St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-04-15

every way aiding in the work of the
church and in the councils of its Off
GERS.
In the organization of the Cemetery
association and in all the details of the
work incident to the laying out of the
grounds and meeting the expense he
was also active, never doing just his
part but always more.
But we could not if it were possible
give a complete record of his many
benefactiOns. He was not man who
published to the world the good he
did.
THE FAMILY.
Jan. II, 1920, Mr.. Fairbanks mar
ried Lucy Peck Barker, who died Dec.
49,, 1866. To them we're born five
children. Three died in infancy /;
Charlotte, wife of Rev. George n.
Weber, died in 1869, while Prof.
Henry Fairbanks, who has cared for
his father for number of years, sur
wives him. Mrs. Fairbanks was good
wife and mother. Through all the
most active part of her husbands life,
she was trusted adviser. Closely
identified with his struggles and with
all his life's work, she was also deeply
interested in the work of the church
and in public affairs and was in every
way fitting companion, a help-meet
in the best sense of the word.
THE MAN.
But it was not Thaddeus Fairbank s
the inventor, nor yet the giver of
princely gifts, SO much as Thaddeus
Fairbanks the man, who leaves his
strongest impress upon st. JOhnsbury.
The story of the growth, the prosper
ity, and the good name of the town
cannot be told without according to
him the greatest measure of praise
Modest and unassuming in remark
the hardest task that called him into
personal prominence, he was the no.
blest of benefactOrs and the most
courageous of men when good cause
demanded support. From his earliest
days Christian by profession and
practice he grew up with a warm side
for religious work. A member of the
South church from it's organization he
was it's pillar of strength, giving to the
councils of it's officers his best thought
and to it's support generous cOntribu-
tions of money. His name has been
associated with the Christian benevO-
lence and missionary movements not
only of this state, but throughout the
country and the wide world. A cOrpO-
rate member of the American Board land
director in Home Missionary societies
for many years, foreign and home mis-
siOns have been alike blessed and for
warded by his liberality and prayers.
| Perhaps the characteristic by which
he will be longest remembered was his
absolute simplicity and depth of feel
ing. Like some rivers the current OF
his life was silent and deep. Yet with
all his gentle nature he was a man of
strong convictions, slow in forming an
opinion at times but when once decid-
ed, finally decided.
The world has IL habit of setting
aside it's old people, "shelving" them
as it is called, but Thaddeus Fairbanks
was destined to see few idle days. 1t
afforded him great pleasure to receive
his last patent (for an improved feed
water heater) on or very near his Goth
birth day. For some years, though
still vigorous, his sight has dimmed so
that he could not read, but brains and
hands have been busy all the while.
By continuance of his own invention
he occupied much time in writing let
tiers to his many friends, guiding his
hand and pen by means of rule laid
on the paper before him, the letters
being easily read by those for whom
they were intended, though the writer
was unable to read them himself. At
a recent Thanksgiving season he pre-
pared an photographed sketch of
his life, rich in rem Iniscence and story,
which his son read to the family gath
months ago that he received many of
his friends with all the old time cor
diality, as they came in one evening to
congratulate him on the Goth anniver-
sary of his birthday, and it was but a
few weeks ago that he greeted a very
pleasant company at his home, still
vigorous in mind and body.
Worthy of special mention is the
good feeling that always characterized
his relations with his employees. A
man who knew what it was to do al
most every part of the labor required
from personal experience, he also knew
how to so treat those in his employ as
to win their esteem and affection. AS
result considerable number i'm the
employ of this firm date their first con-
nectiOn with it 20, 30 and even 40
years ago.
Though great sufferer during his
final sickness he bore his pain with
true courage. His mind was clear to
the last. On Sunday he expressed a
wish that that might be the day of
his departure speaking of the fact that
many of the important events of his
life had occurred on Sunday. This re-
cau.r rnntad for