DANIEL FRY

Daniel FRY, a native of Franklin County, Indiana, was born September 21, 1830. He is the son of Lewis and Rebecca (Conn) Fry, natives of Virginia. He was the oldest of a family of five children, and was reared in his native county, and made it his home until he passed his fortieth year. He was educated in the common schools, and besides the training he received in agricultural pursuits he learned the carpenter's trade, and was thus doubly equipped for making his way in the world.

Mr. Fry was married August 5, 1854, to Rachel Howell, who was born in Franklin County, Indiana, October 12, 1834. They had four children born to them -- George A., residing in Defiance; Mason A., residing with his parents; Lewis W., residing in Union Township, a veterinary surgeon, and Herman L., at home. In 1869 Mr. Fry came to Shelby County, Iowa, on a prospecting tour, and to look after some land in the county which he had purchased in 1868; this land was in several different tracts and aggregated 600 acres. In 1872 he removed his family to the county and located in section 14, Union Township, on a farm of 160 acres; this land was wild, unbroken prairie, and there were but few families in this part of the county. Mr. Fry erected a small frame residence, and they began life in the new county. He has since made many valuable improvements in the way of erecting a find residence and barns for stock and grain; the farm is in a high state of cultivation, and is considered one of the best in the county; it now covers 400 acres.

Mr. Fry affiliates with the Republican party, and has held the office of justice of the peace for a number of years; he has also served on the school board, and was the first postmaster in Union Township; he named the postoffice Defiance, from which the town of Defiance took its name. Mr and Mrs. Fry are worthy consistent members of the United Brethren church, and have been the leading spirits in the establishing of the society of Defiance. Mr. Fry has been an important factor in the promotion of all enterprises having for their object the advancement of the community. His influence for good has been largely felt, and he holds a warm place in the hearts of the people. On coming to the county Mr and Mrs. Fry were compelled to undergo many hardships; they traveled a distance of eighteen miles to the mill, and about the same distance to a market place.

Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 577, 578. Transcribed and submitted by Craig and Nancy Poole - cpoole@unmc.edu