Jairus C. Fairchild facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jairus C. Fairchild
1st State Treasurer of Wisconsin
In office June 7, 1848 – January 5, 1852
Governor	Nelson Dewey
Preceded by	Position Established
Succeeded by	Edward H. Janssen
1st Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin
In office April 7, 1856 – April 6, 1857
Preceded by	Peter Van Bergen (as Village President)
Succeeded by	Augustus A. Bird
Personal details
Born	Jairus Cassius Fairchild (1801-12-27)December 27, 1801 Granville, New York, U.S.
Died	July 18, 1862(1862-07-18) (aged 60) Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Hill Cemetery Madison, Wisconsin
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Sally (Blair) Fairchild (m. 1826; died 1866)
Children	Sarah (Dean) (Conover) (b. 1827; died 1912) James Blair Fairchild (b. 1828; died 1832) Cassius Fairchild (b. 1829; died 1868) Lucius Fairchild (b. 1831; died 1896) Charles Fairchild (b. 1838; died 1910)
Parents	Sueton Fairchild (father) Lucy (Hubble) Fairchild (mother)
Profession	politician, businessman

Jairus Cassius Fairchild (born December 27, 1801 – died July 18, 1862) was an important American politician and businessman. He made history by becoming the very first State Treasurer of Wisconsin. He was also the first Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. You might know his son, Lucius Fairchild, who later became the tenth Governor of Wisconsin. Sometimes, people called him "J. C. Fairchild" or spelled his first name a little differently.

Early Life and Moves

Jairus Fairchild was born in Granville, New York. His parents were Lucy (Hubble) and Sueton Fairchild. As a young man, he moved to Hudson, Ohio, where he worked as a merchant.

In 1827, he settled in Franklin Mills, Ohio. There, he built the first brick house in the area. He also ran a business that made leather, called a tannery. Around 1834, he moved to Cleveland.

Later, in 1845, he moved to the Wisconsin Territory. He first lived in Milwaukee. Then, in June 1846, he and his family moved to Madison.

Fairchild's Public Service

Jairus Fairchild was involved in several businesses. He had interests in growing cranberries and in the lumber industry. He was also the president of the Watertown-Madison Railroad Company.

In 1848, Wisconsin became a state. People voted to approve the Wisconsin Constitution. At the same time, they elected the first state officers. Fairchild was chosen as Wisconsin's very first State Treasurer. He was re-elected in 1849 and served until January 1852.

In 1856, Madison officially became a city. Fairchild was then elected as the city's first Mayor. He was a candidate for Governor in 1857. However, he did not win the nomination from his party.

Fairchild Family Life

Jairus Fairchild married Sally Blair in the spring of 1826. They had five children together. Four of their children lived to be adults. Their first four children were born in Franklin Mills, Ohio, between 1827 and 1831. Their youngest child, Charles, was born in Cleveland in 1838.

His daughter, Sarah, later married and divorced a Madison businessman. She then married Obadiah Milton Conover, a professor at the University of Wisconsin.

Fairchild's two oldest sons also became active in Wisconsin politics. Cassius Fairchild served in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Lucius Fairchild became the Governor of Wisconsin for three terms. He served from 1866 to 1872.

All three of Jairus's sons joined the Union army during the American Civil War. Lucius and Cassius both became Brigadier Generals. They served with the Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Charles served as a paymaster in the Union Navy, helping to pay the soldiers.

See also

• Fairchild family