Carolina, and his sufferings were indicated by the fact that he had lost greatly in weight, having been reduced almost to a skeleton ere his release. He was sent to Annapolis, Maryland, and was granted a furlough which he spent at home. On the expiration of his leave of absence he rejoined his regiment in Washington, D. C., in May, 1865, and with his command went soon afterward to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was mustered out of service in July. He had been with the Union army for four years and two months, during which time he was never ill or absent from duty with the exception of the period of his prison experience and his furlough home. He stood frequently upon the firing line and again upon the lonely picket line, but no matter what the duty entrusted to him it was faithfully performed.
In July, 1865, Mr. Fitchpatrick reached his old home in Story county and throughout all the intervening years to the present he has figured prominently in the public life of the community and in the advancement of its business interests. Soon after his return from the war he was elected clerk of the district court, capably filling the office for a period of eleven years, or until January 1, 1877. He then turned his attention to the loan and abstract business, in which he has since engaged. He was the first one to make a complete set of abstract books in the county. In 1877 he was admitted to practice before the Story county court and almost immediately thereafter formed a law partnership with George W. Dyer. In 1878 he was licensed to practice before the Iowa supreme court. His partnership with Mr. Dyer was terminated in 1885 and he afterward remained alone in practice for a considerable period. In 1898 he entered into partnership with Edward M. McCall, which relationship still maintains under the firm style of Fitchpatrick & McCall. They have a large clientage connecting them with much of the important litigation held in the courts of the district. Mr. Fitchpatrick has also invested heavily in real estate and is the owner of much valuable property in Nevada and Story county. Becoming connected with the First National Bank, he was for a considerable period its vice president and in 1904 was elected to the presidency, serving as its chief executive officer throughout the ensuing decade.
On the 16th of August, 1866, Mr. Fitchpatrick was married to Miss Hattie V. Pierce, who was born in Onondaga county, New York, in 1843, a daughter of Lyman and Phoebe (Dean) Pierce. She died in September, 1906. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fitchpatrick were born three children : William P., of Nevada, who married Ada J. Ringheim; Mrs. Viola E. Everhart, of Chicago; and Genevieve L., the wife of Edward M. McCall, who is now her father's law partner.
Mr. Fitchpatrick and daughters are members of the Presbyterian church and the family has long occupied a prominent position in social circles. Mr. Fitchpatrick holds membership in Lodge No. 99, A. F. & A. M., of Nevada; the chapter and Excalibur Commandery, No. 13, K. T., at Boone, Iowa. He likewise belongs to Sampson Lodge, No. 77, K. P., of which