Charles B. Fairbanks

FAIRBANKS, RUSSELL

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/6/2010 at 15:55:44

Hardware merchant, Main street. He was born in Owego, Tioga county, N. Y., September 22, 1846, and lived in that county for nineteen years. In December, 1863, he enlisted in Co. H., 39th New York Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war. His regiment was attached to the first brigade, first division, ninth army corps, and participated with that corps in its great charge after the explosion of the Petersburg mine. Here death and destruction was on every hand and the killed and wounded in that brave but futile charge was enormous. With his regiment he took part in all the battles of the Wilderness and after the Grand Review at Washington his regiment was sent to Buffalo, when he was mustered out. He had previously been transferred to Co. G, 51st N. Y. In 1865 he came to Iowa and located at Centre Point, Linn county, and engaged in farming. In 1870 he moved to Clay county and homesteaded a part of section 20 in Clay township. Here he farmed until 1882 when he moved to Spencer and for the next four years was in the insurance and loaning business. During the year of 1886 he moved to Peterson and commenced the hardware trade in which he has been exceedingly successful. he is an enterprising merchant and a good citizen. He takes quite an interest in Grand Army matters and is a member of the Peterson post. Besides serving as a private in his company he was orderly for a time to Gen. Wilcox, who commanded the First Division of the Ninth Corps. His regimental commander was Colonel Tracey, now secretary of the navy. He was married in 1866 to Miss Colina Russell. They have four children, Minnie B., Hiram B., Florence L. and Lucy Z.

Source: A History of Clay County, Iowa, by W. C. Gilbreath, 1889, p. 189.