Patrick Fitzpatrick

Patrick Fitzpatrick was born on St. Patricks Day, March 17, 1802 in Aghaboe, Queens County, Ireland. He was the son of John and Mary(Gowan) Fitzpatrick. In 1820 Patrick left Ireland and settled in Canada.  First he lived in Quebec and later in Ontario.  He worked for the government for a time an then he bought a farm and brought his parents over to live with him.   A document in the family papers lists many relativs in Peterborough, Norwood, Hastings and Toronto.  In 1833 he left Canada  and traveled by boat from Buffalo NY to Chicago Illinois.  After a short stay in Chicago he got a job building the I&M Canal. When work on the canal stopped in the early 1840s Fitzpatrick turned to farming.  He bought 52 acres of land from the I&M Canal trustees and started growing cash crops such as wheat, corn and oats.  He Married Mary Cassin who was also from his home place in Ireland in 1842 and he built a grand home from the local limestone.  Patrick and Mary had four children,  three daughters and a son named Michael. He expanded his land holdings to 1200 acres, became a prominant member of the community of Lockport and of the Catholic church.  He sent all four of his children to Notre Dame University.  

Partick died  May 21, 1887

His son Michael carried on the family business with the help of his sisters and helped establish a trade school for homeless boys which later bacame Lewis  College.  Michael followed in his fathers footsteps and was a prominant local businessman, leader and philanthropist.   Their home is listed on the National Historic Register  and can be visited by the public.