For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 90
THOMAS RODNEY FITZGERALD. Thomas Rodney Fitzgerald, for thirty-seven years a representative of the bar in Muscatine, and also engaged in the real-estate and loan business, has won for himself a creditable position as an enterprising man and valued citizen. His office is located in the Jackson building while his home is at the corner of Fifth street and Iowa avenue. Michigan numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in St. Joseph on the 5th of March, 1843. He is a descendant of one of the heroes of the Revolutionary war, his grandfather, Pandeen Fitzgerald, having fought for American liberty following the proclamation of independence in 1776. He devoted his life in days of peace to school teaching and lived for many years to enjoy the fruits of liberty, his home being in New York. In his family were three sons and a daughter: John, Aaron, Thomas and Emma.Of these Thomas Fitzgerald, a native of the Empire state, became a soldier of the war of 1812 and was wounded at the battle of Lundy's Lane. He had previously lived with his parents in Herkimer county, New York, and after the second war with England the family removed westward to Indiana, settling at Booneville. There Thomas Fitzgerald became a justice of the peace, was also admitted to the bar and for a short time engaged in the practice of law. He was afterward commissioned to erect the first lighthouse at St. Joseph, Michigan, and made his home there for a number of years, taking a prominent part in the public life of the community. He was called to various positions of honor and trust, being chosen to represent his district in the state legislature, acting also as bank commissioner and clerk of the county and county probate judge. When General Lewis Cass resigned from the United States senate to accept the nomination for the presidency, Thomas Fitzgerald was appointed as his successor in the senate but with marked magnanimity resigned when General Cass was defeated for the presidency and the latter was then reappointed to the position of senator. Mr. Fitzgerald was the owner of the first bank in St. Joseph and his business as well as his political activity placed him in a position of prominence and honor. Following his return from Washington, D. C., he removed to Niles, Michigan, where he died in 1855. In early manhood he had wedded Polly Baldwin, also a native of New York. Her parents were farming people of the Empire state, whence they removed westward to Illinois, settling near Peoria, where both her father and mother died when well advanced in years. They had a large family including Alexander, Polly, Eliza and others. Of these Polly became the wife of Thomas Fitzgerald and her death occurred while her husband was United States senator in Washington. Her religious faith was that of the Methodist church. Their family numbered five children, Harrison, Jerome B., William L., Maria L., and Thomas Rodney, but only the last named is now living. After losing his first wife the father married a Mrs. Lacy and they had a son who died when eighteen years of age.
Thomas R. Fitzgerald pursued his education in the schools of Niles to the age of ten years, when he went to New York city and was there a pupil in the public schools. Later he attended a private school in Connecticut and at Woodbridge, New Jersey, and was likewise a student in the Notre Dame University, of Indiana. The first dollar he ever earned was secured by acting as a messenger boy, carrying orders for a jewelry firm of New York city. Before he was of age he went to Missouri where he secured a clerkship and later went on an expedition to the Indian trading posts. Eventually he located in St. Louis, where he engaged in the drug business, being located there during the latter part of the Civil war. In the winter of 1862 he arrived in Muscatine but in the spring of 1863 returned to St. Louis. In 1868, however, he was married in Muscatine and afterward returned to Michigan, spending one year in Benton Harbor and a short period in Niles. He next took up his abode in Clinton, Iowa, and on the 1st of April, 1871, removed to Muscatine. Studying law, he was admitted to the bar here in 1873 and has since continued in practice in this city, at the same time conducting a real-estate, loan and insurance business. He has been accorded a good clientage and his devotion to the interests entrusted to him is proverbial.
It was on the 20th of May, 1868, that Mr. Fitzgerald was married to Miss Sarah Esther Hanna, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Thomas and Eliza (Conner) Hanna, who were natives of Ohio and Kentucky respectively, and became early residents of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgeral have two daughters and a son: Belle; Hiram, a civil engineer who is married and lives at Purcell, Oklahoma; and Fanny, who is the wife of B. M. Cobb, of Muscatine, and has one son, Rodney Fitzgerald Cobb.
Mr. Fitzgerald is a valued and exemplary member of Iowa Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M.; Washington Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M.; and De Molay Commandery, No. 1, K. T. He served as master of the blue lodge for four years, was recorder of the commandery for eleven years and eminent commander for one term. His election to office indicates his high standing among his brethren of the fraternity. The cause of education has always found in him a stalwart champion and for one term he served on the Muscatine school board. In politics he has ever been a stalwart democrat and upon the party ticket was elected alderman in 1875 for a two years' term. At its close he was chosen mayor of the city, in which connection he gave a public-spirited and businesslike administration. In 1881 he was appointed alderman to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Green Sparks, and the following year was again elected chief executive of Muscatine. His administration as mayor was characterized by many needed reforms and improvements. He was one of the original trustees of the Muscatine city water works; has twice been reappointed and since 1900 has served as secretary of the water works. His public duties have ever been discharged with ability and fidelity above question and he is numbered among those citizens whose activity and loyalty constitute a most potent force in the substantial upbuilding and progress of the community.
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