Single Grave Identifies War of 1812 Veteran

CEDAR RAPIDS - On a raised hill in the middle of a concrete cul-de-sac surrounded by $300,000 homes rests the body of John Fitzpatrick, veteran of the War of 1812 which began exactly 200 years ago - June 18, 1812 - and lasted until 1815.

His is a single grave cemetery, one marked by the original limestone tombstone that's embedded in the ground, a slab of remembrance that's cracked between "Fitz" and "patrick" that lies in front of a much newer granite tombstone that stands erect. To the west grows an old cherry tree with freshly wind-snapped branches; to the east stretches a flagpole where an American Flag flies on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day.

"This would be a fine place to be forever," says Tom Vavra, 67, financial officer for Ely American Legion Post No. 555 which uncovered the grave more than 30 years ago when this was a remote pasture. Tom, who raises the flag on the special occasions, gazes out between the houses toward the International Paper facility to the west and the meandering Cedar River to the north and west that leads to Cedar Rapids.

"Before the houses were here, on July 4 I'd look down over the river and watch the fireworks," Tom says. And then, this 20-year Air Force veteran would lower the flag that paid tribute to his fellow veteran, a man buried not long before the Civil War broke out.

Little is known about John Fitzpatrick except for what is on the tombstone - that as a private he fought with the Ohio Militia under Capt. Taylor during the War of 1812 and that he died in 1860.

The War of 1812 began when the United States declared war on Great Britain's empire for various reasons, among them trade restrictions, British support of Native America tribes fighting against U.S. expansion and humiliation on the high seas. The most significant aspects of the war included the burning of Washington D.C., Francis Scott Key writing the lyrics to "The Star-Spangled Banner" after seeing The Battle of Fort McHenry (1814) and Gen. Andrew Jackson's successful defense of New Orleans to end the war in early 1815.

For the next 45 years, until his death, who knows what John Fitzpatrick's life was like? If he was a 18 when the war started, he would have been 63 at his death. Chances are he was older.

"I blew a chance with a relative a few years ago from out of state," Tom says. "He called for information and we didn't have it. I didn't get his name."

In a 1984 Gazette story about the grave, sources say Fitzpatrick was one of four brothers from this area, possibly the only one to return after the war. Yet there are other stories, too.

"There are rumors that he was on a wagon train headed west and died here," Tom says, "so this is where they buried him."

For the few who see the grave (more now, because it's surrounded by the housing development), the tribute is significant.

"I've often wondered about this, especially being the 200th anniversary," says John Erceg, 64, who lives nearby and joins Tom on the gravesite hill. John, a 28-year Navy veteran is former president of the Vietnam Veterans of America in Cedar Rapids. "Keeping a little bit of history next door is great."