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- [S16] Genealogy of the Fairbanks Family in America 1633-1897, Lorenzo Sayles Fairbanks, A.M., Late Counsellor at Law, (Boston: The American Printing & Engraving, Company, 1897), reprinted by the Fairbanks Family in America 1991 3rd ed.., page 291 (under father) & page 518-520, 1897.
560. LORENZO SAYLES FAIRBANKS, Boston, Mass.
(263), Joel VII, Abner VI, John V, Joseph IV, Joseph III, John II, Jonathan I.
Born in Pepperell, Mass., Mar. 16, 1825. His parents removed the same year to New Boston, N. H., where he was reared and received his early education. In youth he "enjoyed" his share of farm work, and some "recreation" assisting his father in his business.
At a very early age, influenced by a favorable environment, he became ambitious to go to college. The town had always taken a great interest in the cause of education. No less than six of his schoolmates in the old red school house on the hill, were destined for college. Home influences were good, but his parents had never dreamed of giving any of their sons a liberal education. They thought that good trades would be their best equipment for the battle of life. His father, with a large family to support, could not be expected to offer encouragement, in the way of promising assistance. The son, trained from childhood to habits of industry and self reliance, preferred to fight his own way, and did, till he reached the goal of his ambition. He was graduated from Dartmouth College, in the class of 1852, having paid all his expenses from the beginning of his preparatory course.
After leaving the district school, he embraced every opportunity to continue his studies. He attended two private schools, at different periods, and later, for two "Fall Terms," enjoyed the advantages of special schools of academic grade, conducted in the village by college students or graduates. Afterwards he was employed for three years in a general country store, gaining there an experience which, unexpectedly, proved to be the stepping stone to further advancement. Having acquired some knowledge of single entry bookkeeping, he made a thorough study of double entry, and taught that and other commercial branches, as a means of defraying the expenses of his education.
He began his preparation for college at Hancock Academy; followed his excellent teacher, Prof. Bunnell, after one year, to Townsend (Vt.) Academy, and finally to Black River Academy, Ludlow, Vt., where his preparatory course was completed. Then, to replenish a "sinking fund," he taught a grammar school in Canton, Mass., for one year, after which, in ten weeks of hard study, at home, he qualified himself, without the aid of a teacher, to pass an examination in the entire curriculum of the freshman year, and was admitted, without conditions, to the sophomore class in Dartmouth, at the opening of the fall term, 1849.
During his college course he was chosen a member of the Alpha Delta Phi Society, and, at graduation, was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Was president of the former, and of the "Social Friends," a public literary society. In the program of the Commencement Exercises, he was assigned to deliver the closing oration, which was regarded, nominally, as the only honorary part. There was no valedictory address, the honor system, strictly speaking, having been abolished a few years before, and being then in abeyance, though later readopted.
He studied law in New York City, and was admitted to the bar in 1853. Commenced the practice of his profession there, but after three years, "catching the western fever," he removed to Iowa, settling in Davenport. This step was unfortunate. The times were unpropitious. The crisis of 1857 was approaching, and, above all, the legal profession was overcrowded, and there was but a poor show for newcomers, who had no foothold. Very reluctantly he resolved to leave his profession, for the time being, and go into a business with which he was familiar. Receiving a favorable offer, he went to Philadelphia, to take charge of an established Commercial School. Employed at first on a salary, he became a partner at the expiration of a year, the partnership continuing for two years longer, when, not fully satisfied with his associations, he "seceded," and set up an establishment of his own, with some marked improvements.
The success of the new institution was phenomenal. Over five hundred students were received the first year, and about seven hundred and fifty the second year. The patronage was steadily maintained till he retired from the business in 1868. During this period he prepared and published an elaborate Treatise on Bookkeeping, an octavo volume of 444 pages. Subsequently he published, in New York, a Business Arithmetic, containing some novel features.
In 1874 he came to Boston and resumed the practice of his profession, in which he has been engaged ever since, occasionally attending to other affairs of more or less importance. In 1877 he published a small book on "The Marriage and Divorce Laws of Massachusetts," which had a large local sale, and a revised edition was issued in 1882.
The compilation of this "Genealogy of the Fairbanks Family," has absorbed all his spare time for nearly five years, a labor of love and sentiment, with a pardonable pride in trying to present to his numerous cousins the records of their honorable ancestry of which, when the work was begun, most of them, as well as their humble servant, were in dense ignorance.
Married, in New York City, July 24, 1856, Mrs. Sarah Elisabeth Skelton, daughter of Samuel S. and Rebecca (Pearl) Heath, of Bradford, Mass.
John Pearl, of Boxford, Mass., her grandfather, was a minute man, and responded to the Lexington Alarm, Apr. 19, 1775.
She was graduated from Bradford Academy, was a proficient scholar, Latin being her favorite study. Even during the latter years of her life, she frequently repeated the Latin fables learned in childhood. She was a rare woman, one on whom the burden of years rested lightly, and whose heart had kept its youth. Her trust in her Heavenly Father never faltered, and His leading was right, even though she could not understand it. She was possessed of a very genial, sympathetic nature, and was the confidant and comforter of the sick, the troubled, and the afflicted. Her long life was one of love and devotion to her husband and children. She died in Boston, June 2, 1894.
- [S25] 1880 United States Census, FHL Film 1254560; National Archives Film T9-0560; Page 115D.
- [S25] 1880 United States Census, FHL Film 1254560; National Archives Film T9-0560; Page 115D.
Extract: 1880 United States Census
Census Place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
Source: FHL Film 1254560; National Archives Film T9-0560; Page 115D
Household:
Rel Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Lorenzo S FAIRBANKS
Self Male M W 55 MASSACHUSETTS
Occ: Lawyer Fa: MASS Mo: MASS
Sarah E FAIRBANKS
Wife Female M W 58 MASSACHUSETTS
Fa: MASS Mo: MASS
Alice H FAIRBANKS
Dau Female S W 18 PENNSYLVANIA
Occ: At Home Fa: MASS Mo: MASS
Clara E FAIRBANKS
Dau Female S W 15 NEW HAMPSHIRE
Occ: At School Fa: MASS Mo: MASS
- [S16] Genealogy of the Fairbanks Family in America 1633-1897, Lorenzo Sayles Fairbanks, A.M., Late Counsellor at Law, (Boston: The American Printing & Engraving, Company, 1897), reprinted by the Fairbanks Family in America 1991 3rd ed.., page 520.
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1825 - Aft 1897 (> 73 years)
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