The Fairbanks Family of Jones County, Iowa

ALLEN LEONARD FAIRBANKS.

No history of Jones county would be complete without extended mention of Allen Leonard Fairbanks, who although he has already passed the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten is still an active and helpful factor in the world's work. He comes from a most illustrious family and one which has long been identified with American interests. All representatives of the name in America trace their ancestry back to Jonathan Fairbanks, the founder of the family in this country, who came to Boston, Massachusetts, from Yorkshire, England, in 1633. Since that time various members of the family have figured prominently before the public eye. Mr. Fairbanks, of this review, is a relative of former Vice-President Fairbanks, of the United States, and also claims relationship with Erastus Fairbanks, the well known manufacturer and politician, who patented the famous Fairbanks scales and was also governor of the state of Vermont for two terms.

Born in Hyde Park, Vermont, on the 25th of February, 1832, Allen Leonard Fairbanks is a son of Adam and Cynthia (Wilber) Fairbanks, natives of Massachusetts and of England respectively. The mother came to America in childhood and was married in Vermont, where she passed away when the son was twelve years of age. The father, a farmer by occupation, was again married and spent the latter part of his life with our subject, his death occurring in 1882 when he had reached the venerable age of eighty-three years. He was the father of seven children, of whom Allen Leonard was the sixth in order of birth. The others were: Victor monroe, of LeRoy, Minnesota, who has attained the age of ninety-two years; Caroline Lane and Volney W., who are both deceased; Carlow, who was killed during the Civil war, having enlisted as a soldier from Vermont; Lorinda Chesley, deceased; and Cynthia Janette.

No event of especial importance came to vary the routine of daily life for Allen Leonard Fairbanks during the period of his boyhood and youth, which were spent on his father's farm in Vermont. At the usual age he was sent as a pupil to the common schools, which he attended until sixteen years of age. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-one years old, and in the meantime was variously engaged about the home farm, 'assisting in the work of the fields and picking stone and brush from the rough land. When he attained his majority, however, he entered the business world on his own account, going to Manchester, New Hampshire, where he remained for about two years, being there employed in the cotton mills and also in the machine shops of the locomotive works.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ARTHUR L. FAIRBANKS, JR.

Arthur L. Fairbanks, Jr., a successful farmer and prominent stockman of Castle Grove township, was born in Cass township, January 15, 1860, and is a son of A. L. Fairbanks, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this work. He was reared upon the home place, where he worked with his father until 1882, when he was married. About the 15th of January, 1883, he located on the farm where he now resides, and which has since been the scene of his labors. It consists of two hundred and ten acres on section 35, Castle Grove township, is well cultivated and improved with buildings of a high grade which evince his progressive ideas in regard to his vocation. This farm, however, is but one of several tracts which Mr. Fairbanks owns, for he has one hundred acres on section 36, the same township, besides two farms, one of six hundred and forty acres — a whole section — in Adams county. North Dakota. The latter he purchased in 1906 from the Northern Pacific Railroad Company and regards as a good investment. In Castle Grove township he makes a specialty of the raising of Aberdeen Angus cattle, having a herd of ninety registered animals, headed by Ruby Buster. These have been exhibited in the Wapsi Fair and in the fair at Monticello, where they were the recipients of many honors, for Mr. Fairbanks has never spared any effort to improve his breed and secure the best quality of cattle. He is a man whose industry is a prime factor in his success and is recognized as one of the leading agriculturists of his township.

On the 22d of August. 1882. Mr. Fairbanks was united in marriage to Miss Maggie S. Black, aho was born in Jones county, February 7, 1863, and is a daughter of T. K. and Susanna (Eberhart) Black, both now deceased. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks. Allen T., the eldest, secured a homestead in Adams county, North Dakota, in 1907. A. Ray lives in Cass township and a sketch of him appears in another part of this volume. Gladys M. is in the third year of her course at Cornell College, and Blanche B., the youngest, in the second year of her course at that institution.

Although on national issues Mr. Fairbanks invariably allies himself with the republicans, he is independent in his political views as regards matters of local concern and votes for the men and measures he believes best for the advancement of the highest interests of the community. He keeps well informed in regard to matters of popular concern, and for six years as trustee assisted in guiding the township along a progressive course.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ALBA M. FAIRBANKS.

Alba 3il. Fairbanks, an enterprising member of the younger generation of Castle Grove's agriculturists, was born in Cass township. Jones county, march 2.y. 1870, and is a son of A. Fairbanks, Sr., whose sketch appears in another part of this volume. He worked upon his father's farm from the time he was able to hold the lighter farm implements until he became of age, when having married he was desirous of starting a home of his own. He then moved across the road from the homestead to the land on which he now resides. In 1900, he went to Knox, Benson county, North Dakota, to take up a government claim and after three years spent upon it, the time necessary to secure his possession of the three quarter sections he had chosen, he returned to Castle Grove township, where he has since devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He owns one hundred and sixty acres here, separated from the home place by the township line, on which he pursued a diversified line of farming. His fields are well improved and through up-to-date methods of cultivation show no signs of diminishing fertility. He has made stock raising one feature of his operations while the fact that he has also planted about seven acres in fruit, indicates the varied character of his interests. In addition to his own responsibilities, with his brother he assists in the management of the three hundred and sixty acre farm which belongs to his father. Energetic and progressive, he has made a place for himself among the active men of the township and his success has secured their good will and approbation.

In 1891 ]\Mr. Fairbanks wedded IMiss Electa Stephens, who was born near Burlington. Iowa, and is a daughter of John and Helen (Clark) Stephens. Their union has been blessed with three children: Harry A., Helen and Lily, all of whom live at home.

Mr. Fairbanks is a strong supporter of the Presbyterian church in Castle Grove township, while in the exercise of his right of franchise he cases his ballot for the candidates of the republican party. Indeed, he has evinced an active interest in political matters and in the local councils his opinion is accorded no small consideration. Fraternally he is connected with the Monticello lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America and among its members he has made many stanch friends, for he is a man who though successful in his own affairs is ever willing to exert himself in the behalf of those who are near to him.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ARTHUR RAY FAIRBANKS.

Arthur Ray Fairbanks, a progressive and enterprising farmer of Cass township, owning and operating a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres, is one of Jones county's native sons, his birth having occurred in Castle Grove township on the nth of September, 1885. He is a son-of Arthur Lincoln and Maggie S. (Black) Fairbanks, who were also born in Jones county and now make their home in Castle Grove township. They were the parents of four children, of whom Arthur Ray was the second in order of birth. The others are: Allen T., of Adams county. North Dakota: Gladys May. at home: and Blanch Pearl, also under the parental roof. The paternal grandfather of our subject is Allen Leonard Fairbanks, extended mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume.

Under the parental roof Arthur Ray Fairbanks spent the period of his boyhood and youth, acquiring his education in the district schools near his home, and remained with his parents until the spring of 1907. In that year he went to Adams county, North Dakota, where he homesteaded a claim of one hundred and sixty acres. He returned home on the 15th of January, 1908, and on the I St of September of the following year was united in marriage to Miss Martha E. Ketcham, a native of Cass township, born on the 22d of November, 1886.

She is a daughter of William L. and Ruby M. (Stone) Ketcham, the former born in Deleware county, Ohio, on the i8th of February, 1851, and the latter in Jones county on the lotli of November, 1854. The father came to this county with his parents in 1867, and was here engaged in general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of thoroughbred cattle, horses and hogs. He became the owner of a well improved farm of three hundred acres, located on sections 8 and 17. He was married in this county on the ist of January, 1877, and continued to make his home within its boundaries until the time of his death. He passed away on the 23d of July, 1906, while his wife still survives and makes Battle Creek, Michigan, her place of residence. In their family were five children, the eldest of whom. Lulu, passed away in early childhood. The others are: Ruby Stone, Mrs. Arthur R. Fairbanks; Clara A. and Wilhelmina H.

After his marriage Mr. Fairbanks purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land from his father-in-law, located on section 8, Cass township, and on that farm he and his wife began their domestic life. He has since devoted himself to its further development and improvement and under his wise management the place is proving an excellent investment, bringing him rich golden harvests in return for the care and labor bestowed upon it.

In politics Mr. Fairbanks is a stalwart supporter of the republican party, and is loyal and public-spirited in his citizenship. Although numbered among the younger generation of agriculturists in Cass township, nevertheless he has already met with a degree of prosperity which augurs well for a very bright and successful future. Having spent his entire life in Jones county, with the exception of a couple of years in the north, he has become widely known among a large circle of friends, and the fact that he is most liked where best known is an indication that his salient characteristics are such as command the respect, confidence and good will of his fellowmen.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.