FRANCIS RINEHART FRY
A
native of Mason county, West Virginia, Francis R. Fry was born
December 28, 1852, a son of Samuel and Mary A. (Circle) Fry,
who were also natives of Mason county. The former was a
son of John and Elizabeth (Aumiller) Fry, natives of
Shenandoah county, Virginia, and was the youngest of seven
children. He
acquired a common-school education and was reared to farm
work. On the 18th
of April, 1848, he wedded Mary A. Circle, of Mason county,
West Virginia. In
the year 1857 they removed westward to Wayne county, Iowa,
locating first in Union township and in 1861 removing to
Washington township. The
wife and mother passed away August 26, 1862, and in 1863,
Samuel Fry wedded Mary Ann Ball, of Fauquier county, Virginia. He was a self-made
man whose success was attributable entirely to his own
efforts. For
three years he filled the office of county supervisor and was
interested in everything pertaining to public progress and
improvement. It
was through his efforts that Fry’s chapel was built, his
donation covering more than one-half of the expense. He labored for the
material, intellectual, social and moral benefit of his
community and his life work was of value of the district. Unto him and his
wife were born two children, the daughter, Mrs. Mary Virginia
Burnham, now living in Ames, Iowa.
Francis
R. Fry was but four years of age when brought by his parents
to Iowa. He
acquired his early education in the country schools and when
nineteen years of age was graduated from Western College, now
the Leander Clark College of Toledo, Iowa. For three years he
engaged in teaching school and then refused an offer to become
assistant cashier of the Cedar Rapids Savings Bank because of
his health. Thinking
that outdoor life would prove more beneficial, he began
farming, in 1881, on one hundred and twenty acres of land and
by reason of his capable management, unfaltering enterprise
and progressive methods he was gradually able to increase his
holdings until he now owns five hundred and twenty acres, a
part of which is rented to his sons, while the remainder is
cultivated on shares. He
is considered the leading and most progressive farmer in his
part of the state. His
methods have always been of the most practical character and
yet have embodied the most progressive ideas. Since he began
farming his fields have always yielded a better percentage
than others and it was often pointed out that his crops were
large and fine while the fields on the opposite side of the
road were producing much less.
He understands the scientific as well as the practical
side of farming and many young men are looking to him as an
example of what may be accomplished in this direction. It is a notable
fact that the first eighty acres of land which his father,
Samuel Fry, owned and farmed in 1857 is producing as good
crops, if not better, than were gathered from the same tract
fifty-six years ago. He
has always followed crop rotation and has studied the needs of
the soil, and the sound judgment which has guided his work has
made his labors most effective and has justly given him rank
among the foremost agriculturists of this part of the state. In 1895, in order
to give his children better educational opportunities than
could be secured in the country schools, Mr. Fry removed with
his family to Corydon and all of his seven children are now
graduates of the high school.
Other
business interests aside from farming have claimed the
attention and profited by the efforts and enterprise of Mr.
Fry. He and his
father were the organizers of the Farmers & Merchants Bank
and continued as officers and stockholders until the Citizens
Savings Bank was reorganized through Mr. Fry’s efforts and the
name changed to the First National Bank, of which Francis R.
Fry is now a director, while his son, F. B. Fry, is cashier. He is also
president of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Wayne
county, filling that position since 1903.
While Mr. Fry’s business interests and duties have claimed his attention he has yet found time to cooperate in various movements relative to the public welfare. The cause of education has found in him a stalwart champion and while living upon the farm he served for twenty years as a member of the school board and has acted in the same capacity for nine years in connection with the Corydon school board. He has likewise been township clerk and justice of the peace and he was a member of the thirty-fourth general assembly, elected for the years 1911 and 1912. He acted on the advisory board of the city council when the electric light plant was installed, and no movement for the general good seeks his aid and support in vain. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party and his position upon any vital question is never an equivocal one. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.
On
the 8th of March, 1872, Mr. Fry was united in
marriage to Miss Carrie M. Kellogg, a daughter of Alvero V.
and Fannie (Jayne) Kellogg.
It was in 1891 that Mr. Fry was called upon to mourn
the loss of his wife who died on the 23d of December of that
year. They were
the parents of seven children:
Frantz Bird, who was born March 2, 1875, and is
mentioned elsewhere in this work; Jeva M., who was born
February 23, 1878, and died November 18, 1911; Arba F., who
was born July 17, 1880, and is now the wife of Jesse T. White,
of Corydon; Elo, who was born June 23, 1882, and is the wife
of E. A. Kimmel, a detective of Oakland, California; Samuel
A., a farmer who was born May 5, 1884, and married Mary Jennie
Riggs, of Seymour, December 28, 1908; Eupha P., who was born
on the 2d of May, 1887, and on the 28th of
December, 1908, her father’s birthday, became the wife of Ray
Evans, a farmer of Wayne county; and Alba G., born December
11, 1891, who is cultivating the land which was first owned by
his grandfather, Samuel Fry, this being in possession of the
family for three generations.
He married Nellie B. Davis August 6, 1912. In the family are
ten grandchildren. Mr.
Fry was married a second time March 9, 1895, when Miss Alice
Miller became his wife.
She is a daughter of Henry Carter and Frances (Upham)
Miller, who arrived in Wayne county in 1864.
Such in brief is the history of Francis R. Fry, who for fifty-six years has lived in Iowa. His career has been one of continuous progress and he occupies today a most prominent position in financial and agricultural circles while as a citizen his efforts in behalf of the general welfare have been far-reaching and beneficial.