CRAWFORD COUNTY OHIO - BIO: John Pry (1902) *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Submitter: Tina Hursh Email: ribbit@clubnet.isl.net Date: 25 May 2002 *********************************************************************** >From the The Ohio Biographies Project http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~usbios/Ohio/mnpg.html a part of The U.S. Biographies Project http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray/usbios/usbiog.html Transcribed by Bonnie Walsh. --------------- 1902 Biographical History of Crawford Co., OHIO pages 709-710 John Pry was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1803, emigrated to this country in 1828 and settled in New Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio. There he resided one year and was united in marriage with Rica Bowman, who with her parents, emigrated to this country the same year. Soon after their marriage they moved to Liberty township. Mr. Pry bought a small farm of forty acres, built a log cabin in the woods and commenced to clear the ground for a farm, upon which he resided until 1840, when he removed to Sandusky township, Crawford County, and purchased a larger farm, on which he lived until his death, which occurred in 1893, in the ninetieth year of his age. He had thirteen children, five of whom were deceased over thrity years ago. The family Bible in which their records were kept was burned about ten years ago, at the burning of his son Lewis' house. The other children of whom a record was preserved, are as follows: John, of Richland county; Eliza Heller, a resident of Williams county; Christ, who resided in Auburn township, Crawford county, until his death, which occurred in 1898; Jacob, who resides in Sandusky township on the old homestead; Lewis, a resident of Sandusky township; Christena, now Mrs. Lewis Dapper, who resides in Leesville, this county; William, who lives in Liberty township, this county; and Celia, the youngest, who was married to J. M. Solinger in the year 1876. They lived with her parents until their death. In the year 1894 she, with her husband, moved to a point near Crestline, on which place she resided until her death, which occurred in 1900. The mother of our subject also was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1811, and died in 1887, at the age of seventy-six. She was a daughter of Jacob and Margaret Bowman, who came to this country about the same time as did the Pry family, and they located in Vernon township, Crawford county. John Pry acquired a common-school education and early began assisting his father on the farm, remaining with him until his marriage. On December 1, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Cole, who was a daughter of Barnet Cole, the latter being a native of Pennsylvania. He came to Crawford county, OH, when he was a young man, was married in this state and here reared his family. After marriage Mr. Pry moved to Plymouth, OH, and there engaged in the hotel business for one year, returning then to a farming life. His father-in-law wished him to take charge of his farm and conduct operations on shares, and this our subject consented to do for the following three years. After this period he rented a farm from James English, later one from Thomas Mickey, and followed agricultural pursuits on these tracts until 1866. At this time, in association with his brother, Jacob Pry, he purchased the farm of one hundred and twenty acres upon which he now resides, and for twelve years the brothers farmed in partnership, and then our subject bought his brother's interest, the latter removing to Sandusky township. This farm shows the care and attention which has been given it and ranks with the best in the county. Our subject's eighty-acre farm lies in Crawford county, and forty acres lie in Richland county, both tracts being highly improved and most desirable property. Mr. Pry is known as a most industrious and worthy citizen and has a wide circle of friends. In politics his vote is always given to the candidates of the Republican party and he is a stanch supporter of its principles. Socially he has long been connected with the Odd Fellows order, and both he and wife are leading members in the Methodist church. Our subject and wife have reared a family of eight children, six of whom still survive, namely: Lewis Franklin, born September 15, 1860; Albert Wilis, born May 3, 1865; Lucy Jane, who was born October 18, 1862, and was married to Henry J. Kahl in 1884; John Crowvalia, born October 13, 1875; Charles C., January 1. 1877; Rica Maudesta, born April 18, 1880; Barnet J. C., who was born July 13, 1870, and died August 27, 1886; and Meda Belle, who was born February 18, 1868, and died August 7, following.