Biography - Cyrus Fitzjarrell
Cyrus
Fitzjarrell, whose activity in business affairs has resulted in
the acquirement of a handsome competence, is now engaged in buying and
shipping stock at Raymond, and the volume of his business insures him a good
annual income. He was born in Jersey county, Illinois, November 6, 1846, and
is a son of Judge William Fitzjarrell, whose birth occurred in Ohio on the
3d of October, 1815. Eli Fitzjarrell, the paternal grandfather of our
subject, was a native of New Jersey, and was of Scotch-Irish descent, his
ancestors having located in New Jersey during the colonial epoch in our
country's history. Eli Fitzjarrell came to Illinois in 1830, settling in
Macoupin county and there his son, Judge William Fitzjarrell, was reared to
manhood and as a companion and helpmate on life's journey he chose Miss
Elizabeth Courtney, who was born in Madison county, Illinois. They removed
to Montgomery county in 1856, locating in Zanesville township, where Judge
Fitzjarrell opened up a tract of land and improved an excellent farm,
carrying on agricultural pursuits with access for many years. Upon that
place he reared his family and spent many years, but his last days were
passed in Raymond in honorable retirement from labor. He died there May 7,
1900, while his wife passed away February 14, 1883. He had been active and
influential in community affairs and his labors proved of benefit to the
locality. He was one of the associate judges of the county and served in
other local offices, discharging his duties so promptly and capably that no
word of condemnation was ever uttered against his official career. In his
family were three sons and three daughters, of whom two sons and two
daughters are yet living.
Cyrus Fitzjarrell was reared in Zanesville township upon the old home farm
and assisted in its operation, working in field and meadow as soon as his
age and strength permitted. He attended the common schools to some extent,
but is largely self-educated, adding to his knowledge through reading,
observation and experience since attaining adult age. He was married in
Zanesville township. September 12, 1867, to Miss Eliza A. Greenwood, a
native of Kentucky and a daughter of Joseph Greenwood, who removed from the
Blue Grass state to Illinois, becoming one of the early residents of
Macoupin county, where Mrs. Fitzjarrell was reared and educated. The young
couple began their domestic life upon the old home farm. Mr. Fitzjarrell
succeeding to the ownership of a valuable tract of four hundred acres. He
built a good residence, added other buildings, kept everything about his
place in neat repair and in addition to the cultivation of the cereals best
adapted to soil and climate he also engaged in the raising and feeding of
stock, continuing in this business until 1903. He then placed the farm in
charge of his son and removed to Raymond, where he is now engaged in the
buying and shipping of stock. He has followed this business for many years
and makes weekly shipments of both cattle and hogs, sending out about one
hundred carloads annually. His business has now reached extensive
proportions and because of his correct estimate of the value of the stock he
is enabled to make judicious purchases and profitable sales. Mr. Fitzjarrell
is also financially interested in the Raymond National Bank, which he
assisted in organizing and of which he is now a director and vice president.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Fitzjarrell has been blessed with three children:
Etta, now the wife of Dr. W. F. Waggoner, a physician of Carrollton,
Illinois; Harry B., who is married and was a medical student in the
Northwestern University at Chicago, completing his course with the class of
June, 1904; and William Ross, who is married and operates the home farm.
They also lost two sons in infancy, Frankie and Cyrus Newton.
Politically Mr. Fitzjarrell is a stanch Democrat and in Zanesville township
he was elected for two terms to represent his district on the county board
of supervisors. He has been a delegate to numerous conventions of his party
and earnestly desires Democratic success, doing all in his power to secure
the growth of the party organization. Fraternally he is a Master Mason. His
standing in the county is that of an honorable, enterprising business man
and reliable citizen, and in the control of his private interests he has won
both prosperity and an honored name.
Extracted 01 Jul 2017 by Norma Hass from 1904 Past and Present of Montgomery County, Illinois, pages 543-547.
