JAMES FITZPATRICK is a native of Ireland, having been born in Queen's
county, on the sixth of January, 1830. He is a son of Edward and
Catherine (Finley) Fitzpatrick, natives also of Ireland. James is the fifth of a family of
seven children born to his parents. He was reared in his native place to the
age of eighteen, when he came to the United States, in 1848, and made his first
permanent stop in Delaware county, Iowa, locating in Colony township. He purchased
a squatter's claim, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he
settled and which he improved. He resided there until 1865, converting his prairie
claim into a well tilled homestead, which he sold at a fair price, and buying
another place of one hundred and sixty acres lying in Elk township
moved to it, where he has since resided. His present homestead is in section
28, about a mile south of the town of Greeley. He owns three hundred and ninety
acres lying in one body, all of which is under fence, and the greater part of
which is under plow. He is devoted exclusively to agricultural pursuits and is
a farmer in the highest and
best
sense of the word. His place shows this; for it is a model of neatness, order
and thrift. He has one of the best residences in the township, and large well
constructed barns to properly house all of his implements, grain and stock, an
abundance of which he keeps on hand at all times. He gives some attention to
dairy matters, being interested in the Greeley Co-operative Creamery Company,
and milking on an average about twenty cows. Mr. Fitzpatrick came to the United States a poor young man, and here made his
start, having taken almost every important step affecting his welfare in life
since becoming a citizen of this county. And not the least of these steps was
his marriage, which occurred November 12, 1859. The lady on whom his choice fell
for a companion in life was Miss Mary H. Foley, a native of Canada, born in May, 1844. This union has
resulted in the birth of the following children—Edward, Katie and an infant,
all of whom are now deceased; James, Michael, Julia, Alice, Ellen, Thomas,
Dennis, Mary, Bernard, Katie, Martin, John and Loretta. Mr. Fitzpatrick has
taken much interest in the general prosperity of his community, and has done
the part of a good citizen in promoting its welfare. Although no politician
he is a stanch democrat, and occasionally takes a hand in local politics. He
enjoys the esteem and confidence of those who know him and is a valuable
citizen of his adopted county.
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