The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-02
HE WAS ONE OF ALABAIrA's
 FAMOUS MEN.
One of the Early Governors and { United States Senator-Picturs Donated by Mrs. Evelyn
 Munger.

The State Department of Archives. and History received yesterday morning valued contribution In the shape of life sized oil portrait of Gov. Benjamin Fitzpatrick, one of the most distinguished men that Alabama ever produced.
 The portrait was presented to Director Thomas Nj. Owen for the department by Mrs. Evelyn H. Munger of Kansas City. Mo. whose first husband. Benjamin Fitz- patrick, was a son of Governor titzpat- rick.
 Governor Fitzpatrick was twice mar ried, his son. Benjamin Fitzpatrick, being the son of his his second wife. Governor Fitzpatrick was first married to a daugh- ter of John A. Fillmore, a Revolutionary soldier The first Mrs. Fitzpatrick was sister of Albert Elmore of Fillmore Station and of Mrs. Hearne of Montgomery. Governor Fitzpatricks' second wife was Miss Aurelia Blassengame, daughter of William D. Blassengame. Numerous rela- lives and descendants of Governor Fitx- patrick live in Alabama. many of them in Montgomery and the surrounding county.
 The father of Benjamin Fitzpatrick was member of the Legislature of Georgia for nineteen consecutive years from Greene County, and his mother was the He was born in 1900. At the age of years the future Governor of Alabama had lost both of his parents by death, within few days of each other; but his elder brothers and sister to some extent Sup piled their places. In that early day the schoolmaster was not abroad in Georgia, anr Governor Fitzpatrick attended school only six months.
 In 1916 he came to Alabama to manage some Interest of his brothers. Their lands were on the east bank of the Alabama River, about six miles north of Montgom- cry. Shortly after he was a deputy un- der Jacob P. House, the nrst ShertR of Autauga County, and soon after became a olorl< In, fradtap foa xutnnv Wetumpka now stands. He then read law in the office of Nimrod F.. Benson In Montgomery. Enrolled as an attorney in 1921, he opened an office in this city.
 His first case was that of an Indian arraigned before a magistrate for horse stealing. and 1t is in iiIustration of that primitive time that, after successful plea the young attorney took his client out behind the house and urged him to instant flight to insure his personal safety.
 Judge N E. Benson was the first and Henry Goldthwaite the second law part, ner of MT. Fitzpatrick. Elected Solicitor of the judicial district, he held the office several years. A want of good health, however, obliged him to retire to his plantation, six miles west of Wetmpka, in 1897, and he shortly after abandoned the profession forever. The plantation was within the present limits of Elmore Coun- try, and here, surrounded by all the com forts that wealth can bring, he dispensed boundless hospitality till the close of his life, forty years later. He sought no public honors, and was in retirement for over twelve years.
 In 1887, in his absence and without his knowledge, his claims were very ravor- ably considered by the caucus of his party in Tuscaloosa, which selected Mir. Bagby as the candidate for Governor. Three years later, in 1S40 he was an cleo tor on the Van Buren ticket.
 In IsA he was elected to the office of Governor of the State. receiving N.974 votes to 2l 219 for James White McClung of Madison, and was inaugurated Novem- Der 22, 14S1. Reelected without opposition, he retired from the position in 1s45.
 When the banks were placed in iiquida- ton he was appointed one of the com missioners, but declined to accept. In consequence of the death of Senator Dix on H. Lewis of Lowndes, Governor Chap man appointed Governor Fitzpatrick to fill the seat thus vacated in the Federal Senate November 25, 1S48.
 A year later, the General Assembly pro- ceeded to fill the vacancy and to choose a Senator for a new term to follow that which Mir. King had served out the March before. The incumbents. Messrs.