Gilmore Fry Biography


	This biography appears on pages 941-942 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	GILMORE FRY was born in Freeport, Illinois, in June, 1863. His 
father, Joel Fry, was a native of Pennsylvania and in 1854 removed to 
Illinois, where he remained until 1869, when he started for Yankton 
county, South Dakota, traveling by stage between Sioux City. On 
reaching his destination he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of 
land north of Yankton and began the development of a farm, although 
living in the city. He was a carpenter by trade and engaged in 
contracting to some extent. In 1874, however, during the grasshopper 
scourge he left Yankton and since that time has engaged in farming, 
owning and operating four hundred and eighty acres of farming land. He 
also has town property and has made judicious investments in real 
estate so that his realty holdings are valuable as well as extensive. 
He has also engaged in the stock business and at the present time he 
makes his home in Irene, South Dakota, which town was named in honor of 
his daughter. In early manhood he wedded Elizabeth Forry and they 
became the parents of four children: Jemima, now deceased; Alice, the 
wife of W. P. Swartz, a druggist of Pueblo, Colorado; Gilmore; and 
Irene, who is the wife of H. P. Hartwell, a business man living in the 
town of Irene, South Dakota. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fry yet survive and are 
esteemed people of the community in which they reside. They hold 
membership in the Evangelical church, taking an active part in its work 
and in the cause of education Mr. Fry is deeply interested and has done 
effective service in its behalf as school treasurer. His political 
support was given in early life to the Whig party and upon its 
dissolution he joined the ranks of the Republican party, of which he is 
a worthy representative. On this ticket he was elected to its 
legislature in 1895 and in the discharge of his official duties proved 
himself a most loyal citizen.  

	Under the parental roof Gilmore Fry was reared amid the wild 
scenes of pioneer life in Yankton county. He was only six years of age 
when he arrived here. All around him was a wild unbroken prairie and it 
was only at long distances that pioneer homes were to be seen. In 1895 
he wedded Nettie Lawrence, a daughter of D. O. and Harriet (Branch) 
Lawrence. Her father, formerly a farmer and stock raiser of Minnesota, 
came to Yankton county about 1875 and afterward removed to Clay county, 
where his death occurred in 1897. His political allegiance was given to 
the Republican party. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fry have been born three 
children, Agnes, Alice and Willard.  

	In his business affairs as the years passed by Mr. Fry has 
prospered and he now owns five hundred acres of land, most of which is 
devoted to pasturage and this he rents. He is the manager for the Atlas 
Elevator Company, of Minneapolis, having charge of their lumber yard 
and elevator business at Mission Hill. He has acted as its 
representative for about a year, and prior to that time he was engaged 
in the grain business for the Kansas City & St. Paul Company. He votes 
with the Republican party and has held some school offices, yet has 
never been an active politician in the sense of office seeking. He also 
has some lodge relations and he and his family belong to the 
Congregational church at Mission Hill. Mr. Fry can remember when the 
Indians were more numerous than the white settlers in this portion of 
the country and as the years have advanced he has been a witness of the 
wonderful transformation that has occurred here and has borne his full 
share in the work of advancement.