Santa
Clara County
Biographies
JAMES FITZGERALD
Distinguished not only for his able
assistance in developing the agricultural resources of Santa Clara county, but
as a representative of one of the most prominent and honored pioneer families
of this section of the state, James Fitzgerald, living three miles east of
Gilroy, is well deserving of special mention. A man of decided push and energy, well educated and well informed,
he carried on general farming in a systematic and scientific manner for many
years, meeting with genuine success in his labors, but is now living retired
from active pursuits. Deeply interested in local affairs, he is a generous
promoter of all enterprises calculated to promote the prosperity of the town
and county, and enjoys to a high degree the esteem and confidence of his
neighbors and friends. A son of Patrick Fitzgerald, he was born June 1, 1838,
in Dorchester county, province of Quebec, Canada. His paternal grandfather,
James Fitzgerald, for whom he was named, was a large landholder in Ireland, and
took a prominent part in the Irish Rebellion. Losing much of his property
during the Revolution, he immigrated from his native
land to America, settling with his family in Dorchester county, Quebec, where
he spent his remaining years.
Born in Carlow
county, Ireland, in 1800, Patrick Fitzgerald came with his parents to Canada,
and having purchase land in Dorchester county, was there actively engaged in
general farming until his death, when but forty-nine years old. He married
Johanna Murphy, who was born in County Wexford, Ireland, a daughter of Martin
Murphy, Sr., who, in 1844, led the first emigrant train to the Pacific coast,
and was distinguished as being one of California’s most daring and wonderful
pioneers. A sketch of his life may be found elsewhere in this volume. In 1851,
two years after the death of her husband, Mrs. Fitzgerald came by way of Panama
to California, accompanying her brother, Bernard Murphy, who made his first
trip across the continent in 1844, with his father, but had returned to Quebec
in the winter of 1850-51, had married there, and came back with his bride to
the home which he had previously established. Locating on what is now the Hot
Springs road, three miles east of Gilroy, Mrs. Fitzgerald bought land, in course
of time becoming the owner of twelve hundred acres. Building a residence, and
making all the improvements needed on a model ranch, she lived here, beloved
and respected by all, until her death, December 28, 1900, at the venerable age
of eighty-six years. She was a woman of much force of character, energetic and
capable, and was noted for her benevolence and generosity. She bore her husband
six children, namely: Helen Pauline, widow of the late Edward Shilue, owns and occupies a part of the old home farm; James,
the subject of this sketch; Mary, residing at the old home; Annie, San Jose, is
Sister Anna Raphael of the Notre Dame College; Marcella, living at the old home
and John S., engaged in farming on the Hot Springs road. Marcella Fitzgerald is
a woman of recognized literary ability and talent, being a liberal contributor
to many of the leading newspapers and periodicals of the day, and one of the
best and most accurate historians in Santa Clara county.
Exceptionally endowed as to her perceptive and imaginative powers, she
expresses her thoughts most gracefully and pleasantly in verse, and is noted as
the author of a book of poems published by a New York firm.
The eldest son, and the second
child, of the parental household, James Fitzgerald was but a youth when the
death of his father occurred. Leaving New York City on May 5, 1851, he
journeyed, with the family, by steamer to Chagres, thence by boat up the
Chagres river to Gorgona, and from there by muleback (sic) to Panama, where, after waiting two weeks to
secure a passage, the entire party came by the Old Oregon to San Francisco,
landing there on June 18, 1851. Attending first a private school in San Rafael,
James Fitzgerald completed his early education at the Santa Clara College,
after which he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, assisting in the
care of his mother’s ranch. With the other members of the family, he carried on
general farming and stock-raising, in addition to the home estate owning a
cattle ranch of sixteen hundred acres in the mountains, on the Coyote, until
1902, when it was sold. Mr. Fitzgerald and his two sisters, Mary and Marcella,
who live on the old home farm, own five hundred acres of rich farming land on
the Hot Springs road, their estate running to within a quarter of a mile of the
city limits of Gilroy. This land they rent, and are living retired. In
politics, Mr. Fitzgerald is independent, using his own best judgment in casting
his ballot instead of blindly following any leader, or giving an unqualified
adherence to any party. Though interested in the welfare and advancement of
town and county, he has steadily refused all official honors.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 850-853.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Cecelia M. Setty.