Joseph Andrew Fitchpatrick (1840-1922)

FITCHPATRICK, PIERCE, WATERS, MCCALL, STRATTON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 2/5/2015 at 18:56:37

From unknown newspaper February 1922

J. A. FITCHPATRICK, PIONEER IS DEAD; FUNERAL WEDNESDAY

WELL KNOWN CITIZEN AND BUSINESS MAN ANSWERED FINAL SUMMONS

Hon. J. A. Fitchpatrick, 81, who had been confined to his home since a year ago last November, and who had been a critical condition and his death expected hourly since Wednesday, passed away at midnight.

Several times since he was taken worse a week ago. It had bee although fist he had been called and each time he rallied until the final summons came at midnight last night.

The funeral services will be held from Central Presbyterian church Wednesday afternoon at 3:00, being in charge of his pastor Rev. J. George Walz and other ministers of that denomination.

Mr. Fitchpatrick held a high degree in Masonry was a charter member of of Samson Lodge No. 77 Knights of Pythias and also a member of the Odd Fellows lodge. What part the various orders will take in the service is not determined at this time.

Joseph A. Fitchpatrick, Civil War veteran, survivor of Andersonville prison, and pioneer of Story county, was a native of Washington county, down in West Virginia, where he was born October 17, 1840. he was a son of William H. Fitchpatrick and Sarah V. Hagy, they being natives of the same West Virginia county, where they were born in 1814 and 1815 respectively.

Joseph A. was but two years of age when the parents left their own Washington county home in West Virginia and located in Clinton county, Ind. and where they made their home until 1864 when they came out to Iowa. They located first in Boone county where they made their home for three years before coming on over to Ames in Story county, in 1857.

Ames continued to be the home of the senior Fitchpatricks until their death, the mother passing away in 1896 and the father a couple of years later.

Joseph A. worked upon the farm during his boyhood days and later taught school. When the first call came for troops for the Civil War came he volunteered, enlisting in May of 1861 under the command of Captain, but later Colonel John Scott of Company E of Third Iowa Infantry.

With a portion of his regiment he was captured during the battle of Shiloh and was held as a prisoner for over ten weeks, after which he was exchanged with other prisoners, rejoined his regiment in January of 1863 and on July 22 following was again captured. This was at the battle of Atlanta and he was sent to the prison at Andersonville where he spent three months. Following his release from Andersonville he enjoyed a furlough during which time he built himself up physically after his prison experience and rejoined his regiment in time to be mustered out of the service in May of 1864.

Shortly after returning home from the war he was elected clerk of the district court in which capacity he served for 11 years. This necessitated his moving to Nevada and this has been his home continuously since. During his service as clerk he was admitted to practice law and shortly afterwards turned his attention to the abstract and loan business with which he had since been identified. For the past several years the interests along that line had been merged into the Fitchpatrick investment company of which he had been the president and until the past year or so active head.

He had been connected with the First National Bank as a stockholder and director since very shortly after its organization and for the past many years and at the time of this death was president of that institution.

Mr. Fitchpatrick's business career had been a busy one and his life's work had been closely identified with the history and advancement of Story county and Iowa. He had been a leader among men, not only in business but in political affairs, in fraternal affairs and in his church and there was probably no other man in Story county who had been more closely or intimately identified with the public affairs of the county.

A year after returning home from the service, August 16, 1866, her was united in marriage to Miss Hattie V. Pierce at Ames, and she ho liked her life with his as to form in inseparable union in the home, the church and before th public. Mrs. Fitchpatrick died a beloved wife and mother and a loved housewife of the city, in September 1906.

Three chidren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fitchpatrick. The eldest was William Pierce Fitchpatrick, the sonly son, who met his death in an automobile accident in this city some years ago. The others are Mrs. Viva Waters of Chicago and Mrs. Edward M. McCall of this city.

Besides his two daughters who were at his bedside when he died, he leaves five grandchildren, and one great grandchild. The grandchildren are Miss Harriet Fitchpatrick of Des Moines, Mrs. Elizabeth Stratton of Nevada, and Joseph A. Fitchpatrick, Jr., now a student at Wentworth Military Academy of Lexington, Mo.; and Misses Mary and Harriet McCall of this city.

Since the death of Mrs. Fitchpatrick he had made his home with Judge and Mrs. McCall, Mrs. McCall being the younger daughter.

Mr. Fitchpatrick had long been a member of Central Presbyterian church, in which congregation he had held the most responsible positions and offices during the many years of his activities and public affairs and church work. He had been recognized as one of the stalwart men of that denomination in Iowa. To his support and activities the local church is indebted for much of his success.

He had also been active during his earlier days in fraternal affairs and continued his allegiance to their teachings throughout his long life. He was a member of Nevada Lodge no. 99 A. F. & A. M. of this city, the Chapter and Excalibur Commandry No. 13 of Boone, was a charter member of Samson Lodge No. 77 Knights of Pythias of Nevada and also a member of Central Iowa Lodge No. 104 I. O. O. F. of this city, besides a member of Jason D. Ferguson Post Grand Army of the Republic.

In politics he had long been identified with the Republican party and had been a leader in the counsels of that party in Iowa. While he had not been solicitous for himself often he was rewarded by a seat in the state senate from 1898 to 1904 and again served two terms beginning in 1908.

He was a man of wide acquaintances and was a power for good in the community. His death will be greatly mourned and the funeral services which are to be held on Wednesday will be largely attended.