Charles Smith Fry

CHARLES SMITH FRY, one of the leading livery men of the borough of Latrobe, was born April 19, 1859, in Mount Pleasant township, son of Lewis R. and Mary (Hair) Fry. The great-grandfather was John Fry, of German ancestry, who emigrated from one of the eastern counties in Pennsylvania and settled in Westmoreland county prior to 1797. He married before coming to western Pennsylvania, and among their children were: John, Isaac, Jonathan, Michael, Margaret and Catharine.

John Fry, son of John Fry, the grandfather of Charles S. Fry, was born in Mount Pleasant township, this county, in 1797, and died when aged about sixty-five years. He married Sarah Richard, by whom nine daughters and one son were born: Lovinia, Lydia, Sarah, Elizabeth, Caroline, Rebecca, Mary, two died young, and Lewis R. All married and settled in Westmoreland county. John Fry was a farmer all his days.

Lewis R. Fry, only son of John and Sarah (Richard) Fry, was born December 28, 1832, in Mount Pleasant township, on the old Fry homestead, and has followed farming all of his active years. He now resides at Latrobe with his son, Charles S. Fry, but still owns the old farm home in Mount Pleasant township. He married Mary Hair, daughter of John and Christina (Goon) Hair. The Hairs were from Ireland, while the Goons were of German extraction. John Hair and his wife reared the following children: John, Isabell, Eliza, Samuel, Leah, Edward, Thomas (died young) and Mary, the mother of Charles S. Fry. Lewis R. and Mary (Hair) Fry were the parents of John Fry, born 1857, married Caroline Aukerman; Charles S. of whom later; Alice, born 1862, died aged two and one half years. The father was a farmer, and in church faith a Lutheran. He believed in and always voted with the Democratic party. He held various township and local school offices, and served in the Pleasant Unity militia company. His wife, Mary (Hair) Fry. passed from the scenes of this life May 25, 1905, and was buried beside other members of the family at St. Paul's cemetery, near Pleasant Unity.

Charles S. Fry, son of Lewis R. and Mary (Hair) Fry, received his education at the district schools of his native township, and followed farming and stockdealing until 1897, when he removed to Latrobe and there engaged in the livery business, which he still follows in a highly successful manner at No. 215 Main street. Politically he is an ardent Democrat. He has been a member of the Pleasant Unity township school board. Mr. and Mrs. Fry are members of the Lutheran church, and he is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, No. 1188, at Latrobe, of which he is a trustee, American Casualty Company, of Reading, Pennsylvania, and the Columbia Relief Fund Association. Mr. Fry married, October 16, 1879, at Pleasant Unity, Martha Amelia Gallaway, daughter of William and Margaret (Walters) Gallaway, who were farmers and conducted a general store at Lycippus, Pennsylvania. Both are now deceased. Mrs. Fry is one of a family of twelve children. Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Fry have children: Mary, born April 25, 1880; Margaret, March 15, 1883; Lewis W., October 25, 1885; Laura, August 7, 1888; and an infant daughter, born September, died October, 1890; Mildred I., September 2, 1893.

Source: History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Volume II, by John N. Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906, Page 280-1.
Transcribed by Carol C. Eddleman for the Westmoreland County History Project.
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

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