John B. Fairbank (AC 1867) Family Papers, 1817-1922
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Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
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Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
John B. Fairbank (AC 1867) Family Papers
Creation of John B. Fairbank (AC 1867) Family Papers
Time of Creation of John B. Fairbank (AC 1867) Family Papers
Fairbank, John B., and his Family
Biographical History for: John B. Fairbank (AC 1867) Family Papers
Biographical Note John B. Fairbank (1840-1908) was born in Oakham, Massachusetts, where his parents, James C. Fairbank and Lurana (Robinson) Fairbank owned a farm. He enrolled in Amherst College in 1861 but left in 1862 to fight in the Civil War, serving in the 36th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and attaining the rank of Brevet Colonel before returning to college in 1865. Fairbank graduated from Amherst College in 1867 and went on the study law at Columbia. He was admitted to the bar in 1869 and practiced law in New York, Kansas, Massachusetts, and South Dakota. He settled in Deadwood, South Dakota in 1881. He was elected to the legislature in Massachusetts (1878-79) and South Dakota (1896). Fairbank died on April 29, 1908 in Portland, South Dakota.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The papers document John B. Fairbank's activities as a soldier during the Civil War and as a lawyer in Deadwood, South Dakota, and also the social and financial activities of several family members (his sisters, particularly Susan F. Fairbank and Maria T. F. Rugg, his parents, Lurana Robinson Fairbank and James C. Fairbank, and others), spanning a period of slightly more than a century. The box includes photocopies of oversize documents and cross-references to the originals, which are stored separately.
Soldiers--United States--Correspondence.
lcsh
Fairbank, John B., 1840-1908.
lcnaf
Fairbank, Lurana Robinson.
Fairbank, James C.
Fairbank, Susan F.
Rugg, Maria T. F.
Fairbank family.
Amherst College--Students.
Amherst College. Class of 1867. Fairbank.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives.
series
Series 1: JOHN B. FAIRBANK (AC 1867), 1864-1909
Series 1, JOHN B. FAIRBANK (AC 1867) 1864-1909, includes materials documenting his service in the Civil War, his life in South Dakota, and his death in 1908. It is organized into four sub-series, with items are arranged chronologically within each subseries: A. Civil War Correspondence, 1864-1865: Outgoing - contains official and personal letters written while serving in the Union army.B. Civil War Correspondence, 1865: Incoming - contains correspondence from the War Department.C. South Dakota Correspondence, 1882-1902: Outgoing - contains letters written after Fairbank settled in South Dakota.D. Death, 1908-1909 - contains printed obituaries, an article by Fairbank about his hometown [reprinted after his death?], and a resolution by the Bar Association of Lawrence County on the occasion of his death.
subseries
Sub-series A: Civil War Correspondence 1864-1865: Outgoing
ALS, to his sister Maria [Fairbank, later Maria T.F. Rugg] and his mother [Lurana Robinson Fairbank], describing the movements of the Army of the Potomac. 186[?] Oct 24
ALS, to his sister Sarah, describing the improvement of his wound. 1864 Jan 23
ALS, to his sister, written "near Alexandria Va.," describing the march to the front. 1864 Mar 26
AL (unsigned, page missing), to his [unspecified] sister, describing recent battles. 1864 Sep 5
ALS, to his sister [Maria?], mentioning deserters and Lincoln's re-election. 1864 Oct 13
AL (unsigned copy), to the President of the United States, on behalf of an officer in his regiment, Capt. Henry S. Burrage, dismissed for having exchanged newspapers with Confederates. 1864 Nov 10
AL (unsigned, page missing), to his [unspecified] sister, discussing Capt. Burrage, and Fairbank's loneliness. 1864 Nov 22
ALS, to his sister Maria, mentioning a court martial, and the draft. 1864 Dec 21
ALS, to his mother, discussing his request to be relieved from participation in the court martial, and "negroes" serving in the Union army. 1865 Jan 21
ALS, to his sister, written "near Petersburg Va.," mentioning the court martial and the nearby forts nicknamed "Fort Heaven" and "Fort Hell." 1865 Feb 9
ALS, to his sister [Maria?], continuing his discussion of the court martial and of Capt. Burrage. 1865 Feb 12
ALS, to his sister, listing recent deaths. 1865 Apr 6
Sub-series B: Civil War Correspondence, 1865: Incoming
Stanton, Edwin. Printed letter (stamped signature), from Secretary of War, promoting Fairbank to Major of Volunteers. 1865 Dec 2
Sub-series C: South Dakota Correspondence, 1882-1902
ALS, to his sister, discussing lease of farm. 1882 Nov 20
ALS, to his sister, discussing financial matters. 1883 Apr 23
ALS, to his sister, inquiring about relatives and describing Deadwood, South Dakota, as a place unsuitable for young people. 1887 Jun 6
ALS, to his sister, about local agricultural practices. 1898 Mar 12
ALS, to his sister, describing the climate and economy of South Dakota, and mentioning encounters with President Roosevelt. 1902 Jan 24
Sub-series D: Death
Reprints of obituary and other articles about death of John B. Fairbank from the April 29, 1908 edition of the Deadwood Daily Pioneer Times. Three copies, two of them with hand-corrected birthdate. 1908 Apr
Obituary. Newspaper clipping: "Answered The Call: Well Known Black Hills Man Found Dead in His Home at Portland Wednesday." [1908 Apr]
Obituary. Newspaper clipping: "Major Fairbanks Answers The Call." [1908 Apr 30]
Clipping [from Deadwood Daily Pioneer Times]: "Major Fairbanks Laid At Rest," describing funeral services. [1908] May
"John Barnard Fairbank," clipping [from Deadwood Daily Pioneer Times] by James A. George 1908 May 1
Bar Association of Lawrence County. Original and copy of typed preamble and resolutions on the death of John B. Fairbank. [1908 May?]
John B. Fairbank. Newspaper clipping, "Oakham," originally published in 1879, [reprinted after death of author.] [1908?]
Robinson, Laura M. ANS, receipt from John B. Fairbank Estate. 1909 Feb 7
Series 2: FAMILY CORRESPONDENCE, 1817-1920
Series 2, FAMILY CORRESPONDENCE, 1817-1920, documents the personal interactions and social activities of Fairbank family members. It is organized into six sub-series, by family member. Items within sub-series are arranged chronologically. A. Lurana Robinson Fairbank: Incoming Correspondence, 1817-1847B. Susan F. Fairbank: Outgoing Correspondence, 1912-1913C. Susan F. Fairbank: Incoming Correspondence, 1849-1914D. Maria T. F. Rugg: Incoming Correspondence, 1920E. Other Family Correspondence, 1869-1898 includes unidentified correspondence, transcribed poems, unsigned greeting cards, and other items that could not be identified as pertaining to a specific member of the Fairbank family.
Sub-series A: Lurana Robinson Fairbank: Incoming Correspondence
AN (unsigned). Three report cards describing school attendance, performance. 1817 Aug-Oct
Lab[___?], S.F. ALS, to her sister Lurana [Robinson Fairbank]. 1847 Jan 5
Sub-series B: Susan F. Fairbank: Outgoing Correspondence
ALS, to Mr. Wright, concerning a sword, and thanking him for a book. 1912 Jan 26
ALS, to Mr. Wright. Mentions Fairbank's Civil War letters. 1912 Feb 2
ALS, to Mr. Wright. Mentions Mellen in South Africa and Fairbank's Kansas letters. 1913 Apr 4
Sub-series C: Susan F. Fairbank: Incoming Correspondence
Fragment of envelope addressed to Susan F. Fairbank, sent from Deadwood, South Dakota, [possibly by John B. Fairbank.] 18[??] Nov 2[4?]
Young, Maria. ALS, to Susan F. Fairbank. Christmas letter from Lurana Fairbank's roommate to Lurana Fairbank's sister. [18]49 Dec 25
Gould, J.W. ALS, to [Susan F.] Fairbank and [Maria T.F.] Rugg, about their "calamity" due to two recent fires on their Oakham property. 1908 Jul 20
Bronsdon, Allen A. ALS, to [Susan F.] Fairbank, about loss by fire. 1908 Jul 21
Martin, Eben W., and Norman T. Mason. TL (stamped signature), concerning property ownership and mining operations. 1914 Jun 27
Sub-series D: Maria T.F. Rugg: Incoming Correspondence
Metal plate engraved with her name. n.d.
Coffin, Rev. George H. TLS, to [Maria] T.F. Rugg, concerning her donations to the Pilgrim Memorial Fund and fundraising activities in South Dakota. Unsigned poem handwritten on reverse. 1920 Mar 13
Sub-series E: Other Family Correspondence
Poems transcribed by family. Two handwritten poems: a "favorite poem, author unknown," and an untitled poem by Mrs. E.H.G. Cleaveland; and two typed poems: "To Build The Temple" by Thomas D. Goodell, and "The World Is Mine" by Dot Aren, all unsigned. n.d.
Printed card, unsigned. "To Mother On Mother's Day." n.d.
Burdsall, Luella. Printed Christmas card, signed. n.d.
Wheeler, Hetty Shepard, and Mary Phelps [ ? ]. Printed Christmas card, signed. n.d.
[Robinson?], Laura [M.?] ALS, to her sister. n.d.
K.M., Emily. ALS (copy, with handwritten additions), to various recipients, including Laura [M. Robinson?] and Fairbank. [1???] Jun 28
Printed cards, unsigned. Three commencement invitations, two for Columbia College Law School, one for University of the City of New York. [1869] May-Jun
Printed booklet. Unsigned poem "To Aunt Catharine on her Eightieth Birthday." 1894
AN (unsigned). Valentine's Day poem. 1898 Feb. 14
Series 3: FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1832-1922
Series 3, FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1832-1922, is organized into five sub-series, by family member. Each sub-series is arranged chronologically by earliest date appearing on each document. A. James C. Fairbank, 1833-1876 contains records of property ownership and financial transactions of Fairbank's father.B. James P. Fairbank, 1922, contains one sheet of transactions by a relative.C. John B. and Hannah M. Fairbank, 1832, contains a deed for land sold by Fairbank's grandparents.D. Susan F. Fairbank, 1913-1916, contains records of transactions, the appraisal of her estate, and receipts for shares of her estate.E. Maria T.F. Rugg, 1914, contains one record of a debt owed to her.
Sub-series A: James C. Fairbank, 1833-1876
MS NS, record of debts and payments to Willis Smith, attested by R. Putnam. 1833 Dec 3
MS N (signature crossed out), record of debt and payments to Josiah [Gleason?], attested by James Allen. 1837 Apr 1
MS NS, record of debts and payments to Daniel F. Frost, attested by James Allen. 1837 Nov 6
Record of property boundaries, attested by James Allen. 1839 Sep 14
MS N (signature torn off), record of debt and payments to Susan M. Robinson, attested by James Allen. 1841 Dec 9
MS Doc., deed of sale of farm property to Charles Miles, witnessed by James Allen. 1843 Mar 15
MS N (signature torn off), record of debt and payments to Sewall & Day, attested by James Allen. 1847 Apr 2
Fairbank, James C. and Lurana [Robinson] Fairbank. MS Doc., mortgage of farm in Oakham, Massachusetts, to Sewall & Day, witnessed by Hannah P. Allen and James Allen. 1847 Apr 2
Smith, Willis. MS Doc. (unsigned copy) related to Oakham farm. 1876 Sep
Sub-series B: James P. Fairbank, 1922
MS.N., financial record, including income from estate of Susan F. Fairbank and amounts borrowed from Maria T.F. Rugg. 1922 Jan 16
Sub-series C: John B. and Hannah M. Fairbank, 1832
MS Doc., deed transferring farm in Oakham, Massachusetts, to Ephraim Fairbank, witnessed by Avery Clark, Charles Adams [Jr.?], and James Allen. grandparents of John B. Fairbank (AC 1867). (John B. and Hannah M. Fairbank are the grandparents of John B. Fairbank.) 1832
Sub-series D: Susan F. Fairbank, 1913-1916
Angur, Addison C. ANS, record of debt and payments. 1913 Dec 8
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Probate Court. MS Doc., appraisal of estate. 1915 Sept 3
TNS, receipts for shares of estate of Susan F. Fairbank, administered by Maria T.F. Rugg, signed by Laura M. Robinson, Margaret McLeod, Grace M. Rood, and Sarah C. Batchellor. 1916 Oct 4
Sub-series E: Maria T.F. Rugg, 1914
Angur, Addison C. ANS, promissory note recording debt to Maria T.F. Rugg. 1914 Jan 1
Series 4: DEATHS
Series 4, DEATHS, includes obituaries and other material written upon the deaths of family members and friends, arranged alphabetically by individual.
Obituary. Newspaper clipping: "Ezra D. Batchellor: The End of a Long and Honorable Life on Tuesday," about husband of Sarah C. Batchellor, the sister of John B. Fairbank (AC 1867). n.d.
Obituary. Newspaper clipping: "A True Woman: Death of Mrs. Rev. John B. Fairbank," about the aunt of John B. Fairbank (AC 1867). [18??] Jun 16
R. [Rugg?], G.M. Obituary newspaper clipping: "Susan F. Fairbank" n.d.
Rood, Grace M. [Eulogy?] about Susan F. Fairbank. n.d.
Warner, W.R. Newspaper clipping: "Obituary: Capt. William B. Kimball" of Oakham, Massachusetts. n.d.
Series 5: CLIPPINGS
Series 5, CLIPPINGS, includes newspaper articles and printed images saved by family members.
"Vestiges of an Older America. Centre and North Churches, New Haven, Conn." (photograph with caption). n.d.
Three printed illustrations depicting cabins and mountains. n.d.
Hunt, Mabel. "Hunt 'N' Tell," column about Hazel Barbour, actress. n.d.
Fragment of a column about Boston and New Haven, marked "please save." n.d.