San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 843
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 12/5/2009
HERBERT A. FAIRBANK
Among the representative men of San Joaquin County, Herbert A. Fairbank is in the front rank, his various interests bringing him in close touch with viticulture, horticulture and commercial activities, for which he is specially fitted. His resourceful business ability has been used in behalf of public improvement, and the substantial upbuilding of the state and county. He was born in Cook County, Ill., on April 19, 1860, a son of John B. and Emily P. (Mack) Fairbank. The father, John B. Fairbank, was a Congregational minister and moved to Morgan County, Ill., when Herbert A. was a small lad. Having had the misfortune to lose his mother when he was two weeks old, Herbert A. Fairbank was sent to Jacksonville, Ill., to live with his grandmother. After the father's second marriage he went to live with his father's family at Fort Wayne, Ind. He began his education in the Fort Wayne public school and in course of time was graduated from the high school of that city. He then entered the Illinois College at Jacksonville, where he remained for three years. The father, John B. Fairbank, passed away in 1881.
After leaving Illinois College, Mr. Fairbank went to Sioux Falls, S.D., and was employed by the Sharp Lumber Company as bookkeeper for three years. He then went to San Antonio, Texas, and was bookkeeper for the William Cameron Lumber Company, which operated twenty-seven yards throughout the state, and remained with this company for two and one-half years. In 1886 he removed to San Francisco, Cal., and for six years was with the California Fruit Union. Then for four years he was employed with the National Fruit Association, and afterwards became identified with the Producers Fruit Company and served in the capacity of president and manager of the company up to five years ago, when he came to Lodi. There he had secured fruit lands previously in the Christian Colony district. Jointly with his son-in-law, W.H. Dement, he owns and operates 220 acres, all amply supplied with water for irrigating purposes by pumping plants. They have fifty acres in vineyard and 170 acres in orchard. After purchasing this property they had remodeled the house into a comfortable and commodious home, but suffered the misfortune of having it burned to the ground during January, 1922.
When the Citizens National Bank of Lodi was organized, Mr. Fairbank was unanimously elected a director of the institution; he is the president of the Lodi Canning Company and also serves as president of the Associated Fruit Growers, Inc., of Lodi.
The marriage of Mr. Fairbank occurred in Sioux Falls, S.D., on September 6, 1882, and united him with Miss Lillian E. Buck, born in Viroqua, Wis., a daughter of I.K. and Sarah Buck. Her father, I.K. Buck, was a hardware merchant in Viroqua. Later he was in the same business in State Center, Iowa, and then moved to Sioux Falls, S.D. Mr. and Mrs. Fairbank are the parents of one daughter, Gladys, Mrs. W.H. Dement. Mr. Fairbank is a Republican in politics, and fraternally is a member of the Blue Lodge of Masons of Lodi, Chapter R.A., and Scottish Rite of Sacramento, and Islam Temple Shriners of San Francisco; and is also a member of the W.O.W. of Sacramento and of the National Union. It is not success alone that has won for Mr. Fairbank the respect, confidence and friendship of his fellow men, but his high character, his devotion to the general good, and his exemplification of manly principles.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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