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Delaware County, Iowa

 Biography Directory

 

James Fitzpatrick

Farmer

Greeley

 

 

 

        JAMES FITZPATRICK is a native of Ireland, having been born in Queen's county, on the sixth of January, 1830. He is a son of Edward and Catherine (Finley) Fitzpatrick, natives also of Ireland. James is the fifth of a family of seven children born to his parents. He was reared in his native place to the age of eighteen, when he came to the United States, in 1848, and made his first permanent stop in Delaware county, Iowa, locating in Colony township. He purchased a squatter's claim, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he settled and which he improved. He resided there until 1865, converting his prairie claim into a well tilled homestead, which he sold at a fair price, and buying another place of one hundred and sixty acres lying in Elk township moved to it, where he has since resided. His present homestead is in section 28, about a mile south of the town of Greeley. He owns three hundred and ninety acres lying in one body, all of which is under fence, and the greater part of which is under plow. He is devoted exclusively to agricultural pursuits and is a farmer in the highest and best sense of the word. His place shows this; for it is a model of neatness, order and thrift. He has one of the best residences in the township, and large well constructed barns to properly house all of his implements, grain and stock, an abundance of which he keeps on hand at all times. He gives some attention to dairy matters, being interested in the Greeley Cooperative Creamery Company, and milking on an average about twenty cows. Mr. Fitzpatrick came to the United States a poor young man, and here made his start, having taken almost every important step affecting his welfare in life since becoming a citizen of this county. And not the least of these steps was his marriage, which occurred November 12, 1859. The lady on whom his choice fell for a companion in life was Miss Mary H. Foley, a native of Canada, born in May, 1844. This union has resulted in the birth of the following children:  Edward, Katie and an infant, all of whom are now deceased; James, Michael, Julia, Alice, Ellen, Thomas, Dennis, Mary, Bernard, Katie, Martin, John and Loretta. Mr. Fitzpatrick has taken much interest in the general prosperity of his community, and has done the part of a good citizen in promoting its welfare. Although no politician he is a stanch democrat, and occasionally takes a hand in local politics. He enjoys the esteem and confidence of those who know him and is a valuable citizen of his adopted county.

 

~ source: Biographical souvenir of the counties of Delaware and Buchanan, Iowa; Chicago : F. A. Battey, 1890. Page 707-708; LDS microfilm #985424

~ contributed by Thom Carlson