Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 608.
 
J. K. FITZWATER

     has spent a life, which, if written in detail, would fill a volume and make
exceedingly interesting reading. He has been constantly on the frontier and a
great deal of the time in the roughest portion of the west, being exposed to all
dangers incident to such a life, and especially to savages, whom he has fought
many times. He was born in Jackson county, Missouri, on February 8, 1845.  His
father, John Fitzwater, was born in St. Louis county, Missouri, and his
ancestors were among the earliest pioneers of that country. He died in 1856. He
had married Miss Mary Johnson, who was also a native of Missouri, and who died
when our subject was an infant. When J. K. was a small boy he went with his
father to Nebraska City, Nebraska, where he received his education. In those
early days the plains were filled with buffaloes and it was rare sport to get
such large game. When twelve young Fitzwater was obliged to make his own living
and from that time to the present he has maintained himself and made his own
fortune. In 1859 he was engaged in freighting from Kansas City to Mexico and
also from Nebraska City and Fort Leavenworth to other points on the frontier. He
had many wild and trying experiences in these journeys and had many hand to hand
fights with the vicious savages. On one occasion they stole all the stock of the
train. This was on Pole Creek. Mr. Fitzwater traveled all over the west, having
been in Texas, Mexico. Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, California,
Washington and Oregon, besides many other states and territories. After
freighting for many years he settled to sheep raising in Wyoming, having also
had some experience in mining. It was in 1880 when Mr. Fitzwater came to Oregon,
and after cruising about for some time selected a location south from where
Condon now stands.  He handled his sheep there until about eighteen years since
when he came to his present location, which is twenty miles west from Condon. He
gave close attention to business, and has, therefore, been prospered in his
labors. He now has two thousand acres of valuable land, a large band of sheep
and considerable other stock and property. All this magnificent holding is the
result of his labor and skill and Mr. Fitzwater has just reason to be proud of
his success. All his life he has been on the frontier and has done nobly the
arduous labors of the pioneer.
     In 1877 Mr. Fitzwater married Miss Fannie Cornett, who was born in Jackson
county, Missouri. Ed Cornett, her father, was a prominent man and crossed the
plains in 1852. He made a great deal of money in the mines of California. To Mr.
and Mrs. Fitzwater nine children have been born, Blanche, Grace, Bessie, Pearl,
Beulah, Myrille, Robert, Hazel and Ruth.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2010 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.