Thaddeus FAIRBANKS, was born on 17 January 1796 and from early on in life his mechanical genius was evident. He had many patents for cook stoves, plows, and his most famous was the platform scale, patented in 1831. He received 43 patents in his lifetime, the last at age 91. The Emperor of Austria knighted him and he received many foreign awards but his only ambition was that he be accepted by God. St.Johnsbury Academy owes its fine buildings, for the most part, to his devotion to public benevolence. He died on 12 April 1886. 
 
 

Source: Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, VT; 1764-1887, by Hamilton Child, May, 1887, page 328. 

Additional information available from Tom Dunn who provided this photo and biographical sketch.