Person:Michael Fitzgerald (9)

Obituary; Michael Fitzgerald, a pioneer resident of Cedar township, passed

away at the Saint Joesph Hospital, Ottumwa, Iowa, Wednesday evening, September 25, 1929. Sometime before Mr. Fitzgerald had undergone an operation and failed to regain his former health.

    The parents of the deceased came to Saco, Maine, over 80 years ago from

Ireland making the voyage by a sailing vessel, and it was there that their son, Michael was born in November 1853. With the family he came to Galesburg, Illinois and after living there briefly, came to Iowa in the early sixties, and his father settled in Cedar township, Monroe County, Iowa and resided there the rest of his life.

    Michael Fitzgerald, who was only a small boy when coming to this country,

grew to manhood and was married to Miss Hannah Barron also of Cedar township, and on the family homestead they reared a large family of children highly respected by everyone.

    By good management and faithful effort the Fitzgerald family had accumlated

considerable property, and for many years Mr. Fitzgerald fed and shipped stock and was considered one of the most properous farmers of the community in which they lived. Disposing of the original farm they purchased what was know as the Amos farm and the Wesley Patterson farm where they resided fifteen years ago when Mrs. Fitzgerald died on August 15, 1914.

    Several years ago because of being unable to carry on farming operations

longer, Mr. Fitzgerald and daughter moved to Albia. Later she was married to Casper Manley, and since that time much of his time was spent here and there among children who had homes of their own.

    Funeral was held at Weller Monday morning, September 30, 1929, the

pallbearers being six of his grandsons as follows; John and J P Kelleher, and Michael, Carl, Edward and William Scieszinski coming from Janesville, Wis. and Sylvester Scieszinski son of Frank Scieszinske coming from East Moline, Ill. Mrs. James Craig of Chicago was ill and unable to attend the funeral.

    The deceased is survived by his son Edward Fitzgerald of Camrose, Alberta,

Canada, and daughters, Mrs Frank Scieszinski and Mrs William Scieszinski of Melrose Route 2, Mrs Con O'Brien of Lovilia Route 3, Mrs James Kelleher of Hiteman Route 1, and Mrs Casper Manley of Albia Route 5; also his brother William Fitzgerald of Kansas City, Mo. and his sisters, Mrs John Luttrell and Mrs John W Ward of Melrose. Mrs Barnes (should be Mrs Sylvester Barron) of Souix City, and Mrs Pat Shovelain of Weller, all of whom were present at the funeral which was attended by a host of other relatives, friends, and neighbors. Relatives coming from a distance were Dr and Mrs L T Kilfoy and three children, Patrick Gleason, Mrs Wuner, Mrs Wilson, and the Misses Catherine, Gertrude and Bernice Luttrell all of Chicago, and Mrs Harold Bruce of Souix City. ( added to family history disc 17 Jul 1997 by S/P )

NOTE : Marriage certificate of Hannah and Michael on file in Monroe Co.

Photocopies of the marriage certificate and obit in possession of Sharon Pohlman

1.   Cedar, Monroe, Iowa, in United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M653).

   children of Patrick and Catherine Fitzgarald:
   Michael Fitzgarald, age 11, born in Maine
   Thomas Fitzgarald, age 8, born in New York
   Margret Fitzgarald, age 4, born in Illinois
   Mary A Fitzgarald, age 1, born in Missouri

   The ages of the children in this census might be exaggerated. It is difficult to find Michael Fitzgerald in the 1850 census, and it is possible that a record for Patrick and Catherine Fitzgerald in Massachusetts, with no children, is for their parents.

2. ↑ Cedar, Monroe, Iowa, in United States. 1870 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publications M593 and T132).

   Michael Fitzgerald, age 18, born in Maine