Dr. John Fitzpatrick remained unmarried. He acquired much wealth, which he left to his nephews and nieces. It was said that he had been a priest. He was highly eccentric, but honorable.
John W. McFadon came before 1830, after serving his adopted country in the war of 1812. He followed merchandising and farming and became very wealthy. He left two sons and a daughter—William and Robert McFadon, both graduates of Harvard and lawyers of a high grade. Both died in Chicago, where they added to their wealth in the practice of their profession, and by largely dealing in real estate. At the time of his death, William McFadon was attorney for the Lake Shore Railroad. He left two sons, John W. and Donald, both of Harvard and attorneys, also a daughter Anna. His daughter Anna is the wife of Hon. William A. Richardson, son of Senator W. A. Richardson, who in the days of Douglas was one of the best known democrats in the republic. They have no children. Robert McFadon left one son, Robert, lately graduated as an attorney from Harvard, and two daughters who are in Chicago.
James Arthur was born in Londonderry, Ireland, March 2, 1811, and came to America in 1833. For a number of years he owned and operated steamboats on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. In 1840 he located in Quincy as a pork packer and general merchant. He also operated a saw mill. He died wealthy in 1899, at the age of eighty-eight years. He was moral, temperate and frugal. Four sons and three daughters survived him. The only one of the family now in Quincy is a daughter Virginia M., widow of Col. Edward Prince. One of his sons, James A. Arthur, owns a large farm at La Belle, Missouri. The other sons, I. H., William N. and W. A., are successful merchants in western cities.
The Little, Carroll and Campbell families were related by marriage and came to Quincy direct from Ireland in 1836. Edward Little had two sons, Patrick H. and Frank E., both well educated, and are now successful business men in St. Louis, Missouri. James Campbell had three sons, who are now in the lime business in Quincy, as was their father and also their uncle Arthur Carroll.
The Benneson Brothers, Nathaniel, Thomas, Robert and William were born in Newcastle County, Delaware. Both parents came from Ireland in 1800. All of these brothers became prosperous citizens of Quincy. In their youth, all learned the carpenter’s trade, except William, who was the youngest. They came to Quincy in 1837. The carpenters worked at their trade as journeymen until they accumulated funds that enabled them to become contractors, in which Thomas continued until his death in 1870. Nathaniel and Robert became successful lumber merchants. Robert retired from the lumber business in 1872 and devoted himself to buying and improving real estate, in which he was also successful. Many of the most imposing and durable buildings in the city were erected and owned by Robert Benneson. He filled many positions of trust and honor. He served as alderman and as mayor, and for several years preceding his death was president of the school board. He was president of the gas company, which he helped to organize; was a director in numerous corporations, among them the First National Bank, the Gas Company and the Quincy, Alton and St. Louis Railroad. He was a zealous and generous supporter of the moral, social and commercial growth of the city, and none ranked higher in public esteem. He died at the age of eighty-five years.
HON. JOHN J. MEE,
Judge of Probate, Woonsocket, R. I.
A Member of the Society.
William Benneson was a lawyer. His first partner was Stephen A. Douglas. Theirs was the first law office in Quincy. Mr. Benneson had served as clerk of the circuit court. After Mr. Douglas went on the bench, Mr. Benneson was identified with several of the leading lawyers of Illinois. When the civil war broke out he was made Colonel of the Seventy-eighth Illinois. After the war, he resumed his practice. He was made postmaster of Quincy by President Johnston. He died in 1899 at the age of eighty-one years. Like his brothers, Colonel Benneson was a man of the strictest integrity.
The Brothers, David and Dennis Higgins, came to Quincy before 1840. Both were successful contractors in railroad building and street grading and became property holders. David died several years ago at a ripe age, leaving sons and daughters. Dennis died in 1904 at the age of ninety-two, and although married he had no children. Both brothers were devout Catholics. David was a staunch Democrat and Dennis equally as staunch a Republican. They were good citizens.
James Fisher was born in 1811 near Londonderry, Ireland, and with two sisters came to Quincy in 1833. They were strict Presbyterians. Mr. Fisher was a successful dry goods merchant and died wealthy while attending to his business at his store in 1898, at the age of eighty-eight. He had three sons, who are now doing business at Kansas City and other places in the West. Mr. Fisher’s sisters never married. Both are now dead.