Alfred Fry

As printed in 1881

ALFRED FRY, merchant and Postmaster, Sulphur Springs; was born near Sulphur Springs, this county, Feb. 7. 1835. He is the sou of J. H. and Catharine (Williamson) Fry-, whose sketch is in this work. Being among the pioneer settlers, his school advantages were very limited for those in the country who were earnestly endeavoring to care out a habitation in the woods. Mr. Fry got but the ordinary course in the common schools; but, being naturally apt to learn, he made more of his opportunities than most boys do. He spent the summers of 1856 and 1857 in the Primary Department of Oberlin College. Although he returned to work on the farm, he improved his leisure moments until in the end he acquired a practical business education. He enlisted in the war of the rebellion in May. 1861, in Co. C. 8th 0. V. I. At the battle of Winchester, Va., March 22, 1862, he received a serious wound; an ounce ball entered the side of his right high, immediately below the hip-joint, passing through both thighs and lodging near the outer surface of the left high. As a souvenir from the confederacy, he has carefully laid the missile aside. He lay in the hospital at Winchester seven weeks, and then got a furlough, but had been home only a few days when inflammatory rheumatism set in. When convalescent, he joined the regiment, in September of the same year, at Alexandria, and served until November, when he was discharged on account of physical disability, which was brought on by the severity of his wound. He came back to his father's, and took a tour of several months through the Western States. When he arrived again at home, he accepted a clerkship with Jay & Biddle. of Sulphur Springs, which lasted one year. With a view of improving his commercial education, he entered college at Pittsburgh, Penn., attending the winter terms of 1864 and 1865. and the following spring he built a business-room at Sulphur Springs, and put in a stock of general merchandise, and opened in trade on his own responsibility in October, 1866, where he has been ever since, with several changes in the firm. John Guiss, Jr., bought an interest in April. 1867, with Mr. Fry, which partnership continued until 1876, when Guiss sold out to C. A. Keller, with whom he conducted business one year, under the firm name of Fry & Keller; subsequently, he sold out his interest in the stock to Isaac Klopfenstein, and still retained the building, which is equivalent to one-third interest in the business, the firm name being Klopfenstein & Co. Mr. Fry received the appointment of Postmaster in 1869, which position he has held ever since. In 1872, he was elected Township Treasurer. He was united in marriage with Laura C, daughter of Thomas and Marie Gillespie, Sept. 16, 1871. They have two children— Edgar and a babe. Mrs. Fry was born in Bucyrus Oct. 8, 1843. Her father, Thomas Gillespie, came here from Pennsylvania. He was twice married; his first wife died in Bucyrus in 1845, leaving two children — Laura C. and Charles. He afterward moved to Paulding Co., but finally returned to Sulphur Springs, and died at the residence of Mr. Alfred Fry, July 31, 1880.

As printed in History of Crawford County and Ohio : containing a history of the state of Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time ... a history of Crawford County ... biographical sketches, portraits (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.