Businessman and political leader. His father Erastus and uncles Thaddeus and Joseph founded the E & T Fairbanks Company, the maker of the world's first platform scale and Vermont's largest employer in the 1800s and early 1900s. The Fairbanks family was Vermont's wealthiest, and Franklin became active in the company and succeeded his brother Horace as President. He was also an executive or director of numerous banks, railroads and other ventures, as well as a Trustee of several seminaries, high schools and colleges. Franklin served on the staffs of Governors Hiland Hall and Erastus Fairbanks, holding the rank of Colonel, and also serving as a director of the Vermont Soldiers' Home in Bennington. His brother Horace also served as Governor, and Franklin became active in politics, winning election as a Republican to the Vermont House in 1870 and 1872 and serving as Speaker. Franklin Fairbanks was interested in natural history, and among other institutions, his endowments included the Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury. He was also among the first investors in Florida real estate as a member of the Winter Park Company, and played a large part in establishing Florida's post-Civil War vacation home construction industry. He was a Founding Trustee of Winter Park's Rollins College, Florida's oldest college, and Winter Park's busiest street is named Fairbanks Avenue in his honor.
Businessman and political leader. His father Erastus and uncles Thaddeus and Joseph founded the E & T Fairbanks Company, the maker of the world's first platform scale and Vermont's largest employer in the 1800s and early 1900s. The Fairbanks family was Vermont's wealthiest, and Franklin became active in the company and succeeded his brother Horace as President. He was also an executive or director of numerous banks, railroads and other ventures, as well as a Trustee of several seminaries, high schools and colleges. Franklin served on the staffs of Governors Hiland Hall and Erastus Fairbanks, holding the rank of Colonel, and also serving as a director of the Vermont Soldiers' Home in Bennington. His brother Horace also served as Governor, and Franklin became active in politics, winning election as a Republican to the Vermont House in 1870 and 1872 and serving as Speaker. Franklin Fairbanks was interested in natural history, and among other institutions, his endowments included the Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury. He was also among the first investors in Florida real estate as a member of the Winter Park Company, and played a large part in establishing Florida's post-Civil War vacation home construction industry. He was a Founding Trustee of Winter Park's Rollins College, Florida's oldest college, and Winter Park's busiest street is named Fairbanks Avenue in his honor.
Family Members
Siblings
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
