BIO: Howard M. FRY, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 851 & 852. _____________________________________________________________ HOWARD M. FRY, a farmer and prominent citizen of Burnside township, was born at Westover, Clearfield county, Pa., December 15, 1857, a son of John Smith and Julia A. (Myers) Fry. He is a grandson of Daniel Fry, who settled at Westover with his family in 1849, coming from Lancaster county, Pa., and who died in 1883, at the age of 79 years. His wife in maidenhood was Sarah Priestly, a daughter of Jonathan Priestly of Lancaster. Daniel Fry was a son of John Fry, who resided in York county, Pa. John Smith Fry, father of our subject, was born February 9, 1832. He followed farming and lumbering at Westover until 1860, and then removed to Burnside township, where he took up land. He settled on the present Fry homestead in 1862, and subsequently resided there until his death, which took place June 12, 1881. He was twice married: first to Julia Ann Myers, the daughter of John and Jane (Ruggles) Myers, natives of Blair County, who came to Clearfield county about 1840. Of this first marriage there were children as follows: Howard M., whose name begins this sketch; Harvey, residing in Texas; Elmer E., also in Texas; John D., a resident of Greensburg, Pa.; Ella, wife of Rev. B. W. Lewis, residing in Mississippi; Mrs. Julia Ann Fry died in 1876 at the age of 37 years, and Mr. Fry subsequently married Jane McEwen, of Burnside township, who was born in 1849, the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Priestly) McEwen. She is still living and resides at Westover. There were born to this second marriage two children: Flora, who is a teacher at Turtle Creek, Allegheny county, Pa., and James S., an engineer, unmarried and living at home. John Smith Fry was then a member of the Baptist church. He was active in politics as a Republican and served as assessor and treasurer of his township for a number of years up to the time of his death. Howard M. Fry after attending school entered upon an agricultural life, being also engaged to some extent in cutting timber. He remained at home until reaching the age of twenty-one years, when he took up his residence near Westover and Coalport, successively. At his father's death in 1881 he came to his present home, where he has since followed farming successfully. A Republican in politics, he is now serving as tax collector, and has served for twenty years as assessor, form 1889 to 1909. He has always taken an interest in good government and has been an active worker for his party. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum lodge at Clearfield, and to the lodge of Red Men at Harmony. Mr. Fry was married December 25, 1879 to Sarah C. McKee, who was born August 27, 1861, a daughter of J. R. and Susan (Westover) McKee of Burnside township. Her father, who was born in 1838, died in 1903; her mother died in 1907 at the age of 69 years. Mr. and Mrs. Fry have been the parents of the following children: Olive, who is the wife of E. Woods, tax collector of Cambria county, and has four children; Grier R., Venna, Clyde H., Quay and Lois, all living at home. Mrs. Fry is a member of the Baptist church, and belongs to the Ladies' Aid Society of the same; she is also a member of Grange No. 1201 of Harmony.