My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH FITZ. Among the many fine and prosperous-looking places that greet the eye of a traveler on the main road running north from Kearney, through Divide township, is that of this gentleman. He was born in County Down, Ireland, September 15, 1839, and comes of Scotch-Irish descent. His father, Joseph Fitz, a cooper and gunsmith by trade, was a native of Scotland, born in the year 1797; and his mother, Ellen (Murphy) Fitz, a native of Ireland, was born in 1808. There were eight children in the father’s family — all boys. His parents were both zealous members of the Episcopal church.

Mr. Fitz, the subject proper of this sketch, resided with his father in Ireland until eighteen years of age, coming to this country in July, 1847, and locating at Ledgedale, Wayne county, Pa. Here he resided for thirteen years, during which time he served an apprenticeship and worked at the carpenter trade, and was overseer of teams for the Moss Tanning Company. In 1860 he removed to Bradford county, and worked at carpentering for two years, after which he returned to Ledgedale, and in the spring of 1872, on account of the great demand for carpenters, caused by the big fire of the fall before, he moved to Chicago. Here he pursued his trade until the spring of 1874, when he concluded to seek his fortune in the then far West. He, accordingly, came to Buffalo county that spring, and purchased the southeast quarter of section 23, township 10, range 16, his present residence. The same spring he took a timber claim — the southwest quarter of section 14, same township and range. The following fall he bought two car loads of lumber from Chicago, built a small frame house, and broke a portion of his raw land. In 1876 he had thirty acres in corn and fifty acres in wheat, but, on account of drought and grasshoppers, he lost all his corn and harvested but three bushels of wheat to the acre. There was a general failure in crops that year, and many settlers became discouraged and left the country. Mr. Fitz offered the quarter section on which he lived for $400, but could not sell even at that low figure. He has had good average crops ever since, and a palatial residence, together with other valuable improvements, show his prosperity and speak for his industrious and economical habits. In the meantime, however, he worked at his trade for ten months in Chicago. He has in all three hundred and twenty acres of the best land in Divide township, and has broken in all one hundred and eighty acres. He has eleven acres of thrifty growing timber, which of itself is a valuable addition to a farm in this country, where little timber is to be found. He is also owner of over eighty head of horses and cattle.

Mr. Fitz was married April 15, 1867, to Elizabeth Patterson, who was born in the city of Rondout, Ulster county, N. Y., July 9, 1851. Her father, Robert Patterson, a native of Ireland, was born in 1828, and her mother, Jane (Henry) Patterson, also a native of Ireland, was born in 1830. There were three children in the father’s family — one boy and two girls — of which Mrs. Fitz is the eldest. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Fitz has been blessed with a family of children, as follows — Jane, born August 7, 1869 (deceased); Robert P., born October 10, 1870; William J., born February 17, 1873; John H., born April 3, 1875 (deceased); Lilly M., born May 23, 1878; Jane E., born December 9, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Fitz are both members of the Presbyterian church, and take an active interest in church affairs. The former has been a member of the church since 1877; the latter, since October, 1869. Mr. Fitz affiliates with the republican party.