Biography of J. M. Fitzhenry - Conway Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Cathy Barnes Date: 21 Jun 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. Goodspeed Publishers, 1891. page 65 Capt. J. M. Fitzhenry, a citizen of Morrilton, and proprietor of the Fitzhenry Hotel, was born in Kentucky in 1825; was oldest in a family of ten children born to Edward and Julia Ann (Jarboe) Fitzhenry. Father was a native of Ireland, and came to America about 1820; mother was a native of Maryland. Father was a well- known hotel keeper at Bardstown, and later a merchant at Louisville. In 1849 he took a stock of goods and started for St. Joseph, Mo., and on a steamboat which sank on the Missouri River he lost everything, but he proceeded to St. Joseph and started a small business. It is supposed that he was murdered there, as his family soon ceased to hear from him, and close investigation later failed to reveal any clue to his destiny. Mother died at. Uniontown in 1868. Our subject attended the common county schools, and at the age of 19 years began learning the carpenter's trade, but after serving a short time, he enlisted as a soldier for the Mexican war. He was in the battle of Monterey; was serving as an escort while in the battle of Buena Vista. After the war, returned to Kentucky, and completed his apprenticeship, and then worked for a time as journeyman in Louisville, and in 1852 went to Uniontown, Kentucky, where he ran a planing mill, manufactured lumber, and did contracting and mill work. He erected six churches in Union County. In 1880 came to Morrilton, and at once began business as a contractor and builder. He erected the convent, some of the business houses, and many of the most tasty residences of that place. In 1861 Mr. Fitzhenry recruited a company for the Confederate army, of which he was elected Captain. He was in the battle of Shiloh, and many minor engagements, and was a portion of the time engaged in recruiting. Our subject was married November 20, 1848, to Miss Rose Ann Jarboe, a cousin. To this union were born ten children, only one of whom, Alice (wife of I. A. Mattingly) is now living. The family are members of the Catholic Church.