
hand in the matter, and this influence
was not calculated to allay the ill-feel-
ing. Mrs. Fair filed a bill for divorce
at Virginia City on the 7th of last May,
alleging intidelity on the part of the
husband, and duplicating several women
in this city. The allegations caused
something of a sensation, and it was ex-
pected that long trial would be the
result. Lawyers. detectives, and go
betweens imagined that they had rich
picking within their grasp and Mr..
Fair found himself annoyed beyond
measure by their solicitations.
Feeling that Mrs. Fair had been im-
properly influenced by some of her coun-
celors the senator determined to make
contest to the suit In card to the
public he denied the allegations made
in his wife's bill, and day later ION the
9th of May he issued the following.
81 am the man, and am willing to bear
ali the odium which the public, in igno-
rance of the real facts, may choose to
cast on me; but my regret is for my
wife. whose name has been improperly
associated and incorporated in the dis
patches transmitted all over the coun-
| try. Now, as always, my desire has
been to do that which would contribute
! to the happiness of my wife and child
ren. If I have in any way failed, God
knows it has not been prompted by q
desire to do so. Now, as ever, | want
| that which will best contribute to the
happiness of my family. If my wife
thinks separation will contribute tc
her further happiness, then her mind
| and mine are alike. have done moth
ing to merit the obloquy cast upon me
Those who best know me will tell you
what my desires are. God has blessed
me with wealth, and have never used
it for any mean or unmanly purpose.
Ny heart and hand have always been
open to those in distress, and will con-
tinue to be to those who seek or require
my help. | repeat that in this matter
with my wife. which has been made sc
public, / have nothing to say further
than that it pains me to see her name
and mine associated with such bastard
ly and vindictive dispatches as have
| gone forth to the world. | am the
man, she is the woman, and in these
relations ] will shield her name at every
point in my power"
1t became painfully evident to the
lawyers and detectives that Mr.. FAN
was not going to defend the case. Or
the 18th of May the matter was called
in court at Virginia City, and after an
hours hearing with closed doors the
Judge announced that decree would
be given to Mrs. Fair, that the minol
children would be given into her keep
ing, and that the senator would pay tc
her in cash and United States bonds
81, 250, 900, besides giving her title tc
the residence on Nob's hill in this city
The settlement was profound surprise
to most people here, for no one believed
that Senator Fair was SO wealthy as the
sum paid his late wife would seem to in
dictate. 1t had been generally under
stood that he was not worth more thar
81, 900, 900, but it came out soon after
the settlement that he could command
four times that amount. 1t is currently
reported that r. s. Mesick, attorney
for Mrs. Fair, received fee of $500
600 for negotiating the settlement OF the
senator's estate.
After the divorce Mrs Fair, with her
son and two little daughters, took up
her abode in her palatial home in this
city. Here she had beautiful grounds
and an extensive conservatory. She
has gone out but little, and seems to
have slight taste for social life, devot-
ing herself to the education of hei
daughters and to charitable work.
She has great confidence in the increase
in value of real estate, and has built
near her own residence a large private
hotel which she expects to rent on
profitable terms. The senator still
owns the finest building lot on Mob hill,
around which he has recently construct
ed massive stone wall. 1t over-looks
Stanford's place, and has much less
INSTRUCTED view than the lofty castle OF
the widow Hopkins across the street.
The reunion of the Fairs will be an
unending source of gossip, but of little
more cheerful description than that
which attends most of the movements
of the bonanza kings and their wives.
1t is understood that the manly stand
taken by the senator at the time the di-
yorce suit was pending softened his
wife's resentment and paved the way to
a reconciliation New York Sun.