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1907 Past and Present Biographies
Patrick FitzpatrickMr. Fitzpatrick was born in County Carlow, Ireland, in 1842, his parents being Miles and Julia (Kelly) Fitzpatrick, whose family numbered nine children. Six are yet living, as follows: Mrs. Mary Grey, a resident of California; Daniel, whose home is in Fort Dodge, Iowa; John, who is living in Missouri; Patrick M., of this review; Mrs. Catherine Connely, a widow living in Cedar township; and Mrs. Susan Cavanaugh, whose home is in Calhoun county, Iowa. Patrick M. Fitzpatrick was only a year old when brought by his parents to America in 1843. The family home was established in Lake county, Illinois, where they resided until 1854, when the father came to Greene county, Iowa, and entered both prairie and timber land. He then returned to Illinois and the following year came with the family to his new home. They were the first white settlers of Cedar township. Indians were still numerous in this part of the state and there was little evidence of modern civilization in western Iowa. Much of the land was just as it was when it came from the hand of nature. Not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made on the prairies and the timber was yet uncut. The streams, too, were unbridged and one could ride for miles without coming to a house or fence to impede his progress. Thus settling upon the frontier, the family shared in the hardships and privations of pioneer life but met these with courageous spirit and as the years went by the labors of father and sons converted the wild prairie upon which they settled into rich and productive fields. Miles Fitzpatrick continued the work of tilling and operating his farm until 1878, when his life’s labors were ended in death, his wife surviving him for only a few years. In early days Des Moines was their postollice and trading point and trips there were long and hard, owing to the poor conditions of the road. On reaching what is now the capital city only limited supplies could be obtained, for Des Moines was then but a village with but few business houses and dwellings. Everything throughout this section of Iowa bespoke the frontier district and to the Fitzpatricks fell a share of the work of reclaiming this region for the purposes of civilization. Patrick M. Fitzpatrick was reared to manhood in this new country, sharing with the others of the household in the hardships and privations incident to life on the frontier. He early assisted in the arduous task of developing new land and as the years went by the plowing and planting resulted in the production of good crops. In all of the farm work he received practical training and as the years passed his work brought to him a goodly return. On the 9th of January, 1872, Mr. Fitzpatrick was married to Miss Josephine Rhoades, a native of Ohio, born in 1843, and a daughter of Samuel Rhoades, whose birth occurred in Highland county, Ohio, in 1808. Her mother bore the maiden name of Martha McCurdy and was born in Pennsylvania in 1814. They were married in the east and became residents of Greene county in 1855, driving across the country with team and wagon after the primitive manner of travel of those days. They camped out along the roadside at night and after a long and wearisome journey reached their destination, settling in Washington township, where Mr. Rhoades entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land. Settling upon that place, he continued its development and improvement throughout his remaining days, both he and his wife dying on the old homestead. They built the first house in Washington township and were thus closely associated with its pioneer progress and improvement. In their family were eight children but only three are now living, namely: Andrew, who is yet a resident of Washington township; Mrs. Fitzpatrick; and Jane Rhoades, who is living in Washington township. Patrick M. Fitzpatrick continued to assist in the operation of his father’s farm until twenty-eight years of age, when he left home and turned his attention to the carpenter’s trade. He was thus connected with building operations for some time and he made his first purchase of land in 1868, investing the capital which he had saved from his earnings in eighty acres on section 22, Cedar township, where his residence now stands. He improved this place and added to it, making purchases from time to time until he now owns three hundred and fifty acres, constituting one of the model farms of the county. It is splendidly improved and its excellent appearance is the visible evidence of the thrift and enterprise of the owner. His home is a fine residence built in modern style of architecture and tastefully furnished. In the rear stand large barns and outbuildings and he uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields. In addition to raising the crops best adapted to soil and climate he also makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred stock, including shorthorn cattle, Duroc Jersey hogs and Norman horses. His live-stock interests are quite extensive and prove to him a profitable source of income, for he is an excellent judge of stock and keeps only high grade animals upon his place. In addition to his other business interests, he was one of the organizers of the Greene County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company and was one of its original directors, serving in that position since the organization of the company twenty years ago. This has done more to help Greene county farmers than any other one interest of the locality. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick has been blessed with six children: Mattie, now the wife of R. D. Mac Avoy, a resident of Missouri Valley, Iowa; Nellie, the wife of C. J. Moore, who is living in Fonda, this state; Mary, the Wife of B. F. Hull, whose home is in Omaha, Nebraska; Miles, who married Matilda Coburn and is living in Moline, Illinois; Charles, who married Jennie Hunt and is also living in Moline; and Carl, at home. Mr. Fitzpatrick has held all of the township offices at various times, discharging his duties with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He is an independemt voter and when he casts his ballot gives more thought to the capability of the candidate than to the party for which he stands. He is a communicant of the Catholic church and has lived an upright, honorable life, bringing to him the esteem and confidence of his fellowmen. In his business affairs, too, he has followed methods which have neither sought nor required disguise and his path has never been strewn with the wreck of other men’s fortunes. Results are bound to come in any line of business by the application of intense, ceaseless activity, intelligently applied, and it has been through this means that Mr. Fitzpatrick has gained his present position as one of the progressive farmers of the county. |
Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead," by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver, Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.  Site Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer |