LYCURGUS FITZPATRICK—One of the most respected and esteemed citizens of Meagher county, a thoroughly representative and public-spirited man, whose beautiful home three miles west of Harlowton is a center of refined and soulful hospitality, is Lycurgus Fitzpatrick, whose ranch of more than 10,000 acres lies for four miles along both sides of the Musselshell and extends seven miles south and five miles north from the river. He was born at Columbiana, Ohio, December 19, 1841, the son of John and Margaret (Albert) Fitzpatrick, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania, The grandfather, Charles Fitzpatrick, was one of the early pioneers of Ohio, where the family continued to live for three generations, The ancestors of the mother, the Alberts, were of Huguenot stock, and, when driven out of France, settled in Holland, from whence some of them later came to America and located in Pennsylvania, crossing the Atlantic in “the good ship Brindle Cow.” The Fitzpatricks originally came from the north of Ireland, and were early arrivals in America. John Fitzpatrick conducted an extensive carriage manufactory at Columbiana, Ohio, and was a highly respected and useful citizen and a leading spirit in all movements for the welfare of the community. He was a strong abolitionist and was active in the working of the underground railway. He passed his life in the town of Columbiana, and his family of eight children were all born and raised there.
His sou Lycurgus received his early education in the public schools of his native city, and after leaving school was associated for two or three years with his father in the carriage business. The father then retired and the business was carried on by himself and his brother, J. B. Fitzpatrick, until 1873, when Lycurgus sold his interest and started a similar enterprise in Findlay, Ohio. This he conducted for five years with success, then sold out and engaged in the drug business for three years, when he sold out and came to Montana, located on his present property and began operations in the sheep industry. His location is particularly well adapted to the industry. It is well sheltered from severe weather, has an extent of 10,000 acres well supplied with water by the Musselshell which runs through it for a distance of four miles, making it highly productive, about 500 acres being under close and skillful cultivation and yielding abundant crops of hay and grain. Mr. Fitzpatrick has a band of about 12,000 Merino sheep, and conducts his business so as to make it profitable. He has a fine residence, good barns and other outbuildings, with every device for the work of his ranch that is known to be of service.
On June 25, 1879, he married Miss Eva Church, of Findlay, Ohio, whose ancestors emigrated from Wales in early Colonial days. Her parents were Chester and Barbara (Crumrine) Church, the former a native of New Jersey and the later of Pennsylvania. Two children have been born to the Fitzpatricks, Harold, who was educated at Shattuck Military Academy at Faribault, Minn., and is now an employee of the Mellville Mercantile Company, of Harlowton; and Lycurgus, Jr., who is at home receiving his education from a governess. Mrs. Fitzpatrick is a highly educated and cultivated lady, and has taken great pains in the education of her family. After her graduation from the college at Findlay, Ohio, she accepted a position as teacher in the schools of that city and was rapidly advanced to higher positions, for some years previous to her marriage being the principal of the Findlay Normal. Mr. Fitzpatrick has mounted the Masonic stairway through lodge, chapter and commandery, holding membership in the various bodies at Findlay, Ohio.
