Biography - WILLIAM FITZJARRELL

William FITZJARRELL, retired farmer, Raymond, was born in Warren County, Ohio, October 3, 1815. He received a limited education, and at fifteen years of age he was brought to Macoupin County, Ill., by his parents, but permanently located in Jersey County. In 1849, he bought land and moved where Plainview now is, in Macoupin County, where he remained seven years. He then moved to Montgomery County, and settled 200 acres of land, on which he was the first settler. He erected a farm residence, and made all other improvements, and by his energy and industry he soon added to the above property, which numbered at one time nearly hour hundred acres. He devoted his time to growing the usual farm crops and raising stock, and, perhaps, no man has ever done more for the advancement, growth and prosperity of the agricultural interests of Montgomery County. He was noted for his hospitality, and his house was made the stopping place of all travelers. He was regularly ordained as a Baptist minister on Christmas Day, 1842, but previous to this had received a license and had been preaching in the neighboring towns and villages. For something over twenty years he filled the pulpit at Little Flock Church, at Honey Bend; has served the people of the county as Associate Judge four years. He was married in Greene County, November 10, 1836, to Miss Elizabeth COURTNEY, born in Madison County February 20, 1817. They have six children, viz.: William R., Tabitha A., Cyrus, Naomi, Harriet and Meredith. All his sons are farmers, and his daughters are all married - Tabitha, wife of J. W. ASH; Naomi, wife of Isaac F. LAWLER; Harriet A., wife of James F. THOMAS. Mrs. FITZJARRELL was a daughter of William COURTNEY, a native of Kentucky, and one of the early settlers of Illinois. He settled in Madison County in 1809; his death occurred in May, 1835. His wife, Margaret BARNETT, was also a native of Kentucky; she died in 1845. The father of William, the subject of this sketch, Eli FITZJARRELL, was a native of New Jersey, and one of the early settlers of Macoupin County; was a farmer and stock-raiser by occupation in Warren County, Ohio, but had in an early day taught school in New Jersey. He died December 18, 1854. The mother of William, Tabitha KELSEY, was also a native of New Jersey. She was the mother of sixteen children, of whom William was the second. She died October 24, 1856. In early life, Mr. F. was identified with the old Whig party, but since its day his sympathies have been with the Democratic party. He has always been an energetic worker in the cause of temperance.

Extracted 20 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 218-219.