John Fry
John Fry is an intelligent and progressive agriculturist, with a comprehensive knowledge of farming in all its branches, and he keeps his farm in Pickaway Township up to a high standard of cultivation, so that it compares favorably with the most productive in its vicinity. Although long a resident of Pickaway County, Mr. Fry is a native of Hocking County, born October 18, 1837, and he is a descendant of some of the original pioneer families of the State.
The father of our subject, who was also named John Fry. was born in Virginia, September 17, 1796. He came to Ohio at a very early day in its settlement, and located at Lancaster in Fairfield County, when that city had but one house within its borders. He had come there with his father, a Virginian, who bore the same name as himself, and was a soldier in the Revolution. He died near Lancaster. The father of our subject became one of the pioneer farmers of the State, and for several years carried on his occupation in Hocking County. In 1852, he came to Pickaway County and passed his remaining years in Pickaway Township, dying here April 29, 1870. He acquired a goodly amount of property while a resident of Hocking County, and was quite an extensive land-holder there. He was also prominent in public life in that section, and for many years held the office of Justice of the Peace, and was an active member of the Masonic fraternity. He was married December 25, 1822, to Miss Malinda Friend. She was born in Fairfield County, November 22, 1802, and was a daughter of a pioneer family who had come from Kentucky to Ohio in the early years of its settlement. She died April 30, 1878, and in her death the Methodist Episcopal Church lost one of its most faithful members.\
Our subject was the seventh of the nine children of his parents, of whom five are still living. His early education was obtained with some difficulty, as school facilities were limited, and sometimes he had to go four miles from home to attend the nearest school, which was taught in a log house. He came to this county with his parents, and always made his home with them while they lived, caring for them tenderly in their declining years, and since their death he has continued to reside on the old homestead. It is a valuable, well-ordered farm of one hundred and thirty-four acres, pleasantly situated on section 10, Pickaway Township, and the headwaters of Pumpkin Creek flow across one corner of it. Mr. Fry is in easy circumstances, and makes good use of his money, getting some enjoyment out of life with it instead of hoarding it. He has broadened his mind, not only by reading and careful observation, but by traveling to some extent. In 1881, he went to Europe, partly for pleasure, and partly for the benefit of his health, which had become impaired by too close application to his business. He embarked at New York on a North German Lloyd steamer, bound for England, and he visited London, Liverpool and other points of interest, making good use of every minute of the two months that he was away, and experiencing great pleasure and profit from his trip.
Mr. Fry was happily married October 26, 1879, to Miss Ida M. Cook, a native of Bloomfield, this county. When she was a child, her parents, Amos and Elizabeth (Nigh) Cook, removed to Circleville, where she was educated. Her fatlier was the son of a Pennsylvania farmer, and was born and reared in that State. Her mother was the daughter of early pioneers of Ohio, and her father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and lost his life during that conflict. The greatest grief in the wedded life of Mr. and Mrs. Fry has been in the death of their little son John, who was born July 12, 1881, and passed out of life two months later.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]