New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-13
OBIT IA Il \.
THADDEUS FAIRBANKS.

Sr. JonNsBURY, VT, April II (Specidt.-
Thadeu Fairbanks the aged inventor OF tho Fairbanks
scaes died this morning. IL met with an accident on
March 81 which. although considered slight ut the une
proved fatal lie stepped out into the yestDue OF hl'
own house and slipped, losing his balance, and FELL
Featuring his left hip Owing 10 his advanced age his
physician feared tho no could not recover
the shock The .anor class OF the 81 Johnsbury Acad
envy, which was foundco and atterward endowed By
him met last week and adopted Iv.eintlous expressing
their and sympathy for the vcncrn,.la phan-
hroplst His pain from the fractured limb constan,,y
grew worse until this morning. when he died.
On January II Mr. Fairbanks celebrated his nineteth
birthday. As 1t occurred this year on sunday many
friends ana neghbors called him the previous oven.
ing and complimented him on his good health NJ that
time. lie a typical New Engander OF the Puritanic
class thrifty ponderIng and also energetic and vctoTi-
Gus. Mrs. Fairbanks died In December. 1866.
Thaddeus Fairbanks was born In Brlmfeld Mass, In
1896 He the sixth in descent from Jonathan Fair
banks who emigraed in 633 from somerby in tho West
Riding OF Yorkshire, England to Dedham. Mass. and the
second son Of Joseph and Phobe Paddock Fairbanks He
received such a literary education the district
schools OF Brimfed could supply; but no was q
natural mechanic and when only boy aided
his father In building sawml and shortly
after that q gristmill When he was twenty
years old he started small iron foundry In st.
Johnsbury. to which village his father had moved In
1915 Thaddeus was Joined by his elder brother Erastus
twice served Governor OF Vermont and the firm
of f. T. Fairbanks began the manufacture OF stoves
and ploughs. The patterns for both were planned and
made by Thaddeus In 1926 he patented a cast iron
plough, and in 1885 a cooking stove.
In 1s29'3O the cultivation OF hemp absorbed the
attention OF many agricultural communities in New
England, and Mr. Fairbanks patented a hemp dresser,
as the great difficulty incurred in dressing tho
hemp. His company being unable to weigh the hemp
straw with accuracy, the mind OF the inventor
grasped the idea which decided his lfes work lie was
paying 81 for the and tho only scales then
IN the balance and the Roman steeyards
After long and careful study OF the problem ana q
series OF many experiments he constructed platform
scale on which a load could be weighed at time. lie
set to work and soon had model scale made MS hrst
arrangement to place A-shaped lever In suIt-
bic PIT upon balance knife edges free plat
form upon which cart could be driven level with
roeng upon its snpports he framed into It vertical
post well braced and from the top Of this attached level
chains to fixed posts upon either side These CHAINS Pc
ing level did not draw up or down, and the weight OF hc
load correctly indicated upon the steeyard ms
scale soon became renowned ana GRADUALLY inc urn ue
voted themselves to the manufacture or scales giving
called forth the invention OF tho rst scales Dereh'
kinds Of scales were soon demanded, adapted TO weg
ing articles large and small, light and heavy great
variety called for and supplied varying from those
FOR delicate operations to those for railroad tracks ana
Mr. FAIRBANKS planned and built his own shops and
invented large part OF the machinery used III them inc
up he had grappe with the problems OF construction
| Tie soveregns OF three widely different nations
|
their approval. In 1873, at the Vienna ExhlDton ne
was the only American who was made knight OF INC
Imperial OF Francis Joseph he received from the
King OF siam the decoration OF Pdrpama or me goueh
medal OF siam MahOmet es Sadok Pacna Boy Iosses-
sor OF the Kingdom OF Tunis, also honorol him with
| decoration. 49,,
Not only the scale works and the St Johnsbury Acad-
envy their existence to Mr. Fairbanks put the woe
village greatly indebted for its prosperity 10 the ar
banks family He attached great Importance 10 tne
assisting OF the young the degree Of self
culture This led him, IN 1872 TO provide ST. Johnsbury
with academic buildings suited for the requirements OF
| modern education The first gift ia known as south
Hall aud is four stories hgh built or brick with Sixty
for students besides apartments lor the
! Next came tho Academy building. This was Or 40
| mano( Gothic architecture. The Of build
| ing. subsequent gifts and subscription to an
| endowment fund.- and campus which
| was added last spring, bring the contribution,
OF Mr. Fairbanks to this single institution 10 az leas
100000 each commencement day in June ne signed
and the diplomas to the graduating CLASS ne
attended South Congregational Church. where the
| Rev Edward Fairbanks his nephew, Is pastor. Hl'
SON the Rev Henry Fairbanks formerly professor II
Dartmouth College, is superintendent OF the SUNDAY
school there and Colonel William L. Fairbanks. also "A
nephew, IS deacon. The remainder OF the fairOanks
family attend the North Congregational Cnurcn Where
Ex-Governor Horace Fairbanks nephew OF Ihaddeus,
IA deacon, and Colonel Franklin Fairbanks. also q
nephew is the superiD ,cndent OF the Sunday school,