My Genealogy Hound

COL. W. H. FAIRBANKS, packer and wholesale provision dealer, Joplin, was born in Terre Haute, Ind., Aug. 12, 1840. His father, Henry Fairbanks, was a native of the Bay State; his mother Emeline (Crawford) Fairbanks, of Ohio. Our subject grew to manhood in Terre Haute, receiving an academic education. In 1858 he was appointed deputy auditor of Vigo county, same state, in which position he served about three years. He enlisted in April, 1861, as a private in the Eleventh Indiana Zouaves, and after serving three months re-enlisted, joining the Thirty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry as a first lieutenant. At Atlanta, Ga., he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, having served as captain and major. In 1864 on recommendation of Major-General D. S. Stanley, commander of the fourth army corps, he was commissioned colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh Stone River, Chickamaugua, and others of importance. At the close of the war he was in command of northern Alabama, with headquarters at Decatur, and received the surrender of Gens. Roddy, Pillow, and Warren, with their commands. He was mustered out at Indianapolis in Oct., 1865, and returned to Terre Haute; shortly after he went to Arkansas, and for a time engaged in raising cotton; subsequently he came to St. Louis, and for two years was engaged as a commercial traveler. He then came to Springfield, this state, and in the spring of 1872 to Joplin. Shortly after he embarked in the wholesale and retail grocery business, in which he continued until 1877. At the time that lead was discovered at Short Creek he purchased the land on which Galena now stands, and was one of the founders of that city. He established his present business in the spring of 1878 and has since continued it. Col. Fairbanks was married at Fort Madison, Iowa, in June, 1876, to Miss Ella Peters, of that city. From this union there is one child. Grant. Henry. He resides on South Main Street, between Eighth and Tenth streets; his place of business, corner of Sixth and Main streets. Col. Fairbanks is a man of excellent business qualifications, energetic, and enterprising. He is counted among Joplin’s most substantial and worthy citizens.