John C. Fitzgerald
John C. FitzGerald, of Grand Rapids, is practically a native of Michigan. His mother, Sylvia Strickland, was of Puritan stock, while his father, Jeremiah FitzGerald, was a native of New York. He was born in Berlin, Huron county, Ohio, in 1835, and when an infant his parents removed to Springport, Jackson county, Mich., where his father engaged in farming. Jeremiah FitzGerald served as a captain of volunteers in the war of 1812, and after removing to Michigan was one of the sturdy pioneers of Jackson county.
The subject of this sketch had the advantages and the disadvantages in his early days of the average farmer’s boy, with the obligation to work as soon as able, and the privilege of attending the district school during a few months of the year. His early education was secured under difficulties which to many would have seemed insurmountable. With many earned by teaching district school he was enabled to attend Albion college. In his work at home and afterwards at Albion, he had steadily in view the purpose of studying law, and upon leaving school went to Jackson and entered the office of Austin Blair, afterward Michigan’s governor. His admission to the bar took place in 1858, after which he continued to practice in Jackson until early in 1860, when he removed to Marshall, Calhoun county. The bar of Calhoun county at that time was second to none in the state, and Mr. FitzGerald was compelled to and did win his place through unflagging and energetic devotion to the business entrusted to him. He remained there until 1873, and built up a large and profitable practice. He held the office of prosecuting attorney from 1861 to 1865, and was also state senator in 1869, declining to serve beyond the one term. With the exception of a nomination for congress for the Grand Rapids district in 1884, he has at other time engaged in politics. On this occasion he was defeated with his party. In 1873 he was invited to enter into a partnership with John W. Champlin and Roger W. Butterfield, of Grand Rapids, and the firm of Champlin, Butterfield & Fitzgerald was continued for several years in the enjoyment of a most excellent practice. On the dissolution of the firm, Mr. FitzGerald was without other partnership association until a comparatively recent period. He is still in active practice and has shown no disposition to relieve himself of the arduous cares of his profession. He has a fine physical development, a keen intellect, quick perception, strong convictions, and is a man of untiring industry. From the outset his ambition has been to reach prominence in his profession and to bring to those entrusting business to his hands satisfaction and success. He has always displayed an unswerving loyalty to the interests of his clients. He believes in thorough preparation for the trial of every case, and is always well equipped to meet any position his adversary may take. He deservedly stands high in the ranks of the lawyers of the state. His whole strength and ambition have been devoted to legal practice, pure and simple, and he has never allowed himself to engaged in speculative enterprise.
He was married in 1859 to Addie F. Taylor, only child of Reuben and Harriet Taylor, of Albion, Mich. They have one child, the wife of Edmund D. Barry. Mr. Barry is also a lawyer, and for the past few years has been associated with Mr. FitzGerald in the practice.
No biography of Mr. FitzGerald would be complete without making reference to his family life. His home has always been an ideal one, and no amount of distraction and worry in business has ever been allowed to interfere with his unfailing kindness to those dear to him. He is a lover of books, enjoys foreign travel, and is a close student of economic and financial questions. To add nothing to the above would be to leave the truth untold. Much of Mr. FitzGerald’s position and success must be credited to the sound judgment of his wife. She brought to the union just the qualities most needed by her husband, and whatever his labor or disappointments elsewhere, he found at home such unfailing charm and sympathy that the labor was soon forgotten and the cares and perplexities soon dissipated. He would not care to have the story of his career told without this recognition of indebtedness to one whose gentle character and genuine assistance has made his success beyond doubt.