One of a Thousand/Fay, Frank B.

 

Fay, Frank B., son of Francis B. and Nancy (Brigham) Fay, was born in Southborough, Worcester county, January 24, 1821. His father, Colonel Francis B. Fay, moved to Boston in 1831, and to Chelsea in 1834.

His early educational training was received in Salem Street Academy, Boston, and at academies in Framingham, Marlborough, Hadley, and Westfield.

He began his business career in the western produce commission business, firm of Fay & Farwells, subsequently Fay & Co. He was afterwards special partner in several manufacturing firms.

But it is not as a manufacturer or business financier that Mr. Fay is best known to the country, but as a philanthropist in the broadest interpretation of the term.

He was a member of the Chelsea school board in 1856, chairman of the overseers of the poor from 1878 to the present time; member of the first common council, 1857; president of that body, 1859; mayor of Chelsea, 1861, '62, and '63, and known as the "War Mayor." During the war, until its close, he spent much of his time at the front, caring for the sick and wounded; was present immediately after first and second Bull Run, evacuation of Yorktown, seven days' fight, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, "The Wilderness," and in front of Petersburg until it was evacuated, entering the city the same day. He was also in 1863 on Folly and Morris islands, S. C, when Gilmore was shelling Fort Sumter. In 1864, at his suggestion, the Sanitary Commission organized the "Auxiliary Relief Corps," and he was made chief. During that year probably one hundred thousand sick and wounded men came under the care of the corps. He resigned the position in January, 1865, but continued as an independent worker, as he had been previous to 1864, completing his work at Richmond in June of that year. Probably no other Massachusetts civilian spent as much time at the front in similar service, paying his own expenses and receiving no compensation for any of his army work—while his salary as mayor was only four hundred dollars per annum.

Mr. Reed, in "Hospital Life in the Army of the Potomac," says: "Of the labors of Mr. Fay, it would be hard to speak in terms of too much praise. I prefer rather to let the memory of all his wise and gentle ministries, his kindly and self-forgetting services, be kept fresh in one more heart, of all the thousands who have had such good reasons for treasuring it." . . . "Mayor Fay was known in every division and brigade of the Army of the Potomac." . . . "With characteristic foresight, he was always prepared and was early upon the field of battle with his stores; and with all the blessed appliances of healing, moved among the wounded, soothing the helpless, suffering and bleeding men parched with fever, crazed with thirst, or lying neglected in the agonies of death."

Mr. Fay was a member of the Massachusetts Allotment Commission for receiving soldiers' wages, which sent home nearly three million dollars; also the United States Allotment Commission for colored troops.

He delivered the first Decoration Day address in Chelsea in 1868; was chairman of the soldiers' monument committee and delivered the address at its dedication, 1869. He was chairman of the trustees of the "Patriotic Fund;" was one of the trustees of the "Massachusetts Soldiers' Fund," of which Robert C. Winthrop was chairman, and of the "Governor Andrew Fund" for

Frank B. Fay.

Frank B. Fay.

relief of soldiers' families—both of these continuing some years after the war. He was an officer in the "Soldiers' Memorial Society," and is now an honorary member of the "First Massachusetts Regiment Association," and a companion of the "Loyal Legion." In 1866–'67 he was an officer of "Boston Station House" for the relief of homeless men and women.

In 1849, as president of the "Prisoners' Friend Association," he drew and presented the first petition to the Legislature, which resulted in the establishment of the "State Industrial School for Girls." His father was trustee and treasurer, serving until 1865, when Mr. Fay was appointed, serving till 1879, when he declined further service. He has always been interested in efforts to abolish capital punishment in this and other states.

Mr. Fay represented his city in the lower branch of the Legislature in 1857; was state senator in 1867; in both branches serving on committee on prisons, writing the report, and a special report against the use of the lash in the state prison. In the Senate he was chairman of committees on public lands, and education of deaf mutes, also on committee on license law. Originally a Whig, he was an active worker till he joined the Republican party, and continued his activity therein, as president of the Fremont Club and other political organizations—being delegate to city, county, district and state conventions.

He was delegate to the national Republican convention at Baltimore in 1864, which nominated President Lincoln, and was Massachusetts elector in 1868; was executive officer of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1869 to '77; general agent of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, from May, 1880, to the present time; chairman of civil service commissioners for Chelsea; an officer in the Chelsea Savings Bank since its establishment; and president of "Old Ladies' Home Association." He was selected as the first collector of internal revenue for Boston district, when that office was established in 1862, but declined to accept.

Mr. Fay was married in St. Albans, Vt., October 14, 1845, to Rebekah L., daughter of William and Lucretia Y. (Hazeltyne) Bridges. Of this union were three children: Norman W. (deceased), Harry F., and Sybil C., wife of J. W. Clark, Jr., New York.