clergyman inventor manufacturer
Henry Fairbanks was the son of Thaddeus and Lucy Peck (Barker) Fairbanks and was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where his father was engaged in the iron- foundry business and later in the manufacture of weighing-scales.
In spite of his studious habits he had inherited the family interest in mechanics and by reason of his father’s business had many opportunities for satisfying this bent.
Young Fairbanks inherited a frail physical constitution which prevented his enjoyment of the life of a normal youth and as a result, he was taught at home until he was ten years old. He spent his tenth year at Lyndon Academy, near his home, and the following year at Pinkerton Academy at Derry, New Hampshire.
When he was twelve his father established the St. Johnsbury Academy which young Fairbanks immediately entered and there prepared for college.
After six years in St. Johnsbury Academy and a year spent in travel in Europe seeking health, Fairbanks entered Dartmouth College in 1850 and graduated in 1853.
Immediately thereafter he entered Andover Theological Seminary, but three years later the precarious state of his health again necessitated a European sojourn. After his return he completed his work at the seminary and graduated with the class of 1857.
From 1857 to 1860 Fairbanks served in several Congregational pastorates in Vermont and did much missionary work in reviving many of the smaller churches which were dying out. Finding, however, that this work was entirely too strenuous he accepted the chair of natural philosophy and subsequently that of natural history in Dartmouth College where he continued teaching until 1869. In that year, upon the death of his mother, he removed with his family to St. Johnsbury and became associated with his father and uncle in the E. & T. Fairbanks Company. In 1868, while still on the faculty of Dartmouth, Fairbanks secured his first patent, jointly with his father, for scales which automatically weighed grain as it was charged into a hopper. After his connection with his father’s company he continued to apply his inventive skill in the weighing field and obtained many patents, particularly for registering and printing scales. He was also interested in the local paperpulp business and obtained a number of patents on pulp-manufacturing machines and other apparatus of value to this industry. In 1897 he patented still another interesting and valuable invention: namely, an alternating current electric generator.
From 1857 to 1860 Fairbanks served in several Congregational pastorates in Vermont and did much missionary work in reviving many of the smaller churches which were dying out.
from 1870 to 1905 he was a trustee of Dartmouth College; and for many years he was president of the board of trustees of St. Johnsbury Academy.
Fairbanks was twice married; first, in Hanover, on April 30, 1862, to Annie S. Noyes; and second, to Ruthy Page of Newport, Vermont in 1874. He was survived by his widow and six children.
