George W. FRY

Sources:

Iowa, Johnson County - Portrait and Biographical Record: Johnson, Powesheik, and Iowa Counties, Iowa, 407-408, Film # 897204
Iowa, Iowa City - Iowa City Press Citizen, Monday, September 20, 1948, page 6
Iowa, Johnson, Liberty - 1850 US Census, Film #1697716
Iowa, Johnson, Liberty - 1856 Iowa State Census
Iowa, Johnson, Liberty - 1870 US Census, film # 1421009
Ancestral File
Ancestry World Tree

Notes:

                   Family records of George Fry
Confirmation ane Initiatory work done 21 May 1992 IFALL

Film # 897204
Portrait and Biographical Record Johnson, Powesheik and Iowa Counties, Iowa
Chicago: Chapman Bros, 1893
Page 407-408


George W. Fry.  This worthy gentleman is the oldest member of the Fry family that settled in Johnson County in 1839.  Although he has attained to the advanced age of four-score years and four, he is still acknowledged to be a leader in the affairs of this section, and in this brief outline of the life history of one of the noblest men who have ever settled within the borders of the county, facts will appear which are greatly to his credit.  His intelligence, enterprise and integrity,  and many other estimable qualities, have acquired for him a popularity not derived from any factitious circumstances, but which has been a permanent and spontaneous tribute to his merit.  He was born in Greene County, PA., June 14, 1809, and at the age of four years was taken by his parents to Licking County, Ohio, where he was reared in the woods among the Indians, his playmates being young Indian boys.  Having been brought up at a time when the advantages of an education were not so fully appreciated as at this day, and when the facilities for obtaining one were by no means what they are now, his training in this respect was restricted to the old pioneer log schoolhouse, which he attended only during the winter months.  These primitive structures were heated by an open fireplace, slabs were used for benches, and greased paper had to do duty for window lights.  However, Mr. Fry possessed sound sense and discriminating judgment, and this, in a great measure, made up for what was lacking in the way of education.  In 1833 he was married in Ohio, to Catherine Kepler, a native of Pennsylvania, and in the fall of 1839 left Ohio and moved to what was then justly considered the wilds of Iowa, the journey hither lasting from October 10 until November 28.  With the exception of two nights the family camped out during the journey.  The land in Johnson County was not then in the market, and Mr. Fry accordingly took up a squatters claim in the Sharon township, and later became the owner of the same by purchase from the government.  His first purchase consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, but he eventually became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, on which he built a log cabin and began the laborious work of cultivation and improvement.  Indians were very numerous in this section at that time, and deer and wild turkeys were also plentiful.
	All the trading and milling were done at Muscatine and Davenport, and the journey to and from these points took from three to four days, for they were compelled to go with ox-teams, there being no roads, and bridges being almost unknown.  In fact, this sterling old pioneer was compelled to undergo all the hardships, inconveniences and hard work of life in a new and unbroken country, but with characteristic energy, he kept pushing onward, and in time found himself on a smooth sea and floating with a prosperous tide, as the country began to settle up.  After disposing of the farm on which he first settled, he, during the Civil War, purchased the farm on which he is now residing, which at that time comprised one hundred and twenty acres, besides forty acres of good timberland south of the farm.  He has been careful, prudent, and economical, but not in the least penurious, and those who know him best recognize in him a good friend and neighbor.  His walk through life has been characterized by a sincere endeavor to do what was just and right, and he is one who has so arranged his life that others have been benefited by his having life in the world.
	His marriage with Miss Kepler resulted in the birth of thirteen children, seven of whom are living: Virgil, Ozias, Melissa, Sarah, Isaiah, Amos and Mary M.  Mr. Fry was called upon to mourn the death of his wife in 1886, after a happy and unusually long married life of fifty-three years.  She was a consistent member of the Christian Church, of which Mr. Fry is also a member and one of the pillars.  The Democratic party has always found a warm supporter in him, but he has never been an aspirant for political favors, although he has been often urged to run for office, and was at on time elected Justice of the Peace, but would not serve, the strife and turmoil of the official arena having no charms for him.  Upon reaching this State Mr. Frys Capital consisted of the sum of fifty cents, but this state of his monetary affairs was not al all discouraging to one of his temperament, and in order to keep the wolf from the door he followed the calling of a carpenter for some time after his arrival, by which means he obtained his start.  During this long and useful career, he has witnessed the development of the country, and where are now waving fields of grain and large droves of horses and cattle, was then unbroken timber and prairie land, inhabited by numerous wild animals, such as deer, wolves, etc.