S[amuel]. W. FITTRO, farmer, section 11, Athens Township, was born in Licking County, Ohio, April 3, 1830, son of Samuel and Hannah (WEBB) FITTRO, the former a native of York County, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of eight children - Betsey, Joseph, Mary Ann, Rebecca, Catherine, Samuel, Rosilla and John. The family removed to Licking County about the year 1822, and were among the early settlers of that county. Mr. FITTRO passed his early life assisting at farm work and attending the subscription schools in log school-houses. In 1842 the family removed to Louisa County this State, where our subject lived until he reached his majority.

He was married August 27, 1853 [Louisa County, Iowa], to Miss [Elizabeth] Betsey IRELAND, born in Bartholomew County, Indiana, and daughter of William and Catherine (LEE) IRELAND.

In 1855 he came to Decatur County, locating three miles north of Leon [Decatur County], where he resided three years, then sold and removed to section 25, where he lived until 1877; then sold and removed to Athens Township, where he purchased 400 acres of land, a portion of which is now included in the town plat of Kellerton, having, in 1879, sold eighty acres to one Perkins for town lots in the northern part of the town. His home farm contains 240 acres of land, well cultivated and well improved. He has a fine residence, one and a half stories high, 16 x 26 feet, with L, 24 x 26 feet, a commodious barn 32 x 44 feet, and an orchard of 300 trees and small fruits. He is engaged in stock-raising and feeding.

Mrs. FITTRO died March 19, 1864 [Decatur County, Iowa], leaving one child - Alice. In October, 1864, he married Susan WEST, of Decatur County, who died in a few months. March 25, 1866 [Decatur County, Iowa], he was married to Mrs. Sarah McCARTNEY, nee BURKETT, widow of [Andrew] J. McCARTNEY. She was born in Putnam County, Indiana. They have three children - Chester, Charles and Ernest.

Mr. FITTRO's farm adjoins the town plat of Kellerton, and is considered one of the most valuable farms in the Township. Politically he is a Democrat. Postoffice, Kellerton.

NOTE: Samuel, his second wife Sarah and his family moved from Kellerton, Iowa to Oklahoma in 1889, and on to Cedar Vale, Kansas in 1909. Samuel W. FITTRO died November 12, 1915 with interment at Cedar Vale Cemetery, Chautauqua County, Kansas.

Children of Samuel and Elizabeth (IRELAND) FRITTO:
1) Daughter FRITTO
2) John Martin FITTRO, born 1853/54, Decatur Co. IA; married Charlotte A. (?)
    Child: Ula S. FITTRO, married at Garfield County OK to Edward S. PELTON, born 1909, KS
3) Julia Ann FITTRO, born 1856, Decatur Co. IA; married Mr. PRYOR; residence of Bluff City, KS
4) Joseph FITTRO, born 1857, Decatur Co. IA; died 1880, Ringgold Co. IA
5) Josephine FITTRO, born 1859, Decatur Co. IA
6) Samuel FRITTO, born 1861, Decatur Co. IA
7) Mary E. FITTRO, born 1863, Decatur Co. IA
8) Alice F. FITTRO, born March 19, 1864, Decatur Co. IA; married Cyrus JACKSON

Children of Samuel and Sarah Elizabeth (BURKETT) FITTRO:
1) Frances FITTRO, born 1867 IA
2) Chester B. FITTRO, born 1871, Ringgold Co. IA; married Leota MEADOWS
3) Charles Webb FITTRO, born November 2, 1874, Ringgold Co. IA; died 1931, Tulare Co. CA
4) Ernest Went FITTRO, born March 11, 1879, Ringgold Co. IA

Samuel's second wife Sarah (BURKETT) McCARTNEY FITTRO was born in Putnam county, Indiana on October 6, 1836, the daughter of Eli BURKETT and Martha (MOSS) BURKETT COLE. Sarah died March 31, 1915, with interement at Cedar Vale Cemetery, Chautauqua County, Kansas. Andrew J. McCARNEY, Sarah's first husband, was born in Pennsylvania September 29, 1819, and died April 5, 1864, Decatur County, Iowa, interment Metier Cemetery, Decatur County, Iowa. Andrew and Sarah were the parents of:
1) Reuben M. McCARTNEY, born 1852, Iowa, and died April 3, 1864, Decatur Co. IA, interment Metier Cemetery
2) William F. McCARTNEY, born September 8, 1865, IA, and died April 7, 1864, Decatur County IA, interment Metier Cemetery
3) Martha Elizabeth McCARTNEY, born 1858, Clarke Co. IA, died 1897, Ringgold Co. IA
    married George Wesley VOGAN
4) Joseph Eli McCARTNEY, born February 3, 1860, Decatur Co. IA, died August 10, 1927 KS
5) Brehilda McCARTNEY, born 1865, Decatur Co. IA

Other interments at Cedar Vale Cemetery: Winifred FITTRO, born 1880, died 1910; Della M. FITTRO, born 1886, died 1918; Lawrence C. FITTRO, born 13 Jun 1926, died 07 Jan 1996; and. Loene R. FITTRO, born 18 Jul 1929, died 01 Jun 1998

Samuel's sister Rozilla FITTRO married September 15, 1852, Louisa County, Iowa to Thomas HON.

Alexander IRELAND served in the Revolutionary War from Frederick, Maryland, serving under Captain LUCKETT. Alexander and his family moved to Harrison County, West Virginia around 1790 to 1795. Alexander's son Jonathon IRELAND died in 1797, and his widow Elizabeth (RICE) IRELAND remarried to John WOLFE.

William IRELAND, son of Jonathon and Elizabeth (RICE), married Elizabeth WOOD in 1806, Harrison County, West Virginia, and shortly afterwards moved to Coshocton County, Ohio with William's mother. Here, Elizabeth (WOOD) IRELAND died in 1815.

William IRELAND married Catherine LEE in 1816/17, Warren County, Ohio. They moved to Bartholomew County, Indiana where William died in 1837. Sometime before 1840, Catherine (LEE) IRELAND and the family moved to Louisa County, Iowa. It is assumed that Catherine died in Louisa County.

Elizabeth (IRELAND) FITTO was born in Barthlomew County, Indiana.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 348, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009; updated April of 2010

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z

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