RICHARD M. FITZWILLIAM, a prosperous and popular citizen of Franklin township, whose fine farm of 240 acres is situated near the borough of Washington, was born June 28 1825, in Rankintown, Washington Co., Pennsylvania. His grandfather, William Fitzwilliam, was a native of County Down, Ireland, where he was married to Jane McCullough, and a few years thereafter they came to America, landing at Philadelphia, thence proceeding to Little York, same State, where they remained some time. During the "Whisky Insurrection" he volunteered into the militia, and was sent to Washington county, where he concluded to make his home, so brought his family and made a settlement in Franklin township. Afterward he moved to Mercer county, same State, where he remained some time; thence went to Ross county, Ohio, where he passed the remaining days of his busy life; his widow returned to Washington county, and here died in 1842. By trade, Mr. Fitzwilliam was a weaver, which he followed both in Ireland and in this country. He was an adherent of the Episcopal Church. Francis Fitzwilliam, father of subject, was born in Franklin township, this county in 1801. While in Ross county, Ohio, he learned blacksmithing, and after serving his apprenticeship moved to Mercer county, Penn., where he remained one year, working at his trade; then located in Rankintown, this county, where he worked eight years. In 1832 he purchased the farm in Franklin township now occupied by his son Richard M.. In 1824 Mr. Fitzwilliam married Mary, daughter of Richard Mounts, a member of one of the earliest families of the county, and the children born to this union were Richard M., Jane (widow of James H. Wheeler), Frank (who was educated at Washington and Jefferson College, was admitted to the bar, went to Kansas, and there died; he had married Eliza Clay Jackson, of Bowling Green, Ky., and they had four children: Mary, Lizzie, Frank and Romaine, all residents of Leavenworth, Kans.), and Mary (also deceased). The father was called from earth April 15, 1875, the mother having preceded him to the grave March 31, 1872. Francis Fitzwilliam was a self-made man in every sense, and won his own success unaided. He was, in his political predilections, first a Whig and Abolitionist, and afterward a Republican, and in church connection he was a thorough Presbyterian. Richard M. Fitzwilliam, the subject of this sketch, passed his early life on his father's farm, and was educated at the common schools of his vicinity. On April 23, 1864, he was united in marriage with Ella, daughter of James C. Chambers, of Amwell township, and they at once settled on the home place where they yet reside. Mr. Fitzwilliam attends the First M. E. Church at Washington, and in his political sympathies is an active Republican.

Text taken from page 1232 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Bobbi Steele of Indianapolis, IN as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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