Smith Fry, p. 1242

SMITH FRY. The Fry family, of whom this gentleman is a prominent member, are numbered with the earliest and most progressive citizens of Washington county.

The first of the name to settle in Pennsylvania was one Samuel Fry, who was born in 17 , in Virginia, and was there married to Christina Speers, also a native of Virginia, born in 1752. They came overland to Washington county, Penn., in an early day, and July 19, 1792, took a "tomahawk right" to a large tract of land in Fallowfield township. Samuel Fry was a famous hunter, and also worked on his farm, remaining in the fort at night, for protection from the Indians. He died in 1814, being survived by his wife till November 9, 1841, when she too, passed away.

Abraham Fry, son of Samuel and Christina (Speers) Fry, was born in 1792, on the home farm in Fallowfield township, Washington Co., Penn. He received a subscription-school education, and in early life was married to Isabella Ringland, a native of Washington county. She bore him eleven children, namely: Samuel (living in Allen township, Washington county), John (also living in Allen township), Christina (Mrs. Abraham Colvin, of Fallowfield township), Abraham (who entered the United States service in Washington county, and is now living near Nashville, Tenn.), Henry (a resident of Sumner county, Tenn., on the Cumberland river), Noah (who died in Fallowfield township), Sarah (wife of Thomas McGowan, Lock No. 4, Fallowfield township), Jackson, living in Cowley county, Kans. (he enlisted in the Civil war, was taken prisoner, and was confined in Andersonville prison eleven months), Clarissa (who married Alexander Allman, and died in East Pike Run township), Smith (of whom a sketch follows) and Isabelle (wife of Elgy Van Voorhis, of Kansas City., Mo.). After their marriage Abraham and Isabelle Fry settled on the upper part of the old homestead in Fallowfield township. He was actively interested in public matters, and first affiliated with the Democratic party, then becoming a Whig and Republican. He died December 11, 1866, followed by his widow April 12, 1881, she having lived to see her youngest daughter the mother of twelve children. Both parents were members of the Church of Christ.

Smith Fry was born March 4, 1836, on the old homestead in Fallowfield township, and is the tenth child in order of birth. He attended the district schools, passing his boyhood on the farm, and March 21, 1861, he married Mary Ann Mitchell, a native of Fallowfield township, Washington Co., Penn. Her parents were Mark and Lucinda (Burgan) Mitchell, natives of Washington county, Penn., and members of the Church of Christ. James and Elizabeth (Smock) Burgan, natives of Westmoreland county, were among the early pioneers of Washington county, and members of the Church of Christ. He was remarkably well versed in the Scriptures, and it is said of him that he could recite entire chapters without prompting. He served in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Fry began wedded life on the old place, where he owns 136 acres of good land and is giving considerable attention to stock raising, especially heavy-draft Clydesdale horses. In his political preferences he votes with the Republican party. His wife is a member of the Church of Christ. Their children are Harvey J. Fry, living in Fallowfield township, married to Miss Maie Reeves, January 12, 1888; Lucinda Isabelle, wife of Joseph Nutt; Charley Smith; Abram Elgy; Clara Estella, and Cora Oella.JOHN MAHAFFEY RUSH, a prominent farmer and

Text taken from page 1242 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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