J. H. Fry

As printed in 1881

J. H. FRY, deceased; was born in the Canton of Zurich, in Switzerland, Nov. 14, 1791. His passport to this country bears date March 11, 1817; he landed at New York, and went thence to Chambersburg, Penn., where he resided several years, when he resolved to come to the West, and in 1824 he came to Crawford Co., entering 160 acres of Government land, west of where the village of Annapolis is located. In January, 1827, he married Catharine— daughter of Thomas Williamson, and in ' 1833 they sold out, but purchased 160 acres [ about half a mile north of where the village is [ located, of one Matthias Markley; this location Mr. Fry made his home until he was called hence by the messenger of death. They were, quite prosperous in their farming pursuits, and i were also blessed with a family of ten children I — Henry, Elizabeth, Catharine, Thomas, Alfred, I Hannah, John. Sarah, Joshua and Francis, all of whom are living except Elizabeth. Mrs. Fry was i born in Schuylkill Co., Penn., October, 1809, and I came to Crawford Co., Ohio, with her father's family, in 1826; they located on the Broken Sword, in Liberty Township, but in 1829 they moved to St. Joseph Co., Mich., with seven of their children, four sons and three daughters. There Mrs. Fry's mother, Mrs. Williamson, died, and, after the death of his wife, Thomas Williamson went, with others, to California, and died in San Francisco in 1846. While they resided here, their daughter Polly was married to Jacob Whetstone; she and Mrs. Fry being the only members of the Williamson family to remain here. For j-ears Mr. Fry had been a member of the Lutheran Church, and on 5Iarch 11, 1875, he received the summons to enter into the full enjoyment of a higher and better life. His widow still survives, and although her 72d year is rapidly approaching, she is as quick, both mentally and physically, and as ambitious as many who have scarcely passed eighteen summers. Her memory is replete with incidents of pioneer life, when this district was almost an unbroken forest, and when neighbors, though

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.