JOHN FRYE. The Frye family, of which this gentlemen is an honored member, are numbered with the earliest and most prominent citizens of Washington county. The first of the name to settle in Pennsylvania was one Samuel Frye, who was born, in 1729, in Virginia, and was there married to Christina Speers, also a native of Virginia, born in 1752. They came overland to Washington county in a very early day, and July 19, 1792, took a "tomahawk right" to a large tract of land in Fallowfield township. He 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, and was followed by his wife November 9, 1841. Abraham Frye, son of Samuel and Christina (Speers) Frye, 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 U. S. 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 confined in Andersonville prison eleven months); Clarissa, who married Alexander Allman, and died in East Pike Run township; Smith, living in Fallowfield township, and Isabelle, wife of Elgy T. Van Voorhis, of Kansas City, Mo. After their marriage Abraham and Isabella Frye 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 Disciple Church. John Frye, son of Abraham and Isabella Frye, was born December 25, 1815, on a farm near Lock No. 4, Washington Co., Penn. He was reared to manhood in Fallowfield township, and educated in the subscription schools. In October, 1839, he married Christina, daughter of Parker and Sarah (Carson) Scott, natives of this county, who died many years ago. After his marriage John FRYE bought the 137 acres in Fallowfield township which he now owns, and upon which he has made many improvements. One year after her marriage Mrs. Frye died, leaving one son, Abraham, who was accidentally killed at Lock No. 4, this county. On January 19, 1844, John Frye married, for his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of George and Eliza (Jackman) Carroll, who were natives of East Pike Run township, Washington county. They moved to Ohio, thence to Wheeling creek, West Virginia, where the father died; the mother is now living in Meigs county, Ohio. In 1849 John Frye erected a handsome brick residence, also a commodious barn 32 by 48 feet, and has been engaged in farming and stock raising, making a specialty of sheep. In politics he votes with the Republican party, and in religion he and his wife are members of the Disciple Church, in which he is an elder. They have two children: Josephine, wife of M. S. Krepps, and Ida B. Mr. Frye is now seventy-seven years old. He has settled sixteen estates, and has been guardian for twenty-one children and two lunatics.

Text taken from page 1088 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Karen Souhrada of Pittsford, NY 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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