|
a.
|
Continued: Michael Fitzgerald was born in the town of Castle-Gregory in the barony of Corkaquiney, in the parish of Killeiny, in th e county of Kerry, in the province of Munster, in Ireland in 8114. He married Mary O'Rourke on June 12, 1835 at st. Mary's Catholic Church in castle-gregory. I know some may disagree with this but the church records show this and that a son Maurice was christened on July 18, 1841. Michael Fitzgerald of the second generations death certificate states his mother was Mary O'Rourke. I believe Josie was her nick name. They came to the U.S. in 1846 with their children Maurice, Michael and Mray. He worked on the Illinois and Michigan canal. It was under construction from 1836 to 1848. when the canal reached LaSalle, Illinois, he quit and purchased 139.35 acres (the northwest fractional quarter of section 31, township 35). He used the money he saved working on the canal and a pouch of gold that he brought from Ireland (this pouch was last in the possession of his son Edward) to buy the land. Michael could not read or write and did not know he had to pay property taxes and after two years he lost the land but I don't think they ever moved. On this land they first built and lived in a sod house, later they built a log cabin and finally a permanent house which was destroyed in the early 1980's to make way for Interstate 39. On Nov 1, 1854 Michael's brother Maurice repurchased this original land from George and Julia tallman for $557.40. On Oct 7, 1857, Maurice sold the land to Michael plus 40 acres (the s.e. quarter of the s.w. quarter of section 2, Dimmick) for $1737. Maurice loaned him the money and he paid this loan complete on May 17, 1860. this property is located at the SE corner of US 532 and I39. after their deaths this land went to their son edward by paying his brothers. In 1870 Michael bought the adjoining 80 acres east of the 139.35. After their deaths their son thomas obtained this land by paying his brothers. In the fall of 1899 Thomas ubilt a home on it and it is now occupied by his daughter Mary "Mayme" Fitzgerald. Josie died between 1846 and 1853 from the severe winters and hardships of pioneer life. Josie is believed to be buired in the Irish Cemetary located on the Burkhart farm in LaSalle Township, around 1910 the monuments and grave markers in this cemetary were uprooted and the land plowed over. There is no record of who are buried there. After her death Michael returned to Ireland with his son Maurice and the returned to the U.S. in 1854 with the 4 Moore children Mary, Hanora, Patrick and Josephine. They were the children of william and Katherine (Sullivan) Moore. Mary was his housekeeper and a year later he married her. also, his son Maurice married another of these children Hanora. In 1860 they valued their real estate at $2,100 and their personal property at $175. In 1870 they valued their real estate at $9,000 and their personal property at $1,700. In 1889 they valued their real estate at $11,000. Michael died on May 1, 1889 and Mary died in 1899, they are buired in St. vincent's Cemetery, LaSalle, Illinois. (this information was pulled from the Carl Hanley Fitzgerald family History). Carl's address at the time of the writing was 1218 will Drive, Lockport, Illinois, 60441.
|