George Fabyan

1867 - 1936  (69 years)

• Name	George Fabyan
  Nickname	Colonel
  Birth	15 Mar 1867	Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1884
  	At the age of 17 George left home prompting his father to disinherit him. Several years later, using an assumed name, he obtained a job at a warehouse owned by the Bliss-Fabyan Corporation. This was the largest cotton goods organization in the world. Because of the quality of his work his supervisor introduced him to the head of the company, his father, who accepted him back into the family. He put George in charge of the warehouse. He did quite well for himself and ultimately inherited his father's wealth.
  Military Service	1901
  	Illinois Governor Richard Yates appointed George Fabyan to his military guard in 1901 and, gave him the honorary title of Colonel. In 1992 the National Security Agency recognized George's Riverbank Laboratories as the birthplace of U.S. cryptology. They honored Fabyan him with a plaque reading "To the Memory of George Fabyan From a Grateful Government: In recognition of the voluntary and confidential service rendered by Colonel Fabyan and his Riverbank Laboratories in the sensitive areas of cryptanalysis and cryptologic training during a critical time of national need on the eve of America's entry into World War I."
  		Fayban Check. It has been suggested that Fayban's work for the government was partially compensated. Four checks have been found from Major General Joseph Mauborgne, Chief Signal Officer to Fayban.The checks are now in the National Cryptologic Museum. The total of these checks are $145.00. Fayban probably spent tens of thousands of dollars researching and training military personnel on behalf of the government. Compensation for this probably isn't the best explanation for these checks.
  Biographical Information	1905
  	The Fayban Estate
  		Fabyan Estate (14) The estate of Colonel George and Nellie (nee Wright) Fayban. Nelle was widowed when she died of cancer in 1939. The heirs sold the estate to Kane county, Illinois for $70,500; it is now part of the Kane County Forest Preserve District and known as Fayban Forest Preserve.
  Biographical Information	1913
  	George was a believer in the "Baconian Theory". Popular at the time it attributed authorship of William Shakespeare's plays to Sir Francis Bacon. He established the first privately owned research facility which became known as Riverbank Laboratories. he put together a cryptologic research staff that was engaged in trying to find codes within the plays that, would prove the theory correct. This research cost him millions of dollars.
  		Bacon-Shakespeare cypher. A page from "king Henry the Fourth" in which attempts were made to find a hidden code.
  		World of the Ultra Audible. The Tamaroa (Illinois) Times, Friday, August 8, 1924. Beyond trying to decode Shakespeare Fabyan's research center performed audio research. This research was so important that Riverbank Laboratories survives today as a highly respected source of independent acoustical materials testing.
  		Riverbank Laboratory. During World War I Fabyan's cryptographers broke German codes and foiled terrorist plots. More importantly they trained personnel who would staff the newly formed Cipher Bureau within Military Intelligence.
  		Knowledge is Power The graduation photo for one of Fabyan's military cryptology classes. George is front, left. While at first glance it appears to be a normal group photo closer examination reveals that some of the individuals are facing different directions. The photo is a cryptograph that spells out "Knowledge is power", a quote commonly attributed to Sir Francis Bacon.
  Census	1920
  		1920 Fabyan A. 1920 US census, Geneva, Kane, Illinois, enumeration district 96, Family Number 93, Fabyan. This entry spans two sheets.
  		1920 Fabyan B. 1920 US census, Geneva, Kane, Illinois, enumeration district 96, Family Number 93, Fabyan. This entry spans two pages.
  Census	1930
  		1930 Fabyan. 1930 US census, Geneva, Kane, Illinois, enumeration district 45-82, Family Number 76, Fabyan.
  Death	17 May 1936	Geneva, Kane, Illinois
  		Col Fabyan Obituary. The Decatur (Illinois) Herald, Monday, May 18, 1936 page one.
  Burial		George Fabyan Memorial. George Fabyan Memorial.
  		George Fayan Memorial Inscription. George Fayan Memorial Inscription.
  		George Fabyan Headstone. George Fabyan Headstone.
  Person ID	I60020	Nagel
  Last Modified	28 Jul 2021

  
  

  Family	Nellie May Wright,   b. 19 Nov 1866, Marinette, Marinette, Wisconsin d. 22 Jul 1939, Geneva, Kane, Illinois (Age 72 years)
  Marriage	18 Mar 1891	Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota
  		Fabyan-Wright Marriage. Fabyan-Wright Marriage.
  Family ID	F17924	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	27 Jul 2021

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 15 Mar 1867 - Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Marriage - 18 Mar 1891 - Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota Death - 17 May 1936 - Geneva, Kane, Illinois  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos		Col. George Fabyan. Col. George Fabyan.
  		Riverbank Laboratory Gates. There are many things in Fabyan Forest Preserve that seem out of context. Some of these are just because they lie in ruin. These gates that were once the gates the Riverbank Laboratories have been relocated and now seem to be gates to nowhere.

  
  

  Stamps & Coins

  Windmill Stamps. In 1980 the United States Postal Service release a set of 5 15¢ stamps depicted in sepia ink on yellow paper. The stamps were only available in booklets. The Illinois windmill is the Fayban Windmill.