ROBERT B. FRYE, a prominent merchant of Finleyville, is a son of West Frye, whose father, Luke Frye, was of German descent, and a native of Washington county, living near the Horseshoe church. Luke Frye was married to Miss West, a daughter of Samuel West, of Washington county, and to this union were born three children, namely: West (whose sketch follows), Hester (wife of Elgy Van Voorhes), and Violet (Mrs. James Jennings). West Frye was born in 1818, near the Horseshoe church, Carroll township, Washington Co., Penn. He was reared to farm life, and in early days distilled whisky in connection with his agricultural duties. In 1840 he was married to Miss Christina Van Voorhes, a daughter of Daniel Van Voorhes, of Fallowfield township, Washington county. She was born in 1821, and reared on the farm, receiving her education at the high school and seminary of Allegheny, Penn. After they were married the young couple located on the old homestead near Horseshoe church, where they remained several years. They afterward moved to Monongahela, where he engaged in distilling, but in 1857 moved to Union township, this county, where he followed farming and hotel keeping. At that time the town of Finleyville was yet in its infancy, and has since been enlarged so much that it now covers a portion of the Frye farm. Mr. Frye was instrumental in building up the town, having erected several dwellings and business blocks. In politics he was a valued member of the Republican party. The following children were born to this couple, viz.: Robert B. (whose name opens this sketch); Sarah A. (who was married to J. H. Gaston, and is engaged in the millinery and notion business.); Mary H. (who was married to I. N. Morrison); Martha E. (Mrs. Boggs, of Des Moines, Iowa), and Ella C. (living at home). Robert B. Frye was born in 1841, on the old farm at Horseshoe church, this county, and assisted his father in the general agricultural duties. He graduated from the Iron City College, Pittsburgh, and in 1862 joined the Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. He served in the army of the Potomac until the siege of Petersburgh, when his regiment joined General Sheridan's forces, and entered the Shenandoah Valley. September 28, 1862, Robert Frye was left on the field for dead, at Rock Fish Gap, near Waynesborough. He was captured by the enemy, and (as soon as his wounds would permit) taken to Libby Prison November 10, 1864, where he remained until February 22, 1865. He was then paroled and first taken to Annapolis, thence to Philadelphia, and put in the Mower general hospital, from there receiving his discharge June 17, 1865. After the war he came home and went West in 1866, but, returning to Washington county in 1870, was married to Catherine B., a daughter of Michael Teeple. The wedding ceremony took place on the anniversary of the day that he was wounded on the battle field, September 28, 1870. The young couple first located in Melrose, Iowa, and then lived in Kansas and Colorado, and different parts of the West. In 1891 they returned to Finleyville, Washington county, to help care for his aged mother. Mr. and Mrs. Frye are the parents of three children: Ella M., Jennie D. and Robert M. He was one of the first to support the Republican party, but has recently espoused the cause of the Peoples' party, and was the nominee of same, for representative from Washington county, in the campaign of 1892.

Text taken from page 503 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by George & Mary Ann Plance of Gainesville, FL as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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