Fairhurst, Charles

The following data is extracted from Biography and Genealogy of Western Massachusetts, 1639-1925.

CHARLES FAIRHURST - One of the most promising of the younger men of the legal profession in Massachusetts is Charles Fairhurst, of Greenfield, junior partner of the law firm of Davenport & Fairhurst. Although a young man Mr. Fairhurst has presented cases before the Supreme Court of the State, before the District Court, and the Federal Court, and is associated with one of the ablest lawyers in Western Massachusetts.

Thomas Fairhurst, father of Mr. Fairhurst, was born in Bolton, England, in 1861, and died in Somerville, Massachusetts, November 15, 1920. He received his schooling in his native town, and when he was twenty-one years of age came to Canada. Soon after his arrival in the New World he left Canada and came to the States, where he entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, which was at that time engaged in the construction of the road. Later he was identified with the Old Colony Road, and he ultimately went with the Boston & Maine Railroad, which connection he maintained to the time of his death, serving as chief clerk and accountant in the freight department, where he rendered faithful and efficient service. He was an exceptionally well read man and possessed a remarkable aptitude for mathematics. He made his home in Somerville, Massachusetts, in the eighties, and lived there to the time of his death. He was essentially a home-loving man and was much loved by his associates. He was a member of the Veteran Railroad Men's Association, and his religious interest was with the Episcopal Church, of which he was a communicant.

Thomas Fairhurst married Sarah Ann Halton, who was born near Bolton, England, and died in Somerville, Massachusetts, in 1899, and they were the parents of three children : 1. Ethel, who married Hartley Remsen. 2. Frank. 3. Charles, of whom further.

Charles Fairhurst, son of Thomas and Sarah Ann (Halton) Fairhurst, was born in Somerville, Massachusetts. He received his early school training in the schools of Boston and Somerville. He had early chosen law as his future field of activity, and the fact that the necessary educational advantages could only be secured through his own efforts did not daunt him. He attended high school for two years, and then in 1911, when he was sixteen years of age, he found employment in the office of the American Surety Company of Boston, as office boy. Until 1917 he remained with that company, filling various positions, and during the last four years of that period he was a student in Northeastern College Law School, using his evenings and Saturdays and Sundays studying law. In 1917 he was graduated from Northeastern College, cum laude. Though he received the highest mark in his class he was popular in the law school and president of the graduating class. In September, 1917, he was admitted to the bar. In October of the same year he located in Greenfield, Massachusetts, and entered the law office of William A. Davenport, one of the ablest lawyers in Western Massachusetts, and on January 1, 1919, he was admitted to partnership with Mr. Davenport He has conducted cases before the highest courts in the State, and among his professional colleagues he is generally regarded as one of the ablest of the younger members of the bar in this part of the State. Along with his professional activities, Mr. Fairhurst takes an active part in local public affairs. He is a member of the school committee, has served as moderator of the town meetings since the adoption of the new representative form of government some three years ago, and he also represents his precinct in the town meeting. Fraternally, he is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of Connecticut Valley Consistory, and a Shriner, affiliating with Melha Temple, Springfield; Pocomtuck Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Greenfield; the Orientals, and with Greenfield Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a member of the Greenfield Club, the Country Club, the Kiwanis Club, and the Charlemont Sportsman's Club; his religious affiliation is with St James Episcopal Church.

At the time of the entrance of the United States into the World War, Mr. Fairhurst made application for war service and underwent some ten examinations. He applied for service in the aviation and balloon section and tried for the navy, but in each instance was placed in the deferred class.

Charles Fairhurst married, April 21, 1921, Laura M. Crockett, of Milford, Massachusetts, daughter of Major Elbert M. Crockett. Mr. and Mrs. Fairhurst are the parents of one daughter, Marion, born July 14, 1922.

Source: Biography and Genealogy of Western Massachusetts, 1639-1925

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