Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Fitzgerald, William 1829 - 1917 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarch.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarch.org/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Rhett Callahan gemeliel@yahoo.com April 9, 2008, 11:02 am Author: Dick Fitzgerald William Fitzgerald 1829-1917 It is believed William Fitzgerald was born in 1829 somewhere in County Kildare Ireland. He died March 13, 1917 age 88 at the home e of his daughter Minnie White 365 State St. Manhattan, IL. Burial at Mr. Olivet Cemetery, Wilmington, IL. William along with five brothers came to the United States in the early 1860’s. Tow brother stayed in the New York area. Two brothers one of them Joseph went as far west as Denver, Colorado. William and his brother Garrett settled near the Kankakee River and Custer Park in Illinois. Garrett died suddenly while hunting buffalo in Colorado on Dec 27, 1871 at age 38. His brother Joseph returned the body to Wilmington for burial Jan 3, 1872. An old Wilmington newspaper dated Jan 6, 1872 stated he left a wife and family. Nothing else is known of the brothers or relatives in Wilmington. William farmed in the Custer Park area. In the winters, after the Wabash Railroad came through from St. Louis to Chicago he worked cutting ice on the Kankakee River. Ice was stored near the river and later moved by rail to Chicago. William operated a General Grocery Store in the 1880’s and 90’s in Custer Park and in 1896 was named Postmaster of Custer Township. He was known as king of the horse traders in the area. In later years when his eyesight failed he moved to Manhattan around 1907. He was blind several years before he died. Custer Park in those days was the place for the City folks to come on weekends; they came by the hundreds or more for their recreation and entertainment. They came by train at daylight and stayed till the sun went down all summer long. William married Marry McCuen in Bourbonnais, Kankakee Co., IL, on Sept. 22, 1867; attendants were Thomas McCuen and Katie Glenny. They were blessed with five children Minnie b. Aug 23, 1868 d. 1952, Sousie b. <ay 20, 1872 (died infancy), Willie b. July 28, 1875 (died infancy), Susie b. Oct 30, 1877 d. Oct 25, 1969, James b. Dec. 16, 1879 d. Feb 25, 1954. Mrs. Fitzgerald 9Marry was b. Nov 18, 1848 d. March 7, 1896 of tuberculosis. Minnie married Nickolas White in St. Lawrence Church Essex, IL. On June 22, 1892, attendants were James Sweeney and Susie Fitzgerald. They were blessed with seven children Mary (Goodwin) b. July 28, 1893, Susan b. May 11, 1895 d. infancy. William b. June 8, 1897. Joseph b. Feb 8, 1900, Irene (Thies) b. Oct. 28, 1902. Raymond b. June 8, 1904, d. infancy, Charles b. July 18, 1907, all the White’s are deceased. Susie married William Delaney in Immaculate conception Church in Coal City, Il. On Oct 14, 1903, attendants were Eddie Delaney and Kittie Toomey. They were blessed with five children Blanch (Neilson-Stettler) b. July 28, 1904, d. 1974. Gerald, b. Oct 18, 1906. Loretta (Breen) b. Mar. 24, 1909 (Howard) b. June 11, 1912 d. 1964, Ralph b. Feb 12, 1917. James married Angela MacKin in St. Joseph Church Manhattan, Il. On Sept 2, 1908 attendants were James Hines and Winifred Lynk. They were blessed with eight children William Peter b. May 28, 1909, d. July 11, 1909, Robert Joseph b. July 3, 1910 married Martha Long seven children Marilyn (Doyle), Susie (Robles), James 9desceased), John, Joseph 9deceased), Jean (Weber), and David. James Harley b. mar 2, 1912, d. June 15 1971 married Mary Carlos six children: William, Thomas, Terrance, Carol (Birsa), Janet (stab), and Maureen (Switzer). Raymond Patrick b. May 25, 1914 married Eleanor McLaughlin four children Jerald (Brother-Kevin), Judith (Dolan), Colleen (Daub), and Patrick. Mary Agnes b. Aug 19, 1917 married Eugene Carlos six children: Eugene, Michael, Margaret, (Walsh), Sharon (Magnuson), Philip, and Dennis. Leo Francis b. Feb 11, 1921 d. Feb 26, 1957 married Helen Ratkovich two children Dale and Sandra. Richard Paul b. Oct 28, 1922 married Bernice Welske two children Richard and Kathleen (Plese). Charles Donald b. May 20, 1927 married Geraldine Gagliardo three children Kevin, Christopher, and Jonathan. This leaves a lot of names and dates to be filled din on the 4th and 5th generation, seems like a good time for someone younger to take over. Marry and William are buried in the old section of the cemetery. A new marker has been set at the grave site. The location is off Kahler Road on West Street to the end of the chain fence, follow the old drive to the rear of right side. I would like to thank those who helped me put the above information together, Gerald Delany and Loretta Breen for sharing Aunt Susie’s bible. My brother bob and sister Mary for there recollection of some names and dates. To Roy Clemens of Custer Park my wife’s Uncle who is some 90 years young but still remembers Grandpa Billy as he knew him, riding with him in his pony cart and dealing his horses as a boy. Also the Library at Wilmington has copies of old newspapers on microfilm. They also have a book by Thomas H. Evans “on the Bank of the River and the Creek: a history of Custer Park as he remembers it. That’s it folks, I’ve been at this off and on since June. December 21, 1987 Dick Fitzgerald NOTE: I also have located where Peter and Julie Mackin are buried in St. Patrick’s cemetery off of Jefferson Street, Jolliet, Il. There is no marker her but ht graves are to the left of the Ring stone some 100 t. inside the East entrance on the left of driveway, behind a Murphy stone. Peter died in 1882. Julie died in 1899, have not been able to determine the year of birth. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/fitzgera31bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ilfiles/ File size: 6.0 Kb