Nevada Genealogy Trails Washoe County John Augustus Fitzgerald Biography

JOHN AUGUSTUS FITZGERALD, who was the proprietor of the Palace Hotel of Reno, one of the popular hostelries of the state, for the last seven years, was born in Massillon, Ohio, on the 17th of April, 1850, and comes of Scotch, Dutch and Irish lineage. He was educated in north Indiana in a little log schoolhouse which was built upon his father's farm, the senior Mr. Fitzgerald being the merchant and agriculturist of that locality.

He was left an orphan at quite an early age, and when a youth of seventeen years went to Illinois, where for a time he followed farming. Soon afterward, however, he became engaged in railroading on the Illinois Central Railroad, running out of Chicago, advancing from the position of brakeman to that of extra conductor. For a number of years following his railroad experience he was in the hotel business and gradually worked his way upward in that line from the position of night clerk to manager and proprietor. For a time he had charge of the Depot Hotel in Champaign, Illinois, and met with excellent success in the management of that enterprise. In September, 1878, he arrived in Nevada, turning his attention to quartz mining at Pyramid. In this he was associated with R. W. Perry, but they were not successful, and Mr. Fitzgerald lost much that he had saved. He then came to Reno, where he assumed the management of the Palace Hotel, and afterward in connection with Mr. Perry he purchased the old Depot Hotel, which is a sixty-room house. A little later a disastrous fire visited the town and this hotel was destroyed, causing the owners to lose heavily. For a year following this misfortune Mr. Fitzgerald was ill, and his expenses were so great that again his savings were largely dissipated. He was then successfully engaged in the saloon business on Virginia street in Reno for a time, and when his financial resources enabled him to again make investment in property he purchased the Palace Hotel. The lot on which its stands is thirty-five by one hundred feet, and the building is three stories in height with basement. It covers the whole lot, and is a well lighted structure because it fronts on both Commercial and Center streets. It is only a short distance southwest of the Southern Pacific depot, and this excellent location is appreciated by travelers. Mr. Fitzgerald also owns a fine property near the corner of Third and Ralston streets, one hundred by two hundred feet, which is planted to fruit and shade trees, his home being surrounded by ornamental shrubs and flowers.

In April, 1887, occurred the marriage of Mr. Fitzgerald and Miss Frankie Smith, who was born in Plumas county, California. They have become the parents of two children: Nell and Jack, both born in Reno. Mr. Fitzgerald is a Republican, but has never sought or desired office, although he has put forth effective and helpful effort for his party, desiring its success. He has served on the Republican state central committee, and his wise counsel has been favorably received by the organization. A courteous gentleman, he has gained many friends among his fellow citizens in Reno.

Source:
A History of the State of Nevada: Its Resources and People
By Thomas Wren, Lewis Publishing Company
Published by The Lewis publishing company, 1904