FAIR BANK, Samuel Bacon

[s. 247] : Born in Stamford, December 14, 1822. He fitted for col- Conn., Monson, Ma ., and in Jacksonville, 111. Graduated from the Illinois College in 1842 and from And over Theological Seminary in 1845. He went to India as a foreign mi ionary under lege at the EiVangrellcal Fallsclier S29 ABCFM in 1846, arriving at Bombay the He was located at Ahmadnagar for four years, when he removed to Bombay and same year. took charge of the mi ion pre there. In 1857 he went to Vadala, in the Bombay Presidency, which was his headquarters until 1869. When Dr. Fair bank reached the usual limit of active service he decided to remain in India and devote Dr. his time to translation and literary work. Fair bank’s language was the Marathi, and in this language he did much for the literature of the Mar^thi-speaking people, especially in the line of hymnology. He prepared the first book of musiHe was exceed cal notation for Western India. ingly fond of nature and a great student of the more than any did Probably he flora of India. man of this generation to teach the Indian farmers with whom he came in contact in his mi ionary work wiser methods of agriculture. This brought him personally into direct spiritual whom otherwise he could not relations with many have reached. In his own district he was chief spiritual authority for many Hindus as well as for Christians. He died of heat apoplexy on May In 31, 1898, having served in India 52 years. 1856 he married Mary Ballan tine, daughter of a children Six of their mi ionary to India. became mi ionaries in India and Ceylon. 247