The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-01-13
DEATH OF REV. DR..
EDWARD T. FAIRBANKS
St. Johnsbury Mourns the Loss of It's
First Citizen

Rev. DR.. Edward T. Fairbanks
died at his home Sunday evening at
II o'clock.
Edward Taylor Fairbanks was born
in st. Johnsbury, May IL, 1886, be-
ing the elder of the two sons of Jo-
seph Paddock and Almira Taylor
Fairbanks. He was of the eighth
generation from Jonathan Fairbanks
of Yorkshire, Eng, who settled in
Dedham, Mass, in 1886. He was
educated at st. Johnsbury Academy
under Principal James K. Colby and
at rnIi1ps-Andover Academy under
III. Samuel n. ayior, THESE Two men
Delng generally regarded as the ieau-
llg euucs vors in new England at
mat time. lie entered Yale College
IN 1850, was class secretary during
some OF his conege course and 1of
many years later. He was memb. u
OF the famous society Of Scroll and
ney.
Among the members of the class of
SO was his lifelong friend, Rev. DR..
Joseph Ii. Iwitcneil of hartford,
Conn.,, who died only last month.
After graduating from Yale he
returned to Sc. 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, daugh-
ter of Guy C. and Sally M. Taplip OF
Montpelier. She was at the time OF
her marriage a student at Adams
Academy at Derry. They straightway
sailed fon Europe where some two
years were spent in studying and vis-
iting most of the European capitals.
During the winter of '64 DR.. Fair
banks jourreyed in Egypt and Pales-
tine, trip which included drome-
Diary ride OIL some 80 days and which
greatly enriched his memory IN after
wears with experiences and reminls-
cences of his 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 Jan. 1, 1868, was ordained as
pastor OF the First Congregational
church at st. Johnsbury Center where
for six years he lived in the "House
of the Five Gables" ninistering to
the spiritual and temporal wants of
the 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 "Sheepcote"' on Park
street. For 28 years he was pastor Of
the South church, resignilgs in 1902
to the deep regret and surprise of a
united and devoted people. A year
ago h was elected pastor emeritus
OF the church. In 1902 he was elect
ed librarian of the St. Johnsbury
Athenaeum, a position for which his
scholarship and culture especially fit
ted him. Since 1882 he has been sec
retary and treasurer of the Academy
and one of its most efficient trustees.
He was for 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 a
member of the Sphinx Club.
Almost without his knowledge he
was nominated and afterwards elect
ed member of the State Senate in
1908 and proved a valuable member
of that body. In 1903 he was given
| the degree of D. D. by the University
lof Vermont.
Few preachers in the country ex-
celled DR.. Fairbanks in the chaste
and original style of composition.
His sermons and public addresses
tsparkled with flashes of wit and bore
evidence of deep study. In 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
pices 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 a frequent
contributor to the local press and
some of the marazines. AS an appre-
citation of his distinct service to the
community in preparing history
without remuneration the townspeo-
pie presented him about four years
ago with nurse of gold amounting
to over $1,000.
DR.. Fairbanks wife died Sept. 6
1917. and he is survived by one
dauohter, Cornelia Taylor Fairbanks
The funeral will be held at his
home Wednesday forenoon at II
O'Clock. Friends will please omit flow
ers.
! Such is the brief sketch of the first
citizen of st. Johnsbury whom all ir
town, young and old, have loved ano
revered in the long time that he has
been actively interested in our af.
fairs. Few men have given more OF
their life to the community and he
touched life in a variety of ways. As
a public speaker none could excel hin
in vivacity or ororiginality; as a preach,
er his beautiful language and deptI