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Below is a family biography included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1898.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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MRS. HELEN M. FAIRCHILD (nee PLUMB ), widow of the late James B. Fairchild, is one of the most estimable ladies of the village of Cortland, and is respected and honored not only because her husband was in his lifetime one of the most popular, public-spirited, and upright citizens of the county, but also by reason of her own sterling qualities of true womanhood.

Mrs. Fairchild comes of a good family, whose members were able, patriotic men and women, ready to serve their country in whatever way was pointed out to them. Her father, Hon. Samuel Plumb, was born in Litchfield, Conn., September 17, 1796, and very early in life was apprenticed to a shoemaker. His father having moved to Pitcher, Chenango County, N. Y., Samuel followed, and settled there, in which town he not only carried on his shoe-making trade, but also opened a shoe store, and manufactured rope, cords, fish-lines, etc. Later he carried on a mercantile business. Diligent in habits, and taught to value time, he rose to eminence and comfortable circumstances in the community. He was a great reader, and became one of the best read men in the county, and because of his wide and varied knowledge was often called upon as an advocate in law cases. Although firm and unyielding in his principles, he invariably bore himself with such manly dignity in their advocacy as to secure and maintain in his favor the highest personal respect and regard of opponents as well as friends. In business, in social life, in politics, and even in fierce political campaigns he never forgot the rules of dignified decorum. He held the office of postmaster for more than twenty years, his service being terminated at last by his own request in the form of a resignation. He was repeatedly elected supervisor, justice of the peace, and school commissioner. In the campaign of 1840, he was elected to the State House of Representatives, and that body honored him by making him its chairman. His views on the temperance question were very pronounced for his day, and this fact alone made him a person of some note. When he retired from business, he removed to Homer, Cortland County, and devoted his remaining years to enjoying life’s sunset hours, and to educating his children. He joined the Presbyterian Church in 1830, but when he became a resident of Homer he united with the Congregational Church. His death took place in Homer, December 16, 1878. In 1826, he joined his fortunes in holy wedlock with those of Mary Ann Coley, who lived to be eighty-four years old, surviving him a number of years, and dying October 19, 1890. She was a daughter of Col. William Coley, who fought in the Revolutionary War under Gen. Nathaniel Green. The following children were born to Samuel Plumb and his wife: Helen M., our subject; Frances; Harriet; Emily; Delia; Mary E.; and Wells F.

James B. Fairchild, whose wife Helen M. Plumb became, was born at Delphi, Onondaga County, N. Y., August 19, 1828, and was a son of Isaac and Mercy (Penoyer) Fairchild. He was reared and educated in Cortland County, and finished his education by taking a course in the old Cortland Academy. He assisted his father in the hotel his parent had just opened in Cortland, the old Eagle Hotel, where the Messenger House is now, and afterwards conducted the hotel in Tully. Later he ran a livery stable in connection with the Eagle Hotel, and still later he became proprietor of the Central Hotel, now known as the Kremlin. He then was in the employ of the D., L. & W. R. R. for a number of years as that road’s freight agent at Cortland. He continued to hold that position until he became a traveling salesman, in which capacity he remained for the twenty years previous to his death, during which time he made many friends outside of his home town. He was a favorite with all classes, and much of his value as a commercial traveler came from his ability of making and keeping friends. Every acquaintance was to him a friend, and could count on Mr. Fairchild’s hearty sympathy, if he happened to be distressed with some grievous trouble. He never wittingly made an enemy, for he believed life was too short and too well worth the living to embitter it with feuds or quarrels. Genial, whole-souled, and cheerful under every circumstance, he was an ideal “drummer,” and a general source of enjoyment wherever he went. A short illness, that did not at first appear serious, terminated in his death June 11, 1890. He was provident and loved his family, and his death left them in comfortable circumstances in the home he had built in Cortland. In his political views he was a Democrat, and steadfastly supported the measures and men of his party through victory and defeat. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and stood high as a citizen, whose thoughts are in the improvement of the town where he resides. His children were: Alice Cornelia; Mary Louise; Katie Q., who died at the age of four years; and James.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published in 1898. 

View additional Cortland County, New York family biographies here: Cortland County, New York Biographies

View a map of 1897 Cortland County, New York here: Cortland County, New York Map

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