George Winthrop Fairchild
Encyclopedia
George Winthrop Fairchild (May 6, 1854 – December 31, 1924), was a six-term Republican U.S. Representative
from New York
.
Prior to joining congress, he was a businessman and investor, best known as the chairman from 1915-1924 of the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company which later became IBM
.
New York
, United States
to Jesse and Belle Fairchild.
His father was a poor farmer. George and his siblings had to help their father on the farm and had little opportunity to study. He attended the local school until he was 14 years old, when he apprenticed to a printer.
Primarily self-educated, he rose to prominence through his own effort and enterprise.
In 1890, He became the sole proprietor of the Oneonta "Herald," a weekly newspaper.
He was a pioneer in the time recording industry. In 1896, in association with his friend Harlow N. Bundy he joined the Bundy Manufacturing Company
, a time clock manufacturer, as both an investor and director. In 1900 Fairchild formed the International Time Recording Company as the selling agency of the Bundy Manufacturing Company, Willard and Frick Manufacturing Company, and Standard Time Stamp Company, which also manufactured a card recorder.
In 1911, when the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company was formed through the efforts of Charles R. Flint
, Fairchild became president of the new company.
He later became chairman of the company and continued in this role when in February 1924, C-T-R was renamed as IBM. He was chairman of IBM until his death on December 31 of 1924.
to the Sixtieth
and to the five succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1919) while elected delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1912, 1916
Fairchild was elected vice president of the International Peace Conference.
He was appointed by President Taft on August 10, 1910, as special commissioner to the First Centenary of Mexico at Mexico City, with the rank of Minister.
They had a son, Sherman Mills Fairchild, who was born on April 7, 1896.
His home in Oneonta, known as the Fairchild Mansion
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1974.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Prior to joining congress, he was a businessman and investor, best known as the chairman from 1915-1924 of the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company which later became IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
.
Biography
He was born in OneontaOneonta
-Communities:*Oneonta, New York, A small city and inspiration for some of the other "Oneontas"*Oneonta , New York, a town that surrounds the City of Oneonta*Oneonta, Alabama, Blount County*Oneonta, Kentucky, a location southeast of Cincinnati, Ohio...
New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to Jesse and Belle Fairchild.
His father was a poor farmer. George and his siblings had to help their father on the farm and had little opportunity to study. He attended the local school until he was 14 years old, when he apprenticed to a printer.
Primarily self-educated, he rose to prominence through his own effort and enterprise.
In 1890, He became the sole proprietor of the Oneonta "Herald," a weekly newspaper.
He was a pioneer in the time recording industry. In 1896, in association with his friend Harlow N. Bundy he joined the Bundy Manufacturing Company
Bundy Manufacturing Company
The Bundy Manufacturing Company was a 19th-century American manufacturer of timekeeping devices that went through a series of mergers, eventually becoming part of International Business Machines. The company was founded by the Bundy brothers....
, a time clock manufacturer, as both an investor and director. In 1900 Fairchild formed the International Time Recording Company as the selling agency of the Bundy Manufacturing Company, Willard and Frick Manufacturing Company, and Standard Time Stamp Company, which also manufactured a card recorder.
In 1911, when the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company was formed through the efforts of Charles R. Flint
Charles Ranlett Flint
-Further reading:**...
, Fairchild became president of the new company.
He later became chairman of the company and continued in this role when in February 1924, C-T-R was renamed as IBM. He was chairman of IBM until his death on December 31 of 1924.
Congressional career
Apart from manufacturing and journalism, Fairchild was a seasoned politician. He was elected as a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Sixtieth
60th United States Congress
The Sixtieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1907 to March 4, 1909, during the last two years of...
and to the five succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1919) while elected delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1912, 1916
Fairchild was elected vice president of the International Peace Conference.
He was appointed by President Taft on August 10, 1910, as special commissioner to the First Centenary of Mexico at Mexico City, with the rank of Minister.
Marriage and Family
He married Josephine Mills Sherman, daughter of William Sherman, of Davenport, Iowa on February 15, 1891.They had a son, Sherman Mills Fairchild, who was born on April 7, 1896.
His home in Oneonta, known as the Fairchild Mansion
Fairchild Mansion
Fairchild Mansion is a historic home located at Oneonta in Otsego County, New York. It is a three story brick building with a turret, gables, a pedimented entrance porch and a porte cochere in the Queen Anne style. The original house was built in 1867 and subsequently expanded and modernized in...
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1974.