MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS BOOK ONE

Source: REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS , BOOK One, page 446
submitted by Vicki Broughton, December 17, 2007

OBITUARY

HENRY FRY was born Jan. 5, 1814, in Somerset county, Penn., and died April 30, 1897, age 83 years, 3 months and 2 days.

On the 20th day of September, 1838, he was united in marriage with Mary Fitzgerald, who survives him. Their early life was one of hardship and toll, beginning as they did without any of this world’s goods. Fourteen children were born to Brother and Sister Fry, three sons and one daughter having preceded their father to the spirit world. The ones who are living are: Josiah, Cyrus, Frank and John Fry, Mrs. John Coder, Mrs. Joseph Morrison, Mrs. Peter Brookhart and Mrs. C. Herrick, of Muscatine, county, Iowa; Mrs. L.M. Epperly, of St. Paul, Minn., and Mrs. W.C. Harvey, of Marne, Cass county, Iowa. They had fifty-two grandchildren, of whom forty-three are living, and twelve great grand children, who are all living.

Brother Fry was converted and united with the M.E. church in the year 1854. He often spoke of the religious instructions he had when young and how Jesus was with him in camp meetings and revivals. He, with his family, moved to Iowa in May, 1856, and had resided in Muscatine county ever since. Brother Fry was one of industrious and staunch citizens of this community. He came here when the country was new and by industry, economy and good management made his way up. First he bought an eighty acre farm and kept adding to and improving it till he owned one of Iowa’s magnificent farms. As a neighbor he was accommodating and peaceable; he was a model husband, affectionate, gentle, forbearing and a great lover of home. As a father he had so impressed himself upon his children that they rise up and call him blessed. While Bro. Fry was not a sectarian, he was a loyal Methodist, loving above all others the church of his choice, and was an exemplary professor and a happy, steadfast Christian. His honorable life and Christian example had been a constant benediction to this community. While his lips are closed in death and we shall not hear his familiar voice again, he continues to speak to us in unmistakable tones, “Follow me as I have followed Christ.”

The funeral services were held at the M.E. church, May 2d, at 11 a.m. A very large concourse of people assembled to look for the last time upon the face of their friend and brother. Services were conducted by his pastor, Rev. D.C. Bevan. His text was Philippians 1:21, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” The remains were laid to rest in Letts cemetery. --- COM.-

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