BIO:  Charles H. Fry, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Spring Garden Township, Pg 189

CHARLES H. FRY, justice of the peace, is one of a family of thirteen children, and was born on 
a farm near what is now known as Frysville, then Fry’s Church, in Windsor Township, York Co., 
Penn., September 20, 1833.  The father, John Fry, was born near the place where all his 
children were born.  The mother’s name was Juliann (Haines) Fry, who was of English descent, 
and was born in Philadelphia.  Charles H. worked on the farm in summer, and had about three or 
four months to go to school in winter.  When old enough he learned the carpenter’s trade, but 
not liking it, worked at his trade in summer and attended school in winter, until he was able 
to teach a primary school.  The money he made teaching in winter, he took to pay his tuition in 
summer, at a select school at Wrightsville, Penn., for one term.  The following winter he 
taught school again, and in the spring, entered the York County Academy, taught by the late 
Prof. George W. Ruby, and D. M. Ettinger, for one term.  This completed his schooling, except 
lessons in surveying, by D. M. Ettinger, civil engineer.  Mr. Fry was appointed postmaster, at 
Margaretta Furnace, in 1861, which office he held during the greater part of the late war.  The 
office was removed from Margaretta Furnace to East Prospect, where it is at present.  Mr. Fry 
resigned the office, and some time afterward moved to Spring Garden, where he accepted the 
secretaryship of the Spring Garden Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which he has held up to the 
present time – about twenty years.  He was elected a justice of the peace of Spring Garden 
Township in 1866, and re-elected three times, holding the office at the present time.  He was 
elected county surveyor of York County last fall.  Mr. Fry was instrumental in getting up one 
of the first building associations (now one of the largest in the county), about eighteen years 
ago, and has been secretary of the same ever since.  He was married at York, Penn., January 5, 
1858, to Catherine Fitzkee.  They have had eleven children, three of whom are dead, four boys 
and four girls living.  Mr. and Mrs. Fry are members of the Ridge Avenue Church (Methodist 
Episcopal).  Their residence is corner of East Market Street and Ridge Avenue, East York.