Washington County PA Archives Biographies........................Frye Family ************************************************ Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Gary L. Caldwell Feburary 2012 Author: Mrs. Jean Colvin Fenwick ABRAHAM FRYE (Old & New Monongah4la by VanVoorhis 1893) Abraham Frye, better known as "Ringland's Abe" was born in the old house on the Frye tract on the 12th. of January 1793. He married Isabella Ringland, 13 Sept. 1813 in the old house that stood above the present residence of his son-in- law, Abram Colvin on the Brownsville Road in Fallowfield Twp. , Washington Co. Pa. (Isabella was born in this same house - 5 April 1796.) Abraham was the best of men. Naturally good-hearted, was generous to a fault. He never learned any trade yet he was skilled beyond his day in every trade. He made of iron or wood whatever was needed.... was general pewter-spoon moulder for the neighborhood.... shod his own horses .... he made his own grain cradles and sickles and files....made and operated the first threshing machine in the ,county or anywhere else....cut stone for, and built the house in which he and his wife lived and died. (His son Smith continued to live there) In a word, he was a man of extraordinary genius. He always lived on the farm where he was born. The eleven children of Abraham and Isabella Ringland Frye were: Samuel, John, Christena (w/o Abram Colvin), Smith, Henry Jackson, Abraham, Noah, Sarah Ann (w/o Thomas McGowan), Clarissa and Isabella. Members of five generations of the Fry Family are buried in the Frye Cemetery, the family burying ground, located on the land which was originally "the old Frye farm" just off 5th. St. Extension, Charleroi, Washington Co., Pa. 1st. Generation: Samuel Frye (s/o Benjamin Frye) was born in Virginia 1729. He was the first of the Frye name to settle in Fallowfield Township (Washington Co.,Pa-). He married, in Virginia, Christena Speers, d/o Henry and Regina Froman Speers. Samuel Frye died 14 August 1814 aged 85 years and he and his wife are both buried in Frye Cemetery. 2nd. Generation: Abraham Frye (s/o Samuel & Christena Frye) was born in Fallowfield Township (Washington Co. Pa.) 1793. He married Isabella Ringland (d/o John Ringland a native of Ireland and an early settler in Fallowfield Township). Abraham and Isabella Ringland Frye are both interred in the Frye Cem. 3rd. Generation: Smith Frye (s/o Abraham and Isabella Ringland Frye) was born in Fallowfield Township (Washington Co., Pa.) 1836. He married Mary Ann Mitchell (d/o Mark and Lucinda Burgan Mitchell). Smith Frye died in 1918 and his wife Mary Ann in 1923. Both are interred in the Frye Cemetery. 4th. Generation: Harvey J.Frye (s/o Smith and Mary Ann Mitchell Frye) was born 1862 Fallowfield Township (Washington Co. Pa. He married Maie Reeves. Harvey Frye died 1950 and was the last person to be buried in the Frye Cemetery. His wife, Maie Reeves Frye, is also interred in this cemetery. 5th. Generation: Smith S. Frye (s/o Harvey J. and Maie Reeves Frye) was born in Fallowfield Township 1892. He was never married. He served in World War I and is buried in the Frye Cem.His death occurred in 1941.