Civil War Veterans of Monterey County, California. Researched and Compiled by : Timothy P. Reese, PCC of Salinas , CA. & Robert L. Nelson ,PCC. of Santa Cruz.CA. Both members of the “Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War”. Department of California & Pacific. Camp Abraham Lincoln # 10. The Reese-Nelson CWV-MC Data Base This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://calarchives4u.com/ These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter. All persons donating to this site retain the rights to their own work. FITZSIMMONS, ABRAM M (1845-1943) Pacific Grove El Carmelo (Pacific Grove Tribune December 31, 1943) Citizens Pay Last Honors to Judge Methodist and Masonic Rites Held Tuesday For A.M. Fitzsimmons As a last tribute to one of Pacific Grove’s oldest and most respected citizens, Judge Abram M. Fitzsimmons, residents of this community and surrounding towns attended the funeral services held Tuesday afternoon at Paul’s chapel and El Carmelo cemetery. Death occurred on Christmas eve, at a local hospital, following an attack of influenza, just two weeks after his 98th birthday anniversary. For 27 years Judge Fitzsimmons had served as justice of the peace in this city and is claimed to have been the oldest judge ever to have served actively in that capacity. He retired only three years ago. Since then, until his last illness, he continued to work in his garden and take long walks about town, and enjoyed visits with his friends. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. Alvin Crawford, of the Methodist church, of which the deceased was an active member for 47 years; and by the Pacific Grove Masonic Lodge, F. & A. M., to which he belonged for forty years, and of which he was the last charter member. Organ music by Edward C. Hopkins proceeded the service by Rev. Crawford, and William Gould sang “Abide With Me.” Masonic rites followed. Pall bearers were four grandchildren, Messrs. George, Harold, Norman and Howard Fitzsimmons of this city. Judge Wilbur F. Way and Mr. E.B. DeForest. The local police department was represented at the funeral by an escort car, with occupants chief Ernest McAnaney and Constable Frank Wilcoxen with special officers on traffic duty as the funeral procession passed. Salinas also honored the former member of the justice court by sending deputies Victor Tibbs and Jack McCoy as official representatives of the sheriff’s department. Judge Fitzsimmons was also a member of Mt. Horeb Odd fellows Lodge No. 331 at Ripon, and was honored as the founder, when that lodge celebrated its fiftieth anniversary a few years ago. On that occasion he was presented with the fifty year jewel and other mementos. Deceased was born on December 10, 1845, in Pennsylvania, as a member of a large family. When he was 17 they moved to Wisconsin and two years later he joined the transport division of the Union forces in the Civil War, operating supply wagons from Nashville, Tennessee headquarters. Later he resided for a short while in Iowa, moving to California in 1873, where he lived in Amador and San Joaquin counties. He engaged in the blacksmith trade, a lively business in those mining days before the automobile era. Visiting Pacific Grove in 1898 he was charmed with the beauty of its surroundings and decided to remain. Visioning a city of homes he always took an active part in civic affairs and was ready at all times to respond to any call for action on matters that affected the city’s progress, or in the interests of fellow citizens. In his capacity of judge he was known for clear thinking, integrity, his tenacity in hewing to the line of what is consider right being considerably enlivened by an unusual sense of humor. Deceased is survived by his widow, Mrs. Lisetta Fitzsimmons, at 712 Spruce street; and a great number of grandchildren. He however outlived all the members of his own immediate family. FITZSIMMONS, ABRAM M (1845-1943) Pacific Grove El Carmelo (History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California Vol II S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1925) Judge A.M. Fitzsimmons A representative of the bench in Monterey county who enjoys the esteem, confidence and good-will of his fellow citizens is Judge A.M. Fitzsimmons, Justice of the Peace and City Recorder of Pacific Grove. He was born near Meadville, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, December 10, 1845, was taken to Iowa when he was six years of age and Jackson county, Wisconsin, at the age of fifteen. There he learned the trade of blacksmithing. Still later he removed to northwestern Iowa, where he plied his trade. In 1874 Judge Fitzsimmons arrived in California, and at first settled at Ione, Amador county. After a while, he removed to the vicinity of Ripon, in San Joaquin county, where he passed seven years. In 1896 he came to Pacific Grove and here engaged in the real estate business. In 1914 he was first elected justice of the peace and city re3corder and again in 1922 was reelected, and is still holding both offices. His common-sense, level headed decisions, based on a wide knowledge of life and a deep rooted sense of justice have always appealed to the law abiding citizens and Pacific Grove may well be congratulated upon having on its bench so talented and so conscientious a man to preside in matters of equity. Judge Fitzsimmons has been twice married. His first wife, now deceased, was Eva Vose, a native of New York state; the second Mrs. Fitzsimmons as, in maidenhood Miss Ella Urwen, and she was born in California. By his first marriage, the Judge had a son, Elmer U. Fitzsimmons and by the second, a son and a daughter,- George L. and Mrs. Ina May Sutliff. Judge Fitzsimmons is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church. he has been an Odd Fellow since 1875 and a Mason since 1895, being a charter member of Pacific Grove Lodge, No. 331, A.F. &A.M. and of Lodge No. 182, I.O.O.F. He is always loyal to the purposes of these fraternities and the teachings of the church and his life has ever been actuated by the high principles of upright manhood and citizenship.