The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-05-28

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3HEbEG28H= he went into COM
WM> atose state, but up
to that time he was
GEN. FA1RcH1LD. consciousa and called
by name his daughters andfMrs. Fair
child.
Gen. Fairchild had not been in vigor-
Gus health for about year. He was
stricken with the grip some months
ago, which affected his kidneys. He was
taken to his bed ten days ago. and, al
though he had the best of medical care,
he grew weaker daily. The family is
2nuch Frustrated, us it was believed by
his wife and daughters up to noon Sat-
urday that he would rally.
Gen. Fairchild's death has caused pro-
found sorrow in this city, where he had
lived for half century. His genial,
unaffected and kindly disposition won
for him scores of warm friends. None
will miss him more than his old war
comrades, to whom he was always
ready to lend a helping hand.
Sketch of His Life.
Lucius Fairchild was born in December.
1881, at Franklin, Portage county, o. His
parents moved to Cleveland when he was
ore year old. In 1886 they migrated to Wis
consin and took up their abode at Madison.
Gen. Fairchtld-the general to be-WaS
taken with the gold fever in lS49 and crossed
the plains for San Francisco. He returned
to Wisconsin SIX years later. no richer IN
icaily and mentally. for the exigencies of
a busy political life. In 1858 Fairchild was
elected clerk of the circuit court at Mad
ison ON the democratic ticket. The year
before the civil war was declared ne was
admitted to the bar, but before the ink
had dried on his diploma he had engaged IN
that .national strife which wasdestined to
end his scarce-begun existence as an at
tOrney at law.
His work in drumming up volunteers for
the service marked him as efficient in that
line of work as in others, and he soon had a
company gathered together. Of which he
was elected captain Immediately. AT the
same time he declined the governors offer
to be lieutenant colonel. His regiment
went into the field, was engaged In several
,skirmishes, and. returning in three months
to Madison, was mustered out. He was
commissioned then a captain In the regular
army, declined Gov. Randalrs offer Of pro-
motion to be colonel Of a regiment, but ac-
.cepted the office Of lieutenant colonel Of
the Second regiment, which. owing to the
culoneIs i'll health. he commanded during
tho most important engagements. :, >,
III an encounter. with Stonewall Jackson
at the battle Of Gainesville the Secopd,
which was the crack regiment of the IA
nous Iron brigade, lost over one-half Of
its members During this engagement
Tairchild had his horse shot from under
him, but did not lose his nerve and COOL
ness. At the second battle Of Bull Run.
two days later, he commanded the con-
solidated Second and Seventh Wisconsin
forces. He was the last soldier to leave the
field. $3.50
At the first guns of the battle Of Antietam
he arose from the soldiers sick couch in an
ambulance and hurried forward, arriving IN
time to participate In. the afternoon fight
4ne. Immediately previous to the battle
Tairchild had been made colonel Of the
Second, and his bravery on the field during
that memorable day ELECTED compliments
from the confederate commander Col.
icksburg with. Burnside and at Chan
4cellorsville he took conspicuous part on
the staff Of Gen. Wadsworth.
The gallant Second lost ZIG Of its 300 men
at the battle of Gettysburg. In leading
desperate charge up Seminary hill Gen.
Fairchilds military career was closed by
a ball which shattered his left arm, rem
,dering amputation necessary. While at
a1olne nursing the place where the n,em-
Der was he received commission Of brig
adler general for his gallantry.
He was on the eve of returning to tho
front when the union republican convention
nominated him to be secretary of state. In
1865 he was nominated to be governor by
the republicans and elected. He served
his state in that capacity for three terms.
During his incumbency he did much to
advance his state. He was Of material aid
to the soldiers home in Madison and was
one Of the; founders Of the state board Of
charities and reform. ~.~'
In 1S72, Gen. Fairchild was appointed
United States consul at Liverpool and
served six years. In 1850 he was consul
general in Paris, and then United States
minister to Spain until 1882. when: he re-
signed the post and returned to Wiscon-
sin. He has been commander in chief Of
the Grand Army OF the Republic and has
been prominent in public affairs until
very recent date.