John Fitzgerald

John had a brother named Edward. At his death, John's surviving siblings were: Mrs. Charles McEntee of Plattsmouth, NE Mrs. John Blake of Lyndon, Wisconsin Mrs. John Twoomey of Lyndon, Wisconsin David Fitzgerald of Lincoln, Nebraska ----- {Note: The following comes from a chapter on the Irish National League in the History of the City of Lincoln. Pp. 299-309. Only the portions pertaining to John Fitzgerald are excerpted here.} As the names of Fitzgerald, Egan and Sutton have been so prominently connected with the League for years, and all being residents of Lincoln, it is eminently proper that this work should give some extended personal notice of these men. Hon. John Fitzgerald was born over fifty years ago in Limerick County Ireland. His father was a tenant farmer holding at the same time a small piece of free-hold property, the remnant of a more ample estate that had once been in the possession of his ancestors, but which had been reduced to a few acres by the operation of laws that had proved only too successful in bringing the old landed proprietors to beggary and ruin. Edward Fitzgerald, the father of the subject of our sketch, was evicted from his farm, and seeing the poverty and decay that surrounded him on all sides, leased his little free-hold, and with his sons sailed for the United States, back in the "forties." At that time, there was considerable prejudice against Irish immigration to America, and if the immigrant from the Green Isle found a fair field, he could also say that he found no favor. Americans of that day are not be be lightly blamed. American literature was in its infancy. The mental food of the people was mainly derived from English sources, and the character of the Irish people was delineated by men imbued with racial hatreds. Reared in this atmosphere of distorted teachings, and fed upon unrefuted calumnies, it is no wonder that the mass of Americans felt prejudiced toward poverty-stricken victims of a tyranny described by Edmund Burke as the most perfect system ever devised by the perverted ingenuity of man to drive a nation mad. The immigrants, too, had their serious faults, which, though doubtless the engendered results of a century of oppression, helped to incrase the aversion prejudice had already excited against them. Intemperance was painfully prevalent, and faction-fighting was a vice that long baffled the efforts of the priest and patriot to destroy it. Americans are a just people, and are quick to fling way their prejudices when convinced that they are in error, and few are more ready to recognize and reward true merit. The Fitzgerald family, after arriving in New York, pushed westward, to find employment in the great public works which eventually made New York and Pennsylvania the leading states of the Union. They quickly developed qualities of mind and heart which won the confidence and respect of the leading contractors of that day. John Fitzgerald was then a youth of seventeen summers, with a strong, muscular frame, and a vigorous constitution. He was then, and had always been, a strict disciple of Father Mathew, from whom he had received the pledge while yet almost an infant. A salient feature of his character is his incontrollable desire to be doing something. In those early days, after the close of the open season, it was usual for the great armies of canal builders to withdraw for the winter to the neighboring towns, waiting for the spring to resme work. Only too many frittered away in these idle days, all of the oney they had accumulated by hard labor in the burning heat of summer. The Fitzgeralds were men of a different stamp, and did not believe in making their summers pay for their winters. They sought such work as could be found, even if the remunerations hardly paid their living expenses. It was on one of these occasions that John Fitzgerald accepted work from a farmer for his board and seven dollars per month. At another time he was working for a farmer, digging ditches, when his quick perception showed him how he could do the work by contract, make money for himself, secure better wages for his companions, and give greater satisfaction to the farmer. He made his propostion to the latter, and it was accepted. In twenty four hours, John Fitzgerald was a contractor, his fellow-workmen became his employees, and he stood on equal ground with his former employer. The job was finished much quicker than the farmer had calculated, and the work was done to his complete satisfaction. The laborers received higher wages than their agreement with the farmer had called for and John Fitzgerald had a good round sum of money to the redit of his profit and loss account. That was Mr. Fitzgerald's first contract, and today he speaks of it with greater pride than of all the enterprises of magnitude he was since completed. The reputation achieved by Edward Fitzgerald and his sons did much in the districts where they labored, to raise the character of the Irish in American opinion, and contractors were glad not only to employ them, but to sublet to them large portions of their work. After the death of their father, in New York State, the brothers, Edward and John, turned their attention to the construciton of railroads. After satisfactorily completing important contracts in New England during the war, they gradually worked westward until they reached Wisconsin, where they built several hundred miles of railroad. Following the star of empire, the brothers penetrated through Iowa with their iron highways. After the death of his brother Edward, John assumed control of what had become a vast business, and after building the grater part of the C. B. and Q in Iowa, crossed the Missouri and took up work for the B & M and Union Pacific roads, until his name became inseparably bound up with the history of railroading from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains. Mr. Fitzgerald made his first home in Nebraska at Plattsmouth, where he owns a very large amount of property. Since becoming a resident of this State, Mr. Fitzgerald, besides his work in Nebraska, was associated with S. Mallory, esq. C.E., of Chariton, Iowa, and Martin Flynn, esq., of Des Moines, Iowa in the construction of the Cincinnati Southern road through Tennessee; also in building the Denver, Memphis and Atlantic railway, in association with the Fitzgerald and Mallory Construction Company. The latest enterprise of our active townsman is the construction of the St. Louis and Canada railroad in Michigan and Indiana. Mr. Fitzgerald has very extensive landed property in Nebraska. The man who as a boy looked with tear-filled eyes upon the few fields from which he and his father were evicted, is today the owner of two of the largest and best managed farms in America, embracing 8,000 acres of unsurprassed fertility at Greenwood, and 6,000 equally as good in Gage county, in this state. In addition, he has several farms in Wisconsin and other states. His investments in commercial lines are many and extensive. He owns the large West Lincoln Brick and Tile Works, and also has a controlling interest in the Rapid Transit company, of which he is President. He is also President of the First National Bank of Plattsmouth and Greenwood, and of the Nebraska Stockyards Company, and a Director of the First National and Union Savings Banks of Lincoln. Mr. Fitzgerald is also largely interestedin mercantile investments and has stores in different parts of the State. His first experience with Lincoln was Colonel Tom Hyde's invitation to the hospitality of a shanty, and his first bed in the same shanty was a buffalo robe on the ground, damp with recent rains. Today his magnificent residence and beautifully laid out grounds crown Mount Emerald, the finest elevation in the city, and here he loves to extend the genuine hospitality typical of Geraldine. His splendid wholesale busisness block at the corner of Seventh and P is rapidly approaching completion, and it is but the precursor of other stately edifices with which Mr. Fitzgerald's enterprise will embellish the city he has chosen for his home, and which owes so much to his untiring energy. Although the most liberal and tolerant of men, Mr. Fitzgerald is a strict Roman Catholic, and a munificent contributor to the church. The Convent of the Holy Child Jesus is the gift of Mr. Fitzgerald to the nuns of that order, and his subscriptions in aid of the Catholic Church of Lincoln have been generous and constant. Some three years ago he gave a large sum to help in the construction of St. Patrick's Church in Rome, and Pope Leo XII, in recognition of his generosity, sent him a valuable gold medal. The Geraldine race, kin and Gherardini of Florence, and boasting its descent from Eneas, the Trojan hero, has been conspicuous for its heroic fidelity to the fate and fortunes of the Irish nation. Its blood has poured out on every battlefield for Irish liberty, its sons have perished with stoicism in the dungeon, and looked scorn from the scaffold. The castles of the Geraldines stud the river banks and mountain glens of Munster, and few are the tales of fairy lore and weird romance in which some Fitzgerald does not play a conspicuous role. With the blood of this fiery clan in this veins, it is but natural that Mr. Fitzgerald should be ardently attached to the cause of Ireland. From boyhood to the present moment, he has supported every movement consecrated to Irish liberty, and there has hardly been an Irish convention which he was not attended. Unambitious for office, with no personal views, but influenced by an earnest desire to see his country enjoy the liberty so many of his race had died for, his time, and his purse, and his quiet word of sound advice, were ever at the service of Ireland. The qualities of this man could harldy escape recognition, and in 1886, he was chosen President of the Irish National League of America. His period of office has been a trouble one, great events having transpired during his administration; but he has filled the position with honor to himself and to the Irish cause. His cool, conservative policy, his strong determination to keep the league free from political entanglements and from alliances that could in any way compromise the action of Parnell and his colleagues, has merited and received the warm approbation not only of the Irish leaders, but of the best friends of Ireland in America. To everything that can add to the welfare of the Irish cause, and to the benefit of his race, John Fitzgerald ha been conspicuously generous. Mr. Fitzgerald is, in American politics, a strong Democrat, and a warm supporter of his party, but has invariably refused to accept any political honors. From men of all shades of religious and political belief, Mr. Fitzgerald receives the respect due to his strict integrity and his boundless energy. Fortunate in his business, he is equally blessed in his domestic life. Mrs. Fitzgerald is a most estimable lady, and as remarkable for her kind, unostentatious benevolence, as her husband is for his more active qualities. Their family consists of four children and since their marriage no cloud has darkened the summer of their lives. ----- {NOTE: The following is from the Lancaster County History, 1888, p. 791} John Fitzgerald, who is regarded as one of the best financiers of the State of Nebraska, and in fact of the West, became a resident of the city of Lincoln in 1878, and there is no question that to him this part of the State greatly indebted for its rapid growth and prosperity. A self-made man in the closes sense of the word, he early in life became practically acquainted with railraod and canal building, having been at an early period in his career engaged in the construction of the Erie Canal in New York State. In this important field of labor which is always connected with the growth of any State or Nation, he appears to have especially adapted. He was naturally Civil Engineer enough to know when a bridge or a culvert was properly constructed, and while yet a young man, migrated to the West and put into practical application his valuable knowledge, which was so easily and thoroughly acquired as to have been almost phenomenal. Mr. Fitzgerald from the first brought his admirable qualities as a financier into requisition, and this formed one of the secrets of his success. Upon crossing the Mississippi the project of the Far Western railroad found in him a most vigorous and useful exponent. He commenced laying his plans upon a extended and progressive scael, and almost invariably conducted themt o successful fulfillment. He at once, as rapidly as he was able, formed contracts and began his operations. The Lincon & northwestern, Brownville & Ft. Kearney, Atchison & Nebraska and parts of the Burlington and Missouri were projected and carried out by Mr. Fitzgerald, and later he projected and built the line from Nemaha City to Tecumseh and another in Iowa from Humeston to Shenandoah, in the Southwestern part of the State, jointly for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, and the Wabash companies. He built the Burlington and Missouri into Plattsmouth, and also carried on the western extension of that road. It is impossible within the brief details of a biography to mention half the labor involved and half the details connected with the successful completion of these lines, which now afford a thoroughfare for vast quantities of the produce of Southern Nebraska, and transportation for hundreds of thousands of the traveling public. As public benefactor, the name of John Fitzgerald had attained a fame that is little short of national. His temperate judgement and his wise foresight have guided him successfully where other men would hve declared the scheme impossible of execution. It is scarcely necessary to say that upon crossing the Mississipi he was welcomed by the people of the Great West, as a most valued accession to this portion of the continent. In Lincoln, he succeeded Amasa Cobb as President of the First National Bank, and was also given this honored and responsible position with the same institution at Plattsmouth. A man of his genius and lage ideas could not otherwise than become interested in agriculture, and he is identified in both Lancaster and Cass counties largely with farming operations, is an extensive dealer in cattle and interestedin stock-raising generally. Considering the labors which he has undergone and the results which he has effected, one would naturally suppose them the fruits of a long lifetime, but John Fitzgerald is still an individual in his prime. It is hoped that he may long continue a resident of this great state of Nebraska, both to witness her continued prosperity and add still further to her importance. ----- John Fitzgerald was in Greenwood on Tuesday and Wednesday looking after his ranch near this place. Source: Greenwood Gazette, Friday, December 2, 1892, Pg. 1, Col. 1 ----- Martin Maher was a cousin of John Fitzgerald's. Fitzgerald brought Martin to the United States from Ireland and Maher lived with the Fitzgeralds at the Brick. Source: Greenwood Centennial Book, p. 180. ----- FITZGERALD DEAD Peaceful Close of a Long and Useful Life Estate Worth $1,500,000 Brief Biographical Sketch of Deceased - Know Wherever the Cause of Ireland's Liberty is Revered and Patriotism Honored. Close of a Busy Life Although not by any means unexpected, the news of the death of John Fitzgerald, which was heralded abroad yesterday morning, awakened considerable surprise. It was generally known that Mr. Fitzgerald's condition has for some weeks past been critical, but there were but few who knew that Father Roche, who had administered to his spiritual needs during his last illness, was called upon as early as last Wednesday to administer the rites usually observed at the near approach of death. Death came to the sufferer at 2:20 yesterday morning. he died surrounded by his family and spiritual ministers, peacefully and without pain. He was conscious of what was going on around im up to about an hour before his death and sought to console the loved ones who were about him. The scene at the bedside is said to have been a most effective one. The devoted wife, worn out with her tireless attentions during the long illness, seemed to be the especial object of the thoughts of the dying man, and he endeavored in every way possible to reassure and comfort her. he had called his family about his bed on Saturday and rendered to each the parting admonition. Mr. Fitzgerald's illness began three years ago with a stroke of paralysis and he lay for many weeks at that time at death's door, but finally rallied and in time became able to get around town again and devote some attention to affairs of business. His ailment at that time seems to have manifested itself chiefly in the brain and it was predicted tht he would never regain his mental vigor. When he again began to look after his business affairs it does not appear tht he was much the worse mentally, but it was apparent that his physical vigor was gone. One morning last summer he took a trip to his farm near Greenwood, and upon his return was again taken ill. Since that time his strength has steadily failed. His death is ascribed to general sclerosis of the arterial system, a general breaking down. It was not due to any technical disease. Deceased was a native of Limerick county, Ireland. He was born April 29, 1829. He came to America at the age of 15 years with the family of his father, the latter having been evicted from his farm in Ireland. They settled in New York, where the father soon afterward died. He began life as a laborer on the Erie Canal, but in company with his brother, Edward, soon branched out into business as a railroad contractor, a business which he pursued during the balance of his days,and in which he was signally successful. He built railroads in New England during the war and later came west and pursued the same business in Wisconsin and Iowa. In 1868, associated with R. C. Cushing, now of Omaha, Stephen Mallory and others as well known, he took a contract for the extension of the Burlington road through Iowa to Plattsmouth. They completed the work in 1869 and Mr. Fitzgerald at once took up his abode in Plattsmouth. He immediately commenced the construction of the B & M and completed it to Lincoln in July of the following year. After the B & M had been completed to Kearney to a junction with the Union Pacific, Mr. Fitzgerald built the Atchison of Nebraska, from Atchison, Kas. to Lincoln, besides several other branch lines. In 1875 he commenced the long line of the B & M from Hastings to Denver, via Red Cloud, finishing the road to the latter point in November of that year. The work of constructing the line to Denver continued at intervals until 1882, when it was finally completed. There are many other roads in the United States in the building of which the deceased and his associates were actively interested, among which are the Denver, Memphis and Atlantic, out of which grew the great lawsuit between deceased and a number of eatern money kings, including Jay Gould, Russel Sage and their clique, involving over a million, in which case deceased recently secured judgment in supreme court for $860,000. The St. Louis & Canada road through Indiana and the Cincinnati Southern road through Tennessee were also built by him and his business associates. In addition to his work in that line deceased was active in other lines of business. Especially was he a factor in baking and real estate transactions. He has dealt in real estate in many of the leading cities in the United States, and owned a large quantity of valuable real property at the time of his death. His possessions comprise a farm of about 4,000 acres near Greenwood in Cass county, large tracts in Gage and Jefferson counties and a large amount of city property in Plattsmouth and Lincoln. In the latter are notably his fine residence property comprising four blocks in the southeast part of the city, the large five-story building occupied by Plummer, Perry & Co's wholesale grocery house, of which firm he was a member, the building occupied by Mayer Bros., the building where his offices are located on the west side of government square, the vacant quarter block at Ninth and N streets and other properties almost as valuable. He was for years president of the First National Bank of this city and the First National bank of Plattsmouth. He recently disposed of his interests in the latter institution but he is still interested in the First National of this city. He has also been connected with the banking interests of other western cities. Prominent as he was in the business and financial world, it was as an Irish-American patriot tht the deceased achieved his chief celebrity. He was always ready to give and to do anything that was required to advance the interests of his native country. His sympathies for the oppressed of his native land was manifested on every possible occasion, and not only commanded his large means, but his time and energy as well. It is said that this active sympathy was first manifest at the time of the ill-fated Fenian invasion of Canada, when the deceased incurred a considerable outlay in the purchase of a large quantity of arms for use in that demonstration, which, however, were never used, but lay for years stored in boxes in the basement of his large building at Plattsmouth. In 1889, he was selected President of the Irish national league and devoted a great deal of his time to the work of that organization for several years. It was during his presidency that the organization did its most active and effective work, and even after he had been succeeded by M. V. Gannon, then located at Omaha, but no in Chicago, he accompanied a delegation of prominent Irish-Americans to ireland to endeavor to reconcile the factions that threatened the life of the league. His name was hallowed by every Irish patriot in this and the old world and is revered in the land of his nativity. Deceased was a devout Catholic, and his generosity in the character of a religious benefactor is manifest in many institutions that owe their establishement chiefly to his liberality. The convent of the Holy Child Jesus, formerly the state university dormitory, was purchased outright by him and given for the work to which it is now devoted. He gave largely of his ample means to the church in whose teachings he had been reared, and his voice in the administration of its affairs was a powerful one. Deceased leaves an estate that is estimated to be worth from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000, but it is difficult to place anything like an accurate valuation upon it. He leaves a family comprising his widow and four children. The latter are Ed. J., who is grown to manhood; John, aged about 18; Paul aged 12, and Lillian a girl of nine years. The former was not at home when his father died. He left home about a year ago, since which time his whereabouts have been unknown to his parents. When last heard from he was in Texas. Three sisters and one brother also survive. They are Mrs. Charles McEntee of Plattsmouth, Mrs. John Blake and Mrs. John Toomey, both of Lyndon, Wisconsin, and David Fitzgerald of this city, who has been associated with the deceased in railroad building for several years and conducted the building of the recent extension of the Burlington to Billings. The funeral will occur Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock in St. Theresa's pro-cathedral and the services will probably be conducted by Father O'Reilly of Detroit, who was prominently associated with deceased in his work as president of the Irish national league. If he is unable to come Father McGevney of Denver will probably officiate. Few unlettered men reach the prominence that was attained by John Fitzgerald in national affairs, and many anecdotes relating to his life will long be recited by his friends. He was generous beyond the wont of men and wealth, charitable, public spirited, enterprising, a kind father and husband, a good citizen, thoroughly honest and a tireless laborer in any field of usefulness in which he was found. Source: Lincoln Evening News, December 31, 1884, Pg. 1, Cols 1-2. ----- All members of the old Fitzgerald hose company and running teams are requested to meet at room 12 of the Capitol hotel at 7:30 this evening to make arrangements to attend the funeral of John Fitzgerald. The funeral of John Fitzgerald has been postponed until Thursday morning at 9:30, owing to the fact that relatives are unable to reach here by tomorrow, the original date of the funeral. The remains can be viewed by friends at the residence tomorrow afternoon and evening. Rev. Dr. Chas O'Reilley of Detroit, for along time a close friend of the deceased, having been treasurer of the national land league at the time Mr. Fitzgerald was president, will preach the funeral service, and Rev. Hugh Magaveny of Denver will sing high mass. Source: Lincoln Evening News, Jan 1, 1895, Pg. 5, Col. 3 ----- IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL Services Over the Remains of John Fitzgerald at the Cathedral The impressive funeral ceremonies of John Fitzgerald took place from St. Theresa's pro-cathedral this morning at 9:30. There were nearly one hundred hacks in line, and the obsequies were not concluded before one o'clock p.m. High mass was conducted by Rev. Hugh L. Mageveney of Denver, and the Rev. Dr. O'Reilly, of Detroit, delivered the funeral oration. The casket was of light wood, elaborately carved, and banked with a rich profusion of the rarest flowers that could procured of florists. At an early hour the pro-cathedral was thronged with friends of the deceased, and by the time the ceremonies were well advanced there was not an inch of standing room available in the spacious edifice. By the residents of Lincoln it was claimed that it was the largest funeral ever witnessed in the city. The procession, which extended for over three blocks, was led by the local lodge of the Ancient Order of Ibernians, followed by the members of the Catholic Union club and the Fitzgerald hose team pulling the old running cart decorated with the badges of mourning. The floral tributes were of the finest. The pall-bearers were N. S. Harwood, R. A. Perry, F. M. Hall, T. E. Calvert, J. J. Butler, I. M. Raymond, W. M. Clark and Judge Fitzgerald of St. Marys, Kan. The services were very long and impressive, occupying more than three hours. At the close of the procession was reformed and the remains escorted to their last resting-place in St. Theresa's cemetery, where brief services were also held. ----- Nearly a third of a million dollars was placed in the First National Bank at Lincoln Thursday of last week to the credit of the Fitzgerald estate. This is the sum which the estate obtained judgment for against the Missouri Pacific. Its payment ends a long and prominent suit at law. Source: Greenwood Gazette, Sat, Feb 1, 1896, Pg. 1. Col. 2 -----