BIOGRAPHY: Charles Stebbins Fairchild; Madison co., NY
surname: Fairchild, Childs, Lincklaen

Transcribed by W. David Samuelsen
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http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm
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AN INLAND EMPIRE AND THEIR PEOPLE, BIOGRAPHICAL, VOLUME IV, W. FREEMAN GALPIN,
PH.D.
Publishers, LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC., NEW YORK, 1941, expired
copyright.

     CHARLES STEBBINS FAIRCHILD - The name of Charles Stebbins Fairchild,
former secretary of the treasury and one of the most outstanding financiers of
his generation, occupies a distinctive place in the history of the Nation,
particularly that region located in central New York, where he was born and
achieved his first fame as a young attorney.

     Mr. Fairchild was born at Cazenovia, Madison County, April 30, 1842, the
son of Sidney Thompson (q. v.) and Helen (Childs) Fairchild, who had come to
this community from Stamford, Connecticut. Both of his parents were of English
ancestry and descendants of representatives who are said to have settled in
New England during the middle of the seventeenth century. After a general
education in a local seminary, Mr. Fairchild matriculated at Harvard College,
from which he was graduated in 1863, and then enrolled at the Harvard Law
School where he completed his professional training two years later. He began
his career in the law firm of Hand, Hale and Schwartz, at Albany and was soon
to evince a keen and, active interest in political affairs as one of the
ardent champions of the Democratic point of view. His enthusiasm and his ardor
in espousing the principles of this party attracted the attention of many
leaders at the State capital and the young man seemed definitely launched upon
a highly promising career of public service. He began by serving in several
minor official capacities but rapidly rose to prominence. By the time Samuel
J. Tilden assumed the office of Governor of New York State, Mr. Fairchild had
gained impressive prominence as the Deputy Attorney General responsible for
securing the conviction of the New York police commissioners, Charlick and
Gardner. The new chief executive detailed him to conduct prosecutions in the
canal ring frauds and later backed him for the nomination of Attorney-General
of the State, offering his name at the Syracuse convention of the Democratic
party in 1875. Mr. Fairchild was elected in the ensuing campaign and. began
his investigations, but the reforms contemplated were not to be realized at
that time Two years later Tilden lost the governorship Mr Fairchild failed to
be renominated, the canal ring enjoyed influential protection and Tammany was
in control The attorney returned to private life at this time and resumed his
practice of law which he was to conduct until the election of Cleveland to the
Presidency. At that time Mr. Cleveland appointed Daniel Manning, Secretary of
the Treasury, and Mr. Fairchild, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. Due to
ill health Mr. Manning was forced to retire two years later and Mr. Fairchild
assumed the office, continuing in this capacity from April 1, 1887, until
1889, when he came to New York City and entered the banking business. He
became a prominent figure in the financial life of this great city and
achieved distinction as a philanthropist, taking an active part in the affairs
of the Charity Organization Society. While he had seemingly retired from
public life there were several crucial issues in the politics of the State and
Nation that brought him back to public notice. In 1892, for example, he fought
Hill's "snap" convention and four years later was a leader in the opposition
against the Bryan ticket, being chosen permanent chairman of the Syracuse
convention that chose a gold Democratic delegation to go to Indianapolis. From
that time until his passing he retired from the political scene, save for
attending political loyalty meetings and coming out in 1920 against the
operation of the woman suffrage amendment to the Constitution.

     In 1871 Mr. Fairchild married Helen Lincklaen, a descendant of that
Lincklaen who founded Cazenovia in May, 1793, as an associate of Theophilus
Cazenove, agent for the Holland Land Company.

     Charles Stebbins Fairchild died November 24, 1924, at the age of
eighty-two years. His death brought to a close an eminently successful career
that had found expression in the fields of public service, finance and the
bar. In each he distinguished himself, establishing a record of achievement
that eminently qualified him for the position of leadership he enjoyed among
his fellows.