David Fairchild (August 1, 1791 – September 17, 1866) was an American tradesperson and politician. He created newspapers in New York State before moving to California during the Gold Rush. He was an early settler of the Golden State and was elected to the California State legislature in 1860 as a Democrat.Join California - David Fairchild
Early years
From the age of 16, he was employed as a printer, with a short break during the War of 1812,Daily Alta California, Volume 15, Number 5031, 7 December 1863 when he was stationed at Sackett's Harbor on Lake Ontario. He is known to have established a dozen or so newspapers, among which were The Ovid Bee,Ovid Bee, February 24, 1838 Trumansburg Advertiser,Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York, Chapter VIII, by John H. Selkreg, 1894; D. Mason & Co., Cortland Advocate, Dansville Republican,The Ovid Bee - Wednesday, March 18, 1846 Trumansburg Gazette, Wayne County Democrat,Ovid Bee, July 26, 1848 Chemung Democrat,Ovid Bee - March 31, 1847 and the Newark Herald.Ovid Bee - August 25, 1847 Fairchild would typically set up a print shop in a community, run the paper for a year or so, sell the newspaper, and then move on to repeat the process somewhere else. His oldest son, Corydon Fairchild, ran The Ovid Bee for over thirty years after his father left.
California
Fairchild helped establish the Ganarga Mining Company, consisting of himself; Dr. Christopher C. Hyde, an experienced chemist as vice president; and Mahlon D. Fairchild, the son of David Fairchild. They left New York in 1849 on the ship Crescent City for Chagresm. Their path took them across the Isthmus to Panama, and then finally on to San Francisco.Ovid Bee - March 14, 1849 They arrived on July 26, after traveling for over 4 months.Ovid Bee - October 3, 1849
He and his son returned briefly to New York in 1851 to collect his family and brought them to the West Coast. He and his wife, Deborah Palmer, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December 1863.
David Fairchild was elected a member of the California State Assembly for the 18th District, for the Eleventh SessionCalifornia Blue Book, 1893, p.292 in 1860–61.Political Graveyard - David Fairchild
He died in California on September 17, 1866, in Pilot Hill, El Dorado Co., California.Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 32, Number 4829, 19 September 1866
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