Elmer J. Fry

As printed in 1912

ELMER J. FRY,* who lives on the old homestead farm of over 140 acres, which is situated in section 27, Cranberry township, Crawford county, O., belongs to an old Crawford county family that was established in Cranberry township by the grandfather, John Fry, who secured this land during the administration of President Andrew Jackson. Elmer J. Fry was born here June 24, 1867, and is a son of John C. and Mary A. (Becker) Fry.

John C. Fry was born in Crawford county, one mile north of Sulphur Springs and did not settle on this farm until after he married, when he purchased it from his father. He was an educated man, having attended Oberlin College in youth, afterward engaging in farming. He continued to live in Cranberry township until he retired, when he moved to Tiffin, O., but subsequently returned to the farm to end his days among early surroundings. He married Mary A. Becker, who was born near Harrisburg, Pa. Her people later moved to Crawford county and her father lived one mile south of Sulphur Springs for a number of years and then moved to Michiigan. She died Jan. 4, 1898, her husband surviving until Feb. 3, 191 1. They had three sons and one daughter, namely: Eugene, who was born June 30, 1864, married Ida McKeehen, and they live in Cranberry township north of the home farm; Elmer; William, who was born July 24, 1872, married Catherine Bozenville and live at Toledo; and Minnie, who is the wife of Clarence Hathaway, and they live at Lansing, Mich. The father of the above family was a lifelong Republican, and he and his wife were faithful members of the Methodist Protestant church.

Elmer J. Fry not only remained at home through a happy boyhood but was able to attend school without leaving his father's land, the old log building utilized for school purposes then standing eighty rods south and west of the present residence.. His tastes proved to be agricultural and after his school days were over he decided to remain with his parents and cultivate the home estate and has continued here, purchasing the property when his parents died. He still has twenty-five acres in valuable woodland but all the rest of the land is under a high state of cultivation.

Mr. Fry married Miss Leeanna McCammon, who was born in Sandusky township, a daughter of R. B. and Sarah McCammon, former well known residents of Sandusky township. Mr. and Mrs. Fry have had three children, the youngest. Bertha, alone surviving. She is a bright little seven-year old school girl. Robert R. died when almost two years old and the second born, a son, died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Fry attend the Lutheran church, Mrs. Fry being a member. Mr. Fry has always been a citizen interested in public matters and enjoys the confidence of his fellow citizens. He has been a school director and for six years served as a trustee of Cranberry township.

As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.