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John Brooks Fairbanks

John Brooks Fairbanks was born May 27, 1822 in Medfield, MA. His father died when John was eleven and he went to live with his married sister in North Groton, NH. He became a teacher at Hebron Academy. Coming to Natick to engage in shoemaking, he became a personal friend of Henry Wilson who was later Vice-President under U.S. Grant, resulting in his appointment as Natick Postmaster in 1865. He combined the Post Office with a small general store and newstand. He married Caroline Cummings of New Hampshire, daughter of Henry Cummings and Sally Cheney on July 4, 1843. He died in Natick MA on October 6, 1897.

John Brooks in later years.

John and Caroline had seven children:

1. Josephine Chandler Fairbanks, born September 5, 1844.

2. Harriet Converse Fairbanks, born June 18, 1846.

3. George Chandler Fairbanks, born October 20, 1849, died March 9, 1851.

4. George Chandler Fairbanks (2) born January 6, 1853.

5. Angie Jane Fairbanks, born October 23, 1853.

6. Anna Adella Fairbanks, born September 27, 1859.

7. Wilson Lincoln Fairbanks, born February 22, 1865.

Josephine Chandler about ten years old, holding her baby sister Angie Jane, circa 1854. Josephine taught school in Natick for many years.

Harriet "Aunt Hattie" Fairbanks. Hattie taught at the Natick High School and in Melrose MA. She never married.

Angie Jane Fairbanks married Francis Calvin Perry on June 10, 1875. They had four daughters, raising them in the house on West Central Street.

Wilson Lincoln Fairbanks married Nellie Irene Bates on September 24, 1889. They had four children. Uncle Wilson was City Editor of the New York World for many years.

George Chandler Fairbanks married Ella Louisa Hobbs in 1872. They had five children. He was Editor and Publisher of the Natick Bulletin for nearly fifty years, dying April 23, 1931.

Anna Adella Fairbanks married Mr. W. E. Brown on May 5, 1881.

The Old Fairbanks House, Dedham MA