J. H. FITZPATRICK

From pioneer days down to the present the Fitzpatrick family has been prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Cedar county and have ever borne their part in the work of development and improvement. Upon his present farm on section 24, Gower township, J. H. Fitzpatrick was born November 5, 1863, a son of Henry and Mary (Harley) Fitzpatrick, both natives of Ireland, the former born in Queens county and the latter in County Donegal. It was about 1839 that his grandfather, Daniel Fitzpatrick, emigrated to the new world and came to Iowa, since which time numerous representatives of the family have borne their part in the prosperity of this section of the state. The grandfather was one of the honored pioneers of Cedar county, becoming the owner of a farm in Gower township on which our subject now resides and when he took up his residence thereon his nearest markets were the Mississippi river towns. Soon after locating here Rochester was made the county seat. In his family were several children. John, the fifth in order of birth, died while the family were crossing the ocean. The others are as follows: Daniel and Edward, both of whom died in Cedar county; Eliza, who became the wife of James McGee and also died in this county; Mary, who married James Fitzpatrick (not a relative), and also died in this county; Thomas, who died here; Margaret, who married Thomas Nolan and died in South Dakota; and Henry, the father of our subject. With the exception of John and Daniel all reached years of maturity, were married and reared families of their own, some of them having several children.

Henry Fitzpatrick, the father of our subject, came to Cedar county about a year or so after his father located here. He was married in Iowa City to Miss Mary Harley, who came to the United States with her brother, James Harley. She died in this county upon the home farm, but her husband was killed by a runaway team. By a former marriage he had two sons and one daughter, namely: Daniel and Thomas, both resident of Woodbury county, Iowa; and Margaret, who died when young. The four children by his second marriage are: Edward, now a resident of South Dakota; Charles, who died when young; J. H., of this review; and Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Mead of Howard county, Iowa.

Upon his present farm J. H. Fitzpatrick grew to manhood, his literary education being acquired in the local schools, and while assisting in the labors of the home farm he early acquired an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits. He has always resided upon the home farm and is today the owner of two hundred and eighty-three acres on sections 24 and 25, Gower township. It is one of the best improved places of the community and owing to its excellent cultivation produces good crops. Mr. Fitzpatrick was married November 16, 1894, to Miss Catharine Forrestel, who was born in Johnson county, Iowa, in 1867, her parents being Thomas and Johanna Forrestel, both natives of Ireland, who were married after coming to this country. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick are: Henry, Mary, Genevieve, Thomas, Charles, Agnes and Bernadine.

Since the family was established in the United States its male representatives have all voted the democratic ticket and the family have always been communicants of the Catholic church. Our subject today holds membership in St. Joseph’s Catholic church of Cedar Valley and is a man who commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he is brought in contact, either in business or social life.