. History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan . CAPT. REUBEN FITZGERALD. While history records the names and deeds of the greatmen of the past and present, it is right and proper that thereal representatives of the people—the men who were theadvance-guards of civilization and progress, who clearedaway the forests, made the roads, bridged the streams, andbuilt the first school-houses, churches, and villages—shouldhave a prominent place in this work. Such a man was Fitzgerald, the first white settler of Eaton was born in Montgomery Co., Md., Feb. 23, Reuben was
. History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan . CAPT. REUBEN FITZGERALD. While history records the names and deeds of the greatmen of the past and present, it is right and proper that thereal representatives of the people—the men who were theadvance-guards of civilization and progress, who clearedaway the forests, made the roads, bridged the streams, andbuilt the first school-houses, churches, and villages—shouldhave a prominent place in this work. Such a man was Fitzgerald, the first white settler of Eaton was born in Montgomery Co., Md., Feb. 23, Reuben was .seven years old, his father moved to thetown of Palmyra, Ontario Co., N. Y., where he (Redmond. BELLEVUB. 415 Fitzgerald) bought a tract of wild land, on which Reubengrew to manhood. The father being a cripple, the sonswere obliged to clear up and work the farm. Reubens op-portunities for acquiring an education were limited, result-ing in a loss ho has sorely felt, and which has ofttimes stoodin the way of his political advancement. Arrived at ma-jority, he began life for himself. He had no means, butwas endowed with health, strength, and a determination tomake for himself a home and competency. He worked bythe month for a time, then for a year or two worked a farmon shares. He then went into a foundry and learned themoulders trade, which he followed for seven years. Inthis way he accumulated a few hundred dollars, with whichhe bought a small farm in Camillus, Onondaga Co., N. this farm he resided until 1833, when he sold, and onthe fourth day of July, with his family, started for Michi-gan, where he had the previous year bought of the govern-ment two hundred acres of land
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