THEODORE S. FAXTON
The ancestor of the Faxon family in America was Thomas Faxon, a native of England, who came to Massachusetts with his wife and three children before the year 1647. He was a man of means, and represented Braintree in the General Assembly in 1669. From him descended (1) Richard, (2) Josiah, (3) Thomas, (4) Thomas, and (5) Thomas. Thomas Faxon (4), son of Thomas and Ruth (Webb) Faxon, was born in Braintree, Mass., February 19, 1724, and died in Deerfield, Mass., in June, 1792. He married Joanna Allen, daughter of Abijah and Joanna (Bolter) Allen and a descendant of Samuel Allen, the immigrant. He was a private in Capt. Joseph Stebbins's company of Col. David Wells's regiment in 1777, and also in a body of six months men from Deerfield, Mass., in 1780. His son Thomas (5) was born in Braintree, Mass., February 19, 1755, settled as a farmer and shoemaker in Cunway, Mass., and moved thence about 1802 to Whitestown, Oneida county, whence he removed about 1822 to York, Livingston county, N. Y., where he died January 3, 1827. He was married, first, to Rachel, daughter of Isaac and Rachel (Sheldon) Davis, of Somers, Conn. She was born April 15, 1756, and died in Conway, Mass., in January, 1794. Their children were Fanny (Mrs. Justus Sackett), Alpheus, Rachel (Mrs. Ira Cook), Abigail (Mrs. John Parsons), Mary (Mrs. Willard C. Conkey), Isaac Davis, and Theodore Saxton. Mr. Faxon married second, Deborah, daughter of Prince and Jane (Delano) Toby, of New Bedford, Mass. They had eight children, of whom Thomas J., Emily, Ezra T., Josiah G., and an infant daughter, deceased, were born in Whitestown.
Theodore Saxton Faxton [According to a History of the Faxon family Theodore S. Faxton was the first to insert the "t" in his name; he adhered to this style of orthography in writing his name throughout life.] was born in Conway, Mass., January 10, 1794, and was the youngest of seven children of Thomas and Rachel (Davis) Faxon. His early educational advantages were limited to the common schools of the period, supplemented by six months at Clinton soon after taking up his residence in Utica in 1812. In 1813 he became a driver on the stage, and for four years, except the previously mentioned six months, held the reins of a four-in-hand every day. After 1817 he mounted the box only occasionally, yet such was his acknowledged skill as a reinsman that on occasions of ceremony, or when something extraordinary was required, he was invariably selected to do honor to the service. When Lafayette visited Utica in 1825 Mr. Faxton secured six dashing gray horses, harnessed them with silver-plated harness, borrowed the old Van Rensselaer carriage, and drove to Whitesboro, where the distinguished guest was to be received. After General Lafayette had left the boat and entered the carriage Mr. Faxton felt, as he expressed it, grander than Napoleon. After the year 1817 he had charge for a considerable period of a portion of the stage business of Jason Parker and a little later was offered an interest in the concern on the condition that he should pay for his share as fast as the profits would permit. In 1822 he became a partner, together with Silas D. Childs, in the firm of Jason Parker & Co. Notwithstanding the competition of the new Erie Canal the stage business through Central New York continued very large for a number of years, and at the death of Mr. Parker in 1828 there were eight daily lines running through Utica east and west and four lines north and south. The firm successfully managed this vast and intricate business for ten years after the death of the senior member, and Messrs. Faxton and Childs continued in partnership some time longer. Together they erected the Exchange building on the site of the old Canal Coffee House, and collected the rents of this, the Eagle Tavern, and other real estate which they held in common. Mr. Faxton also joined with John Butterfield, Hiram Greenman, and others in running a line of packet boats on the Erie Canal, and in connection with Alfred Munson and associates he organized the first American line of steamers on the River St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario, and for several years was one of the managing directors. He was one of the originators of the Utica and Black River Railroad, paid a larger subscription than any other man, and for a long time served most efficiently as president of the company.
Mr. Faxton always took a just pride in developing the village and city of Utica, and through various enterprises contributed largely to its material prosperity. He gave the first $100 to found the Utica Mechanics Association and held the office of president several terms. With Willett H. Shearman and Anson Dart he was one of the commissioners who completed the erection of the Utica State Hospital (then the State Lunatic Asylum) in 1843, and in 1852 was chairman of the building committee of the First Presbytarian church. He was also one of the originators of the Utica Water Works Company, the Utica Steam Cotton Mills, and the Second National Bark, and served the last two named corporations as president; and was interested in the Globe Woolen Mills, of which he was president from April, 1856, until his death. In 1845 he became a conspicuous factor in developing and adapting to wider use the then greatest invention of the century, the telegraph, and in this respect he will forever merit particular credit. From the very first he was attracted to the possibilities of the wonderful invention, and soon after the success of the first line from Baltimore to Washington he visited the latter city for the purpose of personally investigating for himself and the few others who shared his confidence. He had learned from experience in his Telegraph line of stages--a line fitted out by his company to carry a small number of passengers at the greatest possible speed, and which had been so popular that every seat was spoken for days in advance of departure--that men loved speed and would encourage and patronize the fastest stages, the fastest boats, and the fastest means of transmitting intelligence. While absent he secured the right to establish a telegraph line between New York and Buffalo, the owners of the patent to have one-half of the stock of the company when the line was complete. On his return to Utica he united with John Butterfield, Hiram Greenman, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Wells, and others, and formed a company with a capital of $200,000, and with himself as president and superintendent, in which capacity he continued to act for seven years. The company strung the first wire between New York and Buffalo; it was of copper and cost about $60 per mile. His attention was called to the wire fence which had been in use on Colonel Walker's grounds for twenty-five years, and he concluded that if iron was good for fences for such a length of time it would also do for telegraphing purposes. The copper wire was taken down and sold for enough to put up the two iron wires, which cost only $18 per mile. Mr. Faxton labored hard against much opposition to make the enterprise a success, which it proved to be.
He never took a very active part in politics, but was frequently called to positions of honor and trust. He was a trustee of the village of Utica in 1831, and served as alderman of the city in 1836 and as mayor in 1864. In 1848 he was a delegate to the Whig National Convention which nominated Zachary Taylor for president. In 1842 he became sheriff of Oneida county, but held the office only a few weeks when he was displaced by the governor purely for political reasons. His enterprise, public spirit, and generous benefactions not only built up stage, packet, steamboat, railroad, and telegraph lines, banks, manufactories, etc., which have added wealth and prosperity to Utica, but established other monuments which perpetuate his name and honor his memory. These are the Old Ladies' Home on Faxton street, Faxton Hospital, and Faxton Hall at the junction of Varick and Court streets for the education of the children of factory operatives by day and night. He was the founder of each of these; and also of Faxton Lodge, No. 697, F. & A. M. He was a man of strict integrity, of marked sociability, and of great kindness of heart, and was possessed of unusual business and executive ability.
Mr. Faxton was married on August 21, 1828, to Irene Miller Alverson, daughter of William and Chloe (Starr) Alverson. She was born in Utica June 14, 1802, and died April 29, 1868. Mr. Faxton's death occurred November 30, 1881.
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