Henry W. Fairchild (abt. 1843 - 1904)

Born about Sep 1843 in Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States

Husband of Mary Ellen (Olmsted) Fairchild — married 1870 in Broome, New York, United States

Died 6 Oct 1904 at about age 61 in Albany, Albany, New York, United States

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Biography

Sgt. Henry Fairchild served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Sep 18, 1862
Mustered out: Jun 08, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Co H, 168th NY Militia, Co M, 1st NY Vet Cavalry

Sgt Henry W. Fairchild was born in September 1843 in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. He was the son of William and Alvina Fairchild. In 1855, his family was in Union, Broome County, New York. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

Henry enlisted at Union on September 18, 1862. He was described as 5’-9” tall with hazel eyes and sandy hair. The town bounty was $500.00 and the county paid $300.00. He served with Company H, 168th New York Militia. They left the State on February 12, 1863 and were honorably discharged on October 31, 1863 at Newburgh, New York. He enlisted again on August 29, 1864 and mustered in with Company M, 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. He was promoted to Full Sergeant on November 1, 1864 and was mustered out June 8, 1865 at Camp Piatt, West Virginia. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

In 1870, he married Mary Ellen Olmsted in Broome County, New York. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

In the early 1870s during a local celebration, Henry was loading a cannon that prematurely fired and he was seriously injured, losing both arms.

A catastrophe that happened away back on July 4, in 1874 or 1875 when the late Henry W. Fairchild, a veteran of Company M, First Veteran New York Cavalry, suffered loss of both arms by premature explosion of a cannon on Court House Square, is recalled by the death in Albany, early this week, of his widow, Ellen, in a fire that broke out at her home, and by the death of her aged sister, Miss Sarah Olmstead, from heart shock soon after. Former Sheriff S. Foster Black today recalled the accident in which Mr. Fairchild lost both arms. The whole population had gathered at the Court House Square to celebrate the ever-glorious, probably in either 1874 or 1875. Mr. Fairchild stood at the mouth of the cannon, loading it with a heavy charge of gunpowder. Mr. Black stood just behind him. Another man had his thumb upon the vent-hole. In the excitement this man lifted his thumb and a premature explosion occurred which so seriously affected both of Mr. Fairchild’s arms that he lost them by amputation. Mr. Fairchild was blown 15 or 20 feet by the explosion. Mr. Black rushed to pick him up, and get him to surgical aid. Mr. Fairchild always said that he owed his life to Mr. Black’s clearheadedness and quick wit. Mr. Fairchild was given a position at the State Capital, Albany, as chief orderly, which he held until his death about 10 years ago. His family also moved to Albany, and Mrs. Fairchild continued to reside there. Among those who clearly recall the incident on Court House Square is C. A. Kilmer of upper Chenango street, who resides with his son, Arthur A. Kilmer. Mr. Kilmer was first lieutenant of Company M, First Veteran New York Cavalry.^[12]

In 1881, the Fairchild family moved to Albany, New York, where Henry held the position of chief orderly at the State Capital. ^{[13] [14]}

Henry Fairchild died October 6, 1904. He was buried on the 8th in the Graceland Cemetery, Albany, Albany County, New York. ^{[15] [16]}

Albany, NY, Oct 6 – Henry W. Fairchild, chief orderly at the State capital and the oldest employee in the Department of Public Buildings, died here today. He came to Albany in 1881 from Binghamton. Both Mr. Fairchild’s arms had been shot off at Binghamton in the early 70’s at a celebration of Gen. Grant.^[17]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth date: 1900 census.
2. ↑ Birth location: military records.
3. ↑ New York State Census: 1855, Union, Broome County, New York; “Henry W. Harchild”.
4. ↑ U. S. Federal Census: 1860, Union, Broome County, New York.
5. ↑ New York State Census: 1865, Binghamton, Broome County, New York.
6. ↑ U. S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865; online database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Provo, UT.
7. ↑ New York Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900; fold3 citing New York State Archives.
8. ↑ 1890 Veterans Schedule; Albany, Albany, New York.
9. ↑ Marriage: 1900 census.
10. ↑ U. S. Federal Census: 1870, Broome County, New York.
11. ↑ U. S. Federal Census: 1880, Broome County, New York.
12. ↑ Press and Sun-Bulletin, Binghamton, NY, Saturday, March 11, 1922, page 9; citing The Albany Times-Union, Wednesday, March 8, 1922.
13. ↑ New York State Census: 1892, Albany, Albany County, New York.
14. ↑ U. S. Federal Census: 1900, Albany War 16, Albany County, New York.
15. ↑ Graceland Cemetery, Albany.
16. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #200372266
17. ↑ The Buffalo Courier, Friday, October 7, 1904

Acknowledgment

Thanks to Dee (Olmsted) Poole for sourcing and writing this biography.