Daniel Fairchild

Regions: Onondaga Co., NY; Walworth Co., WI

From History of Walworth County Wisconsin, Vol. 1, by Albert Clayton Beckwith, publ. 1912 - Page 710-712 DANIEL FAIRCHILD. No compendium such as the province of this work defines in its essential limitations will serve to offer fit memorial to the life and accomplishments of the late Daniel FAIRCHILD, for many years one of the leading agriculturists of Walworth county, a man of indomitable perseverance and strong individuality, and yet one whose entire life had not one esoteric phase, being able to bear the closest scrutiny. His accomplishments but represented the fit utilization of the innate talent which was his, and the directing of his efforts along lines where good judgment and discrimination led the way. There was in him a weight of character and a fidelity of purpose that commanded the respect of all, but greater than these was his honesty, and "an honest man is the noblest work of God." Mr. FAIRCHILD was born in section 17, in North Geneva, Walworth county, Wisconsin, on November 1, 1851. He is the son of Nelson and Laura (KINNEY) FAIRCHILD, a complete sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. The subject grew to manhood on the home farm and there began working during the summer months when quite young. He received his education in the common schools in that district and in Elkhorn, and he began life for himself by teaching school, which he followed successfully for several years. He began farming for himself on forty acres which he bought about 1876. In 1878 he purchased of his brother George the place which remained his family home the rest of his life, in section 17, adjoining his father's farm on the east, and which place consisted of two hundred two and one-half acres. Being a man of excellent ability and very industrious, he improved his farm and made it one of the finest farms in the county. He went into the dairy business in connection with general farming and stock raising, making a large success of all. He was a practical farmer, but he also studied and investigated, constantly experimenting, always seeking to improve his methods. He was a leader in gardening and raising potatoes. He paid much attention to his fruits and berries, which showed the result of care and scientific cultivation in their unusually good quality. His dairy barn was inspected by experts soon after he built it and they pronounced it the finest in southern Wisconsin at that time. It stables fifty cows and has a capacity for one hundred and ninety-five tons of hay, and is provided with the latest approved system of ventilation. He raised his own cows, and he kept thoroughly informed on all points touching dairying, horticultural and agricultural work, both technical points and practical. He built up a private trade in Chicago which he supplied for twenty years or more. His place, known as "Willow Glen Stock Farm," is one of the attractive landed estates of the county. Its large, convenient, substantial buildings, well kept fields, bespeak the care and industry in its management. Mr. FAIRCHILD was a man who took much interest in the general upbuilding of his community. He was a member of the town board for years and was chairman for several years. When sixteen years old he united with the Baptist church at Elkhorn and throughout his life was an active worker both in the church and Sunday school and he was superintendent of the Sunday school for some time. Mr. FAIRCHILD was married in May, 1878, to Edna VINCENT, daughter of Jarvis and Sarah A. (WATERBURY) VINCENT. She was born and reared at Williams Bay, this county, and received her education in the local schools. Her parents were from Onondaga county New York, and they emigrated to Walworth county, Wisconsin in 1845, locating in section 31, one of the choice vicinities of Geneva township, northeast of Williams Bay, overlooking Lake Geneva. Mr. VINCENT entered part of his land from the government, and bought more adjoining, owning altogether two hundred and forty acres. Jarvis VINCENT's mother was known in her maidenhood as Phoebe DEAN, and she was a Quaker. The death of the former occurred on his home farm in 1891. To Jarvis VINCENT and wife six children were born, five daughters and one son, namely: Elizabeth married Hiram CORNWELL and lived and died at Rockford, Illinois; Oscar was a soldier in the Civil war, in the Fortieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and his health was shattered by reason of his service, but he survived and lived until May 1911; Phoebe married A. B. CALKINS and lives at Delavan, this county; Ida married J. W. UTTER, of East Delavan, and her death occurred about 1879; Edna is the widow of Daniel FAIRCHILD, of this sketch; Jennie, who has remained unmarried, lived with her mother in Delavan until the latter's death on November 2, 1910, at the advanced age of ninety-two years; she had retained her faculties to a remarkable degree. Three children, two daughters and one son, were born to Daniel FAIRCHILD and wife, named as follows: Jessie Laura married Charles R. BURTON and lives near Delavan, and they have one son, Ralph Fairchild BURTON, in February 1910, Edith GATES, daughter of Charles M. GATES, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. They have a little daughter, Edna Caroline. Burton FAIRCHILD was eighteen years old when his father died, and since then he has had charge of the home place and has shown that he is a worthy successor of his father, having kept the place well improved and well tilled.

Submitted by Carol