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. 890.
 
JAMES T. FITZGERALD

     is a farmer and stock raiser residing five miles south from Lakeview. He is
a native of McMinn county, Tennessee, born June 3, 1830, and the son of Joseph
B. Fitzgerald, a native of Jackson county, Tennessee, and Nancy (Thomas)
Fitzgerald, also a native of Tennessee. The grandfather, also a native of
Tennessee, was a veteran of the Indian wars of colonial days.
     Mr. Fitzgerald grew to manhood in the state of his birth, acquiring a
common school education in a subscription school held in a log house. He was
married September 8, 1851, to Sarah Neil, who was born within five miles of the
birthplace of our subject, June 14, 1832. Her parents were John and Sarah (Lane)
Neil, both natives of Tennessee. Her father was the son of Irish parents, and
her mother's father was Isaac Lane, a soldier in the Revolutionary War, who
lived to be ninety-eight years of age, when he was killed in an accident.
     In 1859 Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald removed to Laclede county, Missouri, and
remained there during the Civil War. Here they accumulated considerable
property, but it was all destroyed by the soldiers during the war. During
Price's last raid through that section Mr. Fitzgerald was informed by Colonel
Cosgrove of the union troops that if he did not accompany his command he would
be considered a bushwhacker, and as such be dealt with. Our subject was
persuaded by this argument to become a member of Colonel Cosgrove's band,
severing his connection with it thirty days later.
     In the fall of 1870 Mr. Fitzgerald left Missouri and brought his family to
Jackson county, Oregon and settled near Ashland. Two years later he was employed
by the government as teamster in Major Wright's command, and served in that
capacity during the Modoc War. After the war he returned to Ashland, and in May,
1873, came to Goose Lake valley, and located south of the present site of
Lakeview. Lake county was at that time a part of Jackson county, and Mr.
Fitzgerald was instrumental in having the present Lake county created and the
county seat located at Lakeview.
     Mr. Fitzgerald came to Ashland with only seventy-five cents to his name,
but made some money during the Modoc War, and during the war he purchased a
right to a claim seven miles south from Lakeview. When he came here to live he
filed an additional homestead and began at once to improve his farm and he now
has one of the pleasantest and most valuable homes in the valley. He has two
hundred acres of land in all, the greater part of which is suitable to the
growth of hay, and is under irrigation.
     During his life here he has been constable and for two years he was deputy
sheriff. He was made the Lakeview lodge of that order. He and Mrs. Fitzgerald
are members of the Baptist church. They have been parents of five children:
Nancy J., wife of John O'Neil, of Pine Creek; Montez, who died in Missouri;
Esther N., wife of Loyal Carter, Santa Rosa, California; John N., married to
Bertha Pike, Lakeview; and George C. Fitzgerald, who is a wool grower of Lake
county and a partner with his father in the stock business.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2011 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.