St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-05-08
RECENT DEATHS.


nouncement that Mrs. Horace Fairbank
was dead. She was only sick one da,
and passed away peacefully and with
out suffering at about 1 o'clock on Sat
urday morning.
Mary Eliza beth, wife of the late Gov
Horace Fairbanks, was born in Derry
N. Fl March 2, 1924, and was therefor,
II years old. She was the daughter O.
James and Persis (HemphilI) Taylor, her
father living on a part OF one of the
farms which was originally owned by
Gov. Wentworth. She was the last sur
Vivor OF family of nine children. Two
other daughters OF this family are most
pleasantly remembered by St. Johnsbury
people as they lived here so long: Almi-
ra, wife of Joseph P. Fairbanks, and
later the wife of w. W. Thayer, and Miss
Emma L. Taylor. One of the sons in
this distinguished family was DR.. Samuel
H. Taylor, for so many years principal
of Phillips Academy at Andover, Mass.
Mrs. Fairbanks was educated at
Adams Academy at Derry and was
graduated from Mt. Holyoke College in
1943. In 1S47 she taught for about
year at st. Johnsbury Academy. She
was married at her home in Derry to
Horace Fairbanks on Aug. g. 1S49. They
came at once to st. Johnsbury and in
1851 Plnehurst was built, which has
been her home ever since. For half a
century this beautiful home has been one
OF the most famous in the state, and here
Horace Greeley, Henry Ward Beecher,
George Macdonald, and Sir Henry M.
Stanley have been entertained, as we'll as
many Others oflesser note. And in their
travels both Gov. and Mrs Fairbanks
have been entertained by distinguished
people. After the Bennington centennial
they were the guests of President Hayes
at the White House, and at the time of
the Dominion fair in Canada they were
entertained by Lord Duferin, then Gov
ernor-General of Canada.
Of the three children born to Gov. and
Mrs. Fairbanks, Helen died in 1864.
aged 10 years; Isabel. wife of Albert L.
Farwel, died in July, 1891; and the
second daughter, Agnes, wife OF Ashton
R. Willard, lives in Boston, but has been
frequent visitor to her old home and
the Wizards spend their summers here.
Mr. Farwell has lived at Pinehurst for
the past IL years, but is now travelling
in Italy.
The funeral was held at Piuehurst on
Monday afternoon and was largely at
tended. 1t was conducted by her pastor,
Kew. E. M. Chapman, assisted by Rev.
DR.. Edward 7. Fairbanks, and was a
brlet and beautiful service. There was
profuslon OF floral tributes from loving
friends. The bearers were Tohn c.
Clark, George H. Cross, Elmore T. Ide,
Robert Mackinnon, A. B. NOyes, E. A.
Silsby. George W. Story and T. H.
Underwood.
1t is no exaggeration to say that Mrs.
Fairbanks was the best beloved woman
in st, Johnsbury. Her tender heart, her
large and generous nature, her thought |
fuIneSs for all in the bounties and bene- |
factions of a long and useful lite, aud |
that christian character which was al !
ways so true to the loftiest ideals OF right
living appealed to all who knew her in
timatelv, as well as to those who had
the pleasure Of only slight acquaint-
ance. To mention the various lines of
work in which this good woman was in
teIeS ed would be to name every institu.
ton IN st. Johnsbury, and every good
cause that has been presented to our
townSpeople in the last SO years. Her
was far reaching, and there
are many IN this and other places who
recall with blessed memories her great
heart and her timely generosity. On her
last birthday but one the townspeople
gave her beautiful gold loving cup, the
gift of 700 friends, including many for.
mer residents. The inscription on the
cup, "of hearte right bountifulle," well
explains why the people so dearly loved
her. With the gilt was sent this quat-
rain:
a betterloving cup, dear friend, we bring
Than any lips may touch, or eyes may see;
Of purer gold and fairer iashioning
And overfowing with good will to thee"
She was especially devoted to the inter-
,sts OF the st. Johnsbury Atheneum,
ounded by Gov. Fairbanks in 1871, and
n recent years contributed largely to
is support. She was a devoted member
If the North Congregational church and
specially interested in foreign missions.
For 10 years she was president of the
lermont Branch of the Woman's Board
# Missions and has been for agood many
ears its honorary president.
Mr.. Farwell and Mr.. and Mrs. Will
ard will have the sincerest sympathy of
very wide circle of friends in their sud-
en- grief, and st. Johnsbury has lost one
t its truest and most devoted residents.
Carr.