St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1919-01-15
DEATH OF REV. DIR.
EDWARD T. FAIRBANKS
Ct. Johnsbury Mourns the Loss of is
First Citizen

tlrSt citizen
Rev. DR.. Edward 7. Fairbanks
died at his home Sunday evening at
II o'clock.
Edward Taylor Fairbanks was BON
in st. Johnsbuly, May IL, 1886, be-
ing the elder Of the two sons Of Jo-
seph Paddock and Almira Taylor
Fairbanks. lie Was Of the eighth
generation from Jonathan Fairbanks
OF Yorkshire, Eng, who settled in
Dcdham, Mass, in 1896. He was
educated at ST. Johnsbury Academy
under Principal James X. Colby and
1T Phillips-Andover Academy under
Dr.. Samuel H. Taylor, these two men
being generally regarded as the lead
ing educators in New England at
that time. He entered Yale College
in 1855, was class secretary during
some of his college course and fol
many years later. He was memb,I
of the famous society of Scroll and
Key.
Among the members Of the class OF
80 was his lifelong friend, Rev. Dr..
Joseph H. Twitchcll of Hartford,
Conn.,, who died only last month.
After graduating from Yale he
returned to St. Johnsbury where he
taught fer year in the Academy and
our high school. In the two years
following he studied theology at
Andover Theological Seminary.
On July 9, 1862, he married at
Derry, N. H., Emma Cornelia. daug:;-
ter of Guy c. and Sally M. Taplin oil
Montpelier. She was at the time OF
her marriage u student at Adams
Academy at Derry. They stralghtway
sailed for Europe where some two
years were spent in studying and VS.
ting most Of the European capitals,
During the winter of ga Dir. Fair
banks joutncycd in Egypt and Palcs-
tire, trip which included IL dromc-
Diary ride OF some 30 days and which
greatly enriched his memory in after
years with experiences and rcmlnii-
ccnccs OF lliY visit TO the Holy Land.
He began his ministerial career as
pastor of the Congregational church
at Chester, where he served one year,
and on Jar. /, 1868, was ordained as
pastor OF the First Congregational
church at S.. Johnsbury Center where
for six years he lived in the blouse
of the Five Cables" ministcring to
the spiritual and temporal wants Of
Che people Of that parish. On Jan.
so, 1874, he was installed pastor OF
the South Congregational church in
This village and since that time has
resided at "Shecpcote" on Park
street. For % years he was pastor Of
the South church, resigning in 1902
to the deep regret and surprise of q
united and devoted people. A year
ago h e was elected pastor emeritus
of the church. In 1902 he was elect
ed librarian of the St. Johnsbury
Athenaeum, d position for which his
scholarship and culture especially fit
ted him. Since 1882 he has been sec
rotary and treasurer of the Academy
and one of its most efficient trustees
He was fer many years president of
the st. Johnsbury Cemetery Associa-
ton, served for some time as one of
the auditors of E. and T. Fairbanks
and Co., was president Of the trus-
tees of the Fairbanks Museum and Il
member of the Sphinx Club.
Almost without his knowledge he
was nominated and afterwards elect
ed Il member of the State Senate in
1908 and proved valuable member
of that body. In 1903 he was given
the degree of ID. ID. by the University
of Vermont
Few preachers in the country ex-
celled DR.. Fairbanks in the chaste
and original style of composition.
His sermons and public addresses
sparkled with flashes of wit and bore
evidence of deep study. IT. 1902, one
of his friends printed a book of his
sermons entitled "The Wrought
Brim," which has long been out of
print, and il: 1914, through the aus
pieces of st. John de Crevecoeur chap
ter, d. A. r., he published the History
of st. Johnsbury, one of the most
readable and informing town histories
ever printed. He was also frequent
contributor to the local press and
some of the magazines. AS an appro-
citation Of his distinct service to the
community in preparing a history
without remuneration the townspeo-
pie presented him about four years
ago with purse of gold amounting
to over $1,000.
DR.. Fairbanks wife died Sept. G,
1917, and he is survived by ono
daughter, Cornelia Taylor Fairbanks.
The funeral will be held at his
home Wednesday forenoon at II
o'clock. Friords will please omit flow
ers.
Such i: the brief sketch of the first
citizen of ST, JohnSbuIv whom all in