When he was 15 years old, he went to work as a clerk in a store. The LDS missionaries visited Fort Mead where he worked. He hears the gospel message. Joseph, father of John Boylston, with other members of the Fairbanks family also heard and accepted the preaching of John Leach, a Morman missionary, and were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 166, in 1843, Bergen County, New Jersey., John Boylston's mother was baptized in Feb 1844.
Sarah Van Wagmer was born July 11, 1822 in Pompton Plains, Bergen County, New Jersey. She was the third daughter and youngest child of Halmagh J. and Mary Van Houten Van Wagoner. They were both of Dutch descent. Their ancestors came from Holland in the early 1600s. The family converted ot Mormonism is 1843.
The story goes that Sarah and friends saw John B. Fairbanks. walking down the road and Sarah turned to her companions and said, "that’s the man I'm going to marry". That night they met at a cottage meeting, after which he escorted her home, thus beginning the romance which culminated their marriage, August 31, 1844.
The family formed a group to move to Nauvoo, and in two months they were ready. arriving the November 1, 1845. On June 27. 1845, their 1st child, John Joseph was born, but lived only a few hours. John B. was ordained into the 70th Quorum of 70's, on January 21, 1845. During 1844-45, John B. worked on the Temple and on the January 21, 1845 he and his wife were endowed and on the 23rd they were sealed for time and all eternity.
During the exodus from Nauvoo in 1846, they crossed the Missippi River but didn't stay long, went onto Winter Quarters, preparing to move west. While in Winter Quarters, John lost his father in death and Sarah lost her mother. Here also their 2nd child was born and named after John's sister Harriett.
Shortly after marriage John and his Sarah and a group of relatives left to join the Saints in Nauvoo. Their first child John Joseph was born and died 27 June 1845 in Nauvoo, Hancock,Illinois. While they were in Nauvoo, he helped in building the Nauvoo Temple.
His family traveled with the Saints to the Salt Lake Valley with the Jedediah M. Grant/Willard Snow Company departing on June 19,with 160 individuals in the company. The family consisted of John Boylston, age 20; his wife, Sarah VanWagoner, age 25; Mary Jane age six; William Henry, age seven; Sarah’s mother, Polly Brooks Fairbanks, age 67; John’s brother David age 37 and his wife, Susanna Fairbanks, age 27. John’s daughter Harriet was just an infant. She was born 27 November 1846 at Winter Quarters, Douglas, Nebraska.
John Boylston Fairbanks was a captain of ten and left a journal of their experiences as they came across the plains. They were not the only company traveling west at that time. There were probably 7-8 companies and lots of confusion and trials were experienced because of such amass exodus.
From his journal: “Tuesday, June 22, 1847 they rolled westward up the Platte River to where the road touches the River again. Parley P. Pratts Company started in front going double file. There was artillery on the right of Parley’s Company. Elder Taylor’s Company was next in double file on the right of artillery. Captain Grant’s Company was in the rear of Parleys in double file. Captain Smoot’s Company was in the rear of Tailors in double file, the first 50 occupying the left and the second on the right hand of road.
On June 26, their company was in the back of the companies, and it was very dusty. About 11:00 the wind shifted and it helped a great deal. On the 28 they were near a Pawnee Village which had been burned in the fall by the Indians. It was now a missionary station.
On July 11, they were able to kill two or three buffalo calves from a herd of about 5,000. The buffalo stampeded upsetting several wagons and scattering the cattle. After hunting for the animals, unable to find them; their loses amounted to 51 head, 40 work cattle and nine cows. By the 23 July they met a group of Sioux Indians, who were armed and made up in regular battle order with a flag for war or peace. When they found the pioneers were friendly,they visited with the men, women, and children, trying to trade a few muskets.
They reached Fort Laramie by August, 7 watered the animals and rested. By the 9 August they were in a heavy rainstorm. They had a little snow storm on the 17 August. The feed for the animals was very poor and very little water. They reached the Saleratus Lakes by 27 August and took in what they wanted before rolling on six miles to the Sweetwater River. It was a beautiful stream. Several of the oxen died in this area,probably from the Saleratus Lakes. They were at Independence Rock on the 29 August.
Captain Grant had the company equalize their load so they could move forward as they reached the mountains. From there they could see the Wind River Mountains were covered with snow. President Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball met and spoke with the companies as they stopped on their way back to Winter Quarters.
They crossed the Big Sandy and the Little Sandy on the 12 and 13 of September. The feed was excellent. By September 20, they were on Ham’s Fork. It was very hot and dusty. Two days later they were at Fort Bridger. Sunday 3 October they repaired and rolled on down the canyon, turn to right after the last mountain, camped at the foot of the mountain and picked some service berries. They made it to the Great Salt Lake valley on October 4, 1847.”
His father built a home in Salt Lake City and he served as a clerk of the First Ward. Early in 1851 he moved his family to Payson,Utah, Utah Territory where he remained for the rest of his life.
John and Sarah had eleven children. John Joseph was born and died on 27 June 1845 in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois. Harriet was born 27 November 1846 in Winter Quarters, Douglas, Nebraska. Henry was the first of their family to be born in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Territory. The family then moved to Payson, Payson, Utah Territory.
In June 1847 they were prepared to leave Winter Quarters, John B. was chosen captain of the 14th ten, of the 2nd fifty, of the 3rd hundred. Willard Snow being the captain of the fifty and Jedediah M. Grant captain of the hundred. Arriving in the Salt Lake valley Oct 6, 1847.
The first home of John Boylston and his wife Sarah was the wagon box they came across the plains in. A piece of carpet hung at the front of the wagon for a door; at the rear was a bed, under which were the trunks; in front was a small stove, and a piece of carpet covered the floor. One chair was the extent of their furniture, yet Sarah said it was the happiest winter she had ever experienced.
On the 20th of Mar 1849 their 3rd child was born, Henry by name. In 1851 he with others was asked by Brigham Young to go South to settle; and they went as far as what is now know as Payson. Along the Peteetneet Creek, but because of the scarcity of water they moved three miles east to Pond Town where there was a large spring. They made a dam across the ravine, and then took the water out onto the land, which secured good crops. but because of trouble with the Indians, they moved again south to Payson which was then called Peteetneet, and here to was a fort.
Nathaniel was born 2 August 1851 in Payson, Utah, Utah Territory and died 6 August 1859 in Payson. He had just turned eight. Sarah Ann was born 22 April 1853 and died 10 August 1857; John B. was born 27 December 1855; Mary was born 18 February 1858; Alicia was born 6 April 1860; Lillie Maria was born 22 August 1862; Franklin was born 2 June 1865; and George A. was born 26 January 1869.
John was a member of the city council in 1853-56. On the 15 Feb 1862 he was set apart as Bishop of Payson. He was a great friend to the Indians and they showed their appreciation by putting their arms around him and patting him on the back and shoulders. When told of his death, the Indians shed tears.
While still a Bishop he was called to go to the Eastern States on a mission. returning 10 april 1870. A year later 20 April 1871 he left for another mission, this time to Great Britain. He returned home in charge of 510 saints, which sailed from Liverpool 3 Sep 1873. Arriving in New York 27 sep 1873. When he returned he was no longer Bishop.He died 14 May 1875 of Typhoid Pneumonia. the attendance at his funeral held in the Payson Tabernacle, was the largest Payson had ever known. He left his wife Sarah, eight children, four sons and four daughters.
John died May 14, 1875 at the age of 58 in Payson and was buried May 16, 1875 in Payson, Utah, Utah Territory. Sarah Fairbanks died 8 February 1898 at the age of 75 in Payson and was buried May 14, 1875 in Payson, Utah, Utah Territory. He is buried in the Payson City Cemetery
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