The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-13

ioto Wy AhiASi'
He was reported to be in extremis early
this morning. when DR.. J. w. Mcdonald.
the attending physician, said that he could
live but few hours Mr.. Fitchette was
conscious almost to the last. Rev. J. S. |
Montgomery of Wesley NJ E. church. was
with the dying man.
A Unique character.
John Fitchette was one of the most
original characters in Minneapolis. and
his reputation extended far beyond
the city throughput the west.
"JcnE,' as he was most Familiarity
known about town, was a Virginian, and
living half his life in the north had not
erased the distinctive traits peculiar to
ma tives Of that section of the south. He
was born in Richmond. the cradle of the
Confederacy, in 1S49, and was 12 years
old when war was declared, following the
firing upon Fort Sumter He had plenty of
fighting blood at that time. and, although
living in the hotbed Of rebellion, he Shout
dered a musket three years later for the
union tause He fought till the end Of the
war and at it's conclusion figured in some
Of the dramatic scenes surrounding the
capture Of Jefferson Davis, president Of
the Confederacy.
Mr. Fitchette was drawn on the
famous jury which was impanelled to try
Davis, but as history records, the leader
of the lost cause never came to trial. A
photograph of Fitchette and the twenty
three other members Of the jury has Eeen
a conspicuous curio for years in his First
avenue restaurant He was the last sur
viving member Of this jury.
His Western Career.
After the war Fitchette went to Chi
cago where he engaged in the restaurant
business. He left Chicago in the late
seventies and went west After loca ting
for brief intervals in different western
towns he opened a restaurant in Salt
eral years.
He came to Minneapolis about sixteen
years ago and opened the original Coffee
John oyster house on lower NcOllet
avenue giving the city itsS first most
distinctive resort Of that character. He
moved to the First avenue location about
ten years ago
Under the Ames administration, Fit
Ghetto was appointed to a captaincy at the
central station and it was in that capacity
that he came in for large share of the
notoriety which followed the disclosures
OF the municipal scandal. now eliminating
in the flight of DR.. Ames. The case
against himself, which he carried up, is
now pending in the supreme court
One OF Fitchett's most notable exploits
in winding up the Ames' career was his
journey to West Baden. where he not only
brought pressure to bear which forced the
mayor to tender his resignation, but also
virtually dictated the enforced resignation
OF Colonel Ames as chief Of police.
Captain Fitchette leaves a wife two
. boys and girl
Funeral arrangements will be an.
nounced later
Devoted to His Family.
Whatever his faults, the worst enemies
of John Fitchette honored and admired
him for the possession of at least one
sterling domestic virtue--unfalterine de.
votion to his family. Fitchette Otter
said and there was much to Substantial
the declaration-that he lived only fo
his family. 1t was known that the grca
object Of his life was to lay up a com
potency for his wife ard children, ant
this he had succeeded in doing His es
tate, including the First avenue restaur
ant, In the @remodeling of which he ha,
recently spent several thousand dollars
the beautiful suburban home, on which h
had bestowed the. name of Burr Oaks
and an Iowa farm--wll probably be pro
bated at not less than 100000 The en-
tire estate is in his wife's name, in ad
dition to which she is said to be tn
beneficiary of a comfortable life insur
ance policy. Fitchette announced, whe
he reopened the resta urant, after dis
carding the picturesque appellation 9
Coffee John that he had made the ex
tensive changes in the interest Of his cid
est son. He intended before long to tur
the restaurant over to the boy and Sc
him up In business independently Fit
chette,s ambition was to retire to hi
farm. and spend the rest of his life j
agricultural pursuits.