Biography - John S. Fry
JOHN S. FRY, who is now one of the successful farmers of Penn Township,
was a volunteer in the Union ranks during the late war, and his military
record is that of a brave, patriotic soldier, who cheerfully endured
hardships, the perils of battle, and even death, to serve his country in her
time of greatest need. His native place is the town of Bremen, Fairfield
County, Ohio, and the date of his birth November 11, 1845. He comes of one
of the old pioneer families of that section, and his father, Henry Fry, was
born the same farm as himself. The grandfather of our subject, John Fry, was
an early settler of that region. He was born, reared and married in
Virginia, taking for his wife Mary Leib, also a Virginian. He removed from
his native State to Ohio in the early years of its settlement, and was a
pioneer farmer of Fairfield County. He bought a tract of Government land
midway between Bremen and Rushville, on Little Rush Creek, and cleared a
farm, upon which he pleasantly passed the remainder of his life. His wife
died at the home of her daughter in Seneca County.
In the county in which he was born the father of our subject was reared amid
pioneer scenes. He attended a German school at Rushville, and at other times
assisted his father on his farm until he was sixteen years old. At that age
he began to learn the trade of a cabinet-maker and was employed at it until
his marriage, but after that time he devoted himself to farming the
remainder of his life, which closed with his death at a ripe age. January 1,
1875. The wife who shared with him for many years the joys and sorrows
common to mortals, survives him, and now makes her home with a son near
Millersport, Ohio. In her maiden days she bore the name of Jemima Scott Shaw
and she was born two miles south of West Rushville, Fairfield County, Ohio.
Our subject was one of seven children and was carefully reared in the home
of his birth. He was but a boy when the great Civil War broke out, yet the
following year he offered his services to his country and on the 16th of
July his name was enrolled as a member of Company D, One Hundred
Twenty-Ninth Ohio Infantry. The most important battles in which he look part
during that term of enlistment were those fought at Wild Cat, Ky. and at
Cumberland Cap. In 1863 he veteranized in Company B, Seventeenth Ohio
Infantry, and joined his regiment at Ringgold, Ga. He accompanied it, on the
famous Sherman campaign at Atlanta, and did some good fighting in the
engagements with the enemy on the way to that city. At Resaca out received
injuries in the right knee, but he continued with his regiment until Atlanta
was reached. After the fall of that City he joined the provost guard and
went with that command to the sea, and from there, by the way of the
Carolinas and Richmond, to Washington, where he took part in the Grand
Review. After that event he returned with his regiment to Virginia and
served until his honorable discharge, July 16, 1865, just three years to a
day after he entered the army.
After his long and bitter experiences of the hardships and excitements of a
soldier's life, Mr. Fry returned to his old home in Ohio, and quietly
resumed the peaceful vocation that he had abandoned to take up arms in the
defense of the stars and stripes. In 1871 he went to Missouri and was a
resident of Pettis County, that State, for one year. He then came Eastward
as far as Illinois and bought the farm that he now owns in Penn Township.
Since he took possession of it twenty years ago he has demonstrated the fact
that he has a clear understanding of farming in its various branches, as his
farm is well ordered and compares favorably in all respects with all the
others in its vicinity.
Mr. Fry has had the good fortune to secure the helping hands of an efficient
wife, to whom he was united in marriage June 17, 1869. Her maiden name was
Emeline Ruffner, and she is also a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, a
daughter of Jonas and Susanna Ruffner. These are the names of the seven
children of our subject and his wife: Frank E., Dolly V., Theron R., Eva S.,
Belle and Dell (twins) and Carrie.
In this brief life-record of our subject his value as a loyal citizen has
been shown by his course during the war, and is well known by the people
among whom he has lived for many years since that time. He is exemplary in
his habits, upright in his conduct, and in him the Presbyterian Church finds
one of its most consistent members. His life as a soldier is held in
remembrance by his connection with the Grand Army of the Republic at
Bethany. Politically he is a stanch advocate of the Republican party.
Extracted 17 Dec 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 580-583.
