Person:Perry Fitzgerald (1)

Member first pioneer company across plains returned that same year to assist the second company Abrham O Smoot / George Wallace company with his first wife.

His home in Draper is still standing (2006)

http://drapercommunity.org/fitzgeraldhistory.html provides the following The family is listed on the 1850 census in Draper, a settlement then known as Willow Creek. There they homesteaded a parcel of farmland in the area between what is now 12400 S. and 13100 S. Mary Ann Fitzgerald died on April 19, 1851- probably in Millcreek. Elizabeth Shipley took the boys to care for at her home in Draper. Family tradition states that, after Mary Ann's death, Perry moved permanently to Draper . He built a three-room log cabin on the north banks of the Willow Creek. In late 1851 Perry married Ann Wilson. Ann was born in England on November 10, 1812. Ann had two daughters, Mary Ann (born in 1852 and probably named for Mary Ann Casot) and Alfreda (born in 1854).

Around 1852, Agnes Wadsworth, a young convert to the LDS Church, moved to Draper and worked as a nanny in the Fitzgerald home. Agnes was born in Manchester, England on July 30, 1836. Perry married Agnes on March 21, 1853 within the (then) church-sanctioned system of polygamy.

Agnes bore thirteen children between 1854 and 1879 - and, remarkable for the time period, all children lived to maturity, married and had children of their own. (They all died of the same ailment - old age.) Indeed, Agnes was considered to have some healing powers in the community, not only due to the fact that her children survived several epidemics but that she helped nurse many in the community from serious illness to health.

During the late 1850's Perry and his son John assumed military duties during the Utah War and the Walker Indian War. It is said that Perry 'fulfilled faithfully every command'.

After a large storm in the early 1860's, runoff caused flooding of the creek and the Fitzgerald cabin was moved to higher ground - - closer to where the brick house would later be located. According to various sources, Perry built the brick house either during or just after the Civil War. The family claims it was the first fired brick home built south of 6400 South. While this claim is uncertain, the Fitzgerald house is likely the oldest surviving fired brick home in Draper.

Perry Fitzgerald supported his large family by farming and raising cattle and sheep. He was also a horse breeder. He had a large holding that required hired hands (two are listed on the 1860 and 1870 census) as well as the help of his grown sons.

Ann Wilson Fitzgerald died on November 21, 1870 in Draper. Agnes Fitzgerald's third son, born in 1864, was given Wilson as his middle name, so it is presumed the two wives had a good relationship.

The Fitzgerald home was known as a haven in the community. One evening, Orrin Porter Rockwell, infamous bodyguard to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, rode to Draper pursued by a posse. Porter asked his friend Perry Fitzgerald to hide him, so Perry turned his back to Porter and pointed with his hand to a thicket where Porter could safely hide. Minutes later the posse arrived and Perry was truthfully able to state that Porter had been there but he did not see which way he went.

Though Perry was a faithful church attendee, many of his children were more relaxed and numerous young people in Draper would congregate at the Fitzgerald home on Sundays. One writer records "there were more wagons and horses at the Fitzgerald's than at church. If Agnes would insist on taking all those who would come to her home and lead them down to church, it would fill the meeting house!".

After suffering from back pain and Bright's disease of the kidneys for several years Perry Fitzgerald died in his home on October 4, 1889. Agnes remained in the home with several of her children until her death on March 23, 1902.

The home remained in possession of the Fitzgerald descendants until it and the adjacent land was sold to Draper City with the understanding the home would be preserved.

Perry Fitzgerals

1.   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ancestral File (TM) (3). (June 1998 (c), data as of 5 JAN 1998).
2.   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ancestral File (R). (Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998).