The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-03-22
HORACE FAIRBANKS.

The death OF eX-GOveTDOr Horace
Fairbanks in New York, Saturday, after
a weeks illness Of pneumonia, is a sad
surprise to everybody in Vermont. Par
ticuars are wanting, but will come later.
The public did not know of his illness
until the dispatch was received Satur'
day afternoon announcing his death.
Horace Fairbanks was born in Barnet,
Caledonia county, March 81. 1920, so he
lacked only three days of being 6S years
of age. He was the oldest son of Eras-
tus Fairbanks, who was governor Of
Vermont IN 1852 SO and again in 1860 81.
In 1925 the family removed to St,Johns'
bury, where it has ever since resided
Horace received common school and
academical education, and in 1888 he
became clerk and agent for E. & T Fair
banks. whose business-the manufacture
of scales-was just beginning to assume
considerable proportions. He became a
member of the firm in 1S43 and when
the E. & T. Fairbanks company was or
ganized in 1875 he was chosen president
of it and was annually re elected so long
as he lived. He thus had the honor for
long time of standing at the head of
the largest business of its kind in the
world.
He was one of the projectors and pro
moters of the St. Johnsbury & Lake
Champlain railroad, which extends
from junction of the Portland & Og
densburg at the Connecticut river, west
ward through st, Johrsbury to Maquam
Bay in the town of Swanton, and has
since been extended by bridge across
Lake Champlan to Rouse's Point, N. Y.
He and his firm were largely instrument
tai in raising money for the construction
of the road, and after its reorganization
in the interest of its creditors, he be-
came president of the new company, in
which he was also large owner This
office he held until the road was sold TO
the Boston & Lowell, three or four years
since.
In 1864 he was chosen director and
vice president of the First National
Bank of st. Johnsbury and continued
to hold that Office until .the presidency
became vacant by the death of Judge
Poland, last summer, when he was cho-
sen to.fillit.
He was elected by the Republicans a
presidential elector in 1868. a
State Senator in 1869, delegate to
the Republican national conventions in
1854 and 1872 and in 1876 was chosen
Governor of Vermont, holding office
two years and giving the State credit
able and dignitied administration.
Governor Fairbanks was q Congrega-
tiOnalist and always an active and de.
voted member of the church. He was
large ntributor to the building of
the elegant new North church in st.
Johnsbury and his benefactons to other
religious, literary and charitable institu
lions were many. He was also trust,
of Andover theological Seminary and
had at some time been an officer of the
Vermont Bible Society and also, we be-
lieve, a member of the American Board
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
He IS named in the bill now pending in
in Congress as one of the incorporators
of the Nicaragua Ship Canal Company.
Notwithstanding his prominence in
business, politics and religion, Governor
Fairbanks was quiet and modest gen
tleman, almost reticent in his manner.
He was good listener, but his own
opinions and intentions seldom found
expression until he was ready TO put
them into acts. Although the inherltor
of great opportunity in his life, he had
his share of struggle. responsibility and
anxiety. At times it required uncom-
mon skill aud firmness to carry his en-
terprises through the difficulties which
beset them, but he was equal to the task
and through it all he bore the same
placid demeanOr and affable manner
that always made him an approachable
aud popular man.
The death of such an eminent and
useful citizen is a severe bereavement to
his family, church. town, state and the
larger interests with which he was con
nected. He was an upright man, not
always free from errors of Judgment
and s,metimeS, like other men, disap-
pointed in his expectations but true to
his principles and his friend and as cor.
rect in his department as his scales were
in weight
He Is survived by one br, ther, Hon.
Franklin Fairbanks, who was always
associated with him in business, by two
sisters, one the widow of the late Rev.
Dr. C. l.. Goodell of St. Louis and the
other the wife of Mr.. C.M. S one, editor
of the St. Johnrbury CaIedCnian, and by
his wife and two daughters, who ale
unmarried. Mrs. Fairbanks was Miss
Mary E. Taylor of Andover, Mass. ana
sister of Prof. Taylor of that place.
They have had three children, the eIdesi
of whom, also a daughter, died some
years since.