Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 361
HENRY FRY, one of the old settlers of Muscatine County of a third of century, now residing on section 31, Cedar Township, is a native of Somerset County, Pa., born Jan. 5, 1814. His parents, George and Mary Fry, had a family of nine children; Elizabeth, Susanna, John, Rebecca, Henry, Katy, Tilda, and Liddie, but weather all are yet living our subject does not know. The days of his boyhood and youth were spent upon his father's farm, but upon attaining his majority he left home and began working by the month for farmers in the neighborhood. This he continued for four years, but when twenty-five years of age was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Mary Fitzgerald, after which he purchased ninety acres of land which formerly belonged to his grandfather's estate. Later he rented for a time, but subsequently purchased a farm of 300 acres, which he immediately began to cultivate and improve. Seven years were there passed, when he sold it at an increase of $500 above the price which he paid, and bought another farm the same year, comprising about 300 acres, for which he paid $1,700. Upon that farm he continued to reside for six years, when he had an opportunity to sell for $2,500, which he did, and then came to Muscatine County, arriving in 1855, purchasing eighty acres of land in Cedar Township, and upon that tract he made his home for eight months, when he removed to his present place of residence on section 31 of the same Township. He now owns 300 acres of land, and carries on general farming, though only cultivating about 140 acres himself, renting the remainder. He also gives considerable attention to the raising of cattle and hogs annually, shipping from forty to 100 head of hogs annually, but his cattle sales are not as extensive as in former years.

Mr. and Mrs. Fry are the parents of 14 children, two of whom died in infancy: Noah who was born July 21, 1841, was killed at Indianapolis, Ind., in a railroad accident, which was caused by the collision of two trains, when he was returning from the war; Josiah, born December 4, 1842, is a resident of this county; Cyrus, born June 27, 1844, is engaged in farming in Page County, Iowa; Eliza Jane, born Feb. 21, 1846, is the wife of John Cedar, (This is suppose to be Coder) whose home is in Cedar Township; Franklin, born Aug. 21, 1847, is living in Cedar Township; Sarah, wife of Joseph Marsden, was born, March 17, 1849, and is a resident of Muscatine; Matilda, wife of Peter Brookhart, was born Nov. 16, 1850, and is and is now living in Cedar Township; Harriet born June 30, 1852, and is the wife of Alonzo Epperly, a resident of St. Paul, Minn.; Mary, born Dec. 28, 1853, wedded William Harvey, of Cass County, Iowa; Eve, born Sept. 30, 1855, married Nicholas Herric (This is suppose to be Herrick), a resident farmer of Cedar Township; John, born, Jan 8, 1858, is living on his father's farm; William H., born Sept. 23, 1862, and died May 8, 1864.

For over forty years Mr. and Mrs. Fry have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have lived to see their children become useful and honored members of society, all of them being members of the church with the exception of one. Mr. Fry cast his ballot with the Republican party, and is one of the leading citizens of the county, with whose history he has been identified for thirty-four years.

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