Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-06-01
GEN, FAIRCHILD DEAD.
One of Wisconsin, Foremost
Citizens Gone.
Heroic Deeds in War and Valuable
Services in Time Of Peace.

vive the illness which had been upon
him many weeks were banished late
Saturday afternoon, when it was learned
that his physician had told the family
he had not long to live. The announce
ment Of his death, at 6:45 in the even
ing, came almost with the blow of
tragedy to the legion of friends in this
city who, knowing of his serious illness,
had been led to believe the old hero
would survive it,
The change came in the afternoon and
in q few short hours he sank steadily
into the embrace of death. For two
hours before the end he was unconscious,
and with all the members of his family
surrounding his bedside. he slept peace
fully away the last moments of life,
to awake on the golden shore.
His illness was from the grippe and
its results, which affected the kidneys
and other internal organs. For year
or more he had not been strong, and
his system was unable to stand the
strain. The immediate cause Of his
death was heart failure.
An EventfuI Life.
Lucius Fairchild's character was full
of color. The story of his life is most
interesting. He was one of the sons Of
Ohio who was truly great. Born in
1881 at Kent, Portage county, in the
state of Presidents, he got his early
education in the common schools Of
Cleveland Later he passed through
Carroll college in Waukesha, Wis, hon-
orably. His father came from Ohio to
Wisconsin in 1916 and settled in Aladi-
son. Soon after, when the fire of the
gold discovery in California spread all
over the world, Lucius, then a sturdy
lad of 10, left his home with several OF
his companions and set out across the
e o1x%,
the rough experience he passed through
on this Journey that laid the foundation
for the rugged manhood that character
lied him in later years. After many
months of infinite toll the party reached
San Francisco with combined capital
of just p cents.
For six years young Fairchld worked
as a digger, miner, prospector and la Dor
err. and saw every phase of the wild life
of the mountain and of the camp In
1855 he returned to Wisconsin, rich in
experience, but as poor IN pocket as when
he set out.
Fairchilds first experience in politics
was had in California, when he was
elected a delegate to a convention called
for the nomination of governor. On his
way to the convention his mule. WHICH
carried every earthly possession that the
young miner could call his e"n., tell
from a height on the mountain trail and
was killed. This accident left the mas
ter without cent or change of dress.
He finished the journey on foot and sat
in the convention without a coat.
A short time after his return to Wis
cult court and, meanwhile, studying law,
was admitted to the bar in 1860. At
the beginning of the Civil war he was
a member of company called The
Governors guard" and promptly enlist
ed in the regular army His work IN
drumming up volunteers for war
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 imme-
diately. 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 Madi-
son, was mustered out. He was commits
stoned then captain in the regular ar
my, declined Gov. Randalps offer of pro-
motion to be colonel of a regiment, bur
accepted the Office of lieutenant-colonelo of
the Second regiment, which, owing to the
colonels ill-health, he commanded dur
ing the most important engagements.
His War Record.
In an encounter with Stonewall Jack
son at the battle of Gainesville the Sec
ond, which was the crack regiment of
the famous Iron Brigade, lost over one
half of its members. During this en-
gagement Fairchild had his horse shot
from under him, but did not lose his
nerve and GOODNESS. At the second battle
of Bull Run, two days later, he com
manded the consolidated Second and
Seventh Wisconsin and covered the re-
treat of the Federal forces. He was the
last soldier to leave the field
At the first guns of the battle of An
ti2tam he arose from the soldiers sick
couch in an ambulance and hurried for
ward, arriving in time to participate in
the afternoon fighting. Immediately pre-
vious to the battle Fairchild had been
made colonel of the Second, and his
bravery on the field during that memoir
able day elected compliments from the
Confederate commander.
Col Fairchild took an active part a
Fredericksburg with Burnside, and Al
Charlottesville he took conspicuous par
on the staff of Gen WaGsworth.
The gallant Second lost ll6 of its 30(
men at the battle of Gettysburg. II
leading a desperate charge up Seminary
hill Gen. Fairchild's military career was
closed by ball which shattered his left
arm, rendering amputation necessary
While at home nursing the place where
the member was he received a commits
sion of brigadier-general for gallantry
He was on the eve of returning to the
front when the Union Republican con
vention nominated him to be secretary
OF state
He was married in 1864 and had thre,
children, Mrs. Selden Bacon of New
York, Mrs. Charles M. Norris of Madi
son and Miss Caryl.
In 1865 he was nominated to be gov
ernor by the Republicans and elected
He served his state in that capacity fo
three terms.
He was chosen in 1867 to preside owe
the great Sailors and Soldiers conVen
ton held in Chicago. He was nominated
to be consul to Liverpool in 1871. an
other remarkable instance of the offic'
seeking the man, for not one of the pub
lie positions which he occupied was O.
his own choosing.
An English journal said during hi:
term of office in that island country
that mo American consul ever made
more friends at this post" He re
manned abroad as representative of thi!
government some ten years, serving a
Paris after leaving England. AS Amer
lean minister to Spain he represented
this country at the session of the inter
national commission in 1880 to adjus
the complicated affairs of Morocco IL