Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Fitzgerald, William  1829 - 1917
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Rhett Callahan gemeliel@yahoo.com April 9, 2008, 11:02 am

Author: Dick Fitzgerald

William Fitzgerald 1829-1917
It is believed William Fitzgerald was born in 1829 somewhere in County Kildare 
Ireland. He died March 13, 1917 age 88 at the home e of his daughter Minnie 
White 365 State St. Manhattan, IL. Burial at Mr. Olivet Cemetery, Wilmington, 
IL. William along with five brothers came to the United States in the early 
1860’s. Tow brother stayed in the New York area. Two brothers one of them 
Joseph went as far west as Denver, Colorado. William and his brother Garrett 
settled near the Kankakee River and Custer Park in Illinois. Garrett died 
suddenly while hunting buffalo in Colorado on Dec 27, 1871 at age 38. His 
brother Joseph returned the body to Wilmington for burial Jan 3, 1872. An old 
Wilmington newspaper dated Jan 6, 1872 stated he left a wife and family. 
Nothing else is known of the brothers or relatives in Wilmington.
William farmed in the Custer Park area. In the winters, after the Wabash 
Railroad came through from St. Louis to Chicago he worked cutting ice on the 
Kankakee River. Ice was stored near the river and later moved by rail to 
Chicago. William operated a General Grocery Store in the 1880’s and 90’s in 
Custer Park and in 1896 was named Postmaster of Custer Township. He was known 
as king of the horse traders in the area. In later years when his eyesight 
failed he moved to Manhattan around 1907. He was blind several years before he 
died. Custer Park in those days was the place for the City folks to come on 
weekends; they came by the hundreds or more for their recreation and 
entertainment. They came by train at daylight and stayed till the sun went 
down all summer long.
William married Marry McCuen in Bourbonnais, Kankakee Co.,  IL, on Sept. 22, 
1867; attendants were Thomas McCuen and Katie Glenny. They were blessed with 
five children Minnie b. Aug 23, 1868 d. 1952, Sousie b. <ay 20, 1872 (died 
infancy), Willie b. July 28, 1875 (died infancy), Susie b. Oct 30, 1877 d. Oct 
25, 1969, James b. Dec. 16, 1879 d. Feb 25, 1954. Mrs. Fitzgerald 9Marry was 
b. Nov 18, 1848 d. March 7, 1896 of tuberculosis.
Minnie married Nickolas White in St. Lawrence Church Essex, IL. On June 22, 
1892, attendants were James Sweeney and Susie Fitzgerald. They were blessed 
with seven children Mary (Goodwin) b. July 28, 1893, Susan b. May 11, 1895 d. 
infancy. William b. June 8, 1897. Joseph b. Feb 8, 1900, Irene (Thies) b. Oct. 
28, 1902. Raymond b. June 8, 1904, d. infancy, Charles b. July 18, 1907, all 
the White’s are deceased.
Susie married William Delaney in Immaculate conception Church in Coal City, 
Il. On Oct 14, 1903, attendants were Eddie Delaney and Kittie Toomey. They 
were blessed with five children Blanch (Neilson-Stettler) b. July 28, 1904, d. 
1974. Gerald, b. Oct 18, 1906. Loretta (Breen) b. Mar. 24, 1909 (Howard) b. 
June 11, 1912 d. 1964, Ralph b. Feb 12, 1917.
James married Angela MacKin in St. Joseph Church Manhattan, Il. On Sept 2, 
1908 attendants were James Hines and Winifred Lynk. They were blessed with 
eight children William Peter b. May 28, 1909, d. July 11, 1909, Robert Joseph 
b. July 3, 1910 married Martha Long seven children Marilyn (Doyle), Susie 
(Robles), James 9desceased), John, Joseph 9deceased), Jean (Weber), and David. 
James Harley b. mar 2, 1912, d. June 15 1971 married Mary Carlos six children: 
William, Thomas, Terrance, Carol (Birsa), Janet (stab), and Maureen (Switzer). 
Raymond Patrick b. May 25, 1914 married Eleanor McLaughlin four children 
Jerald (Brother-Kevin), Judith (Dolan), Colleen (Daub), and Patrick. Mary 
Agnes b. Aug 19, 1917 married Eugene Carlos six children: Eugene, Michael, 
Margaret, (Walsh), Sharon (Magnuson), Philip, and Dennis. Leo Francis b. Feb 
11, 1921 d. Feb 26, 1957 married Helen Ratkovich two children Dale and Sandra. 
Richard Paul b. Oct 28, 1922 married Bernice Welske two children Richard and 
Kathleen (Plese). Charles Donald b. May 20, 1927 married Geraldine Gagliardo 
three children Kevin, Christopher, and Jonathan. This leaves a lot of names 
and dates to be filled din on the 4th and 5th generation, seems like a good 
time for someone younger to take over.
Marry and William are buried in the old section of the cemetery. A new marker 
has been set at the grave site. The location is off Kahler Road on West Street 
to the end of the chain fence, follow the old drive to the rear of right side.
I would like to thank those who helped me put the above information together, 
Gerald Delany and Loretta Breen for sharing Aunt Susie’s bible. My brother bob 
and sister Mary for there recollection of some names and dates. To Roy Clemens 
of Custer Park my wife’s Uncle who is some 90 years young but still remembers 
Grandpa Billy as he knew him, riding with him in his pony cart and dealing his 
horses as a boy. Also the Library at Wilmington has copies of old newspapers 
on microfilm. They also have a book by Thomas H. Evans “on the Bank of the 
River and the Creek: a history of Custer Park as he remembers it.
That’s it folks, I’ve been at this off and on since June.
December 21, 1987
Dick Fitzgerald
NOTE: I also have located where Peter and Julie Mackin are buried in St. 
Patrick’s cemetery off of Jefferson Street, Jolliet, Il. There is no marker 
her but ht graves are to the left of the Ring stone some 100 t. inside the 
East entrance on the left of driveway, behind a Murphy stone. Peter died in 
1882. Julie died in 1899, have not been able to determine the year of birth.


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