William C. Fry Biography


	This biography appears on page 1842 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	WILLIAM C. FRY, one of the most highly esteemed citizens of 
Charles Mix county, is a native of the old Bay state, having been born 
in Massachusetts in 1833, and was reared and educated in his native 
county, where he received the advantages of the common schools, the 
while growing up under the sturdy discipline of the farm. Later he 
removed to Wisconsin, where his father also located, and in that state 
he devoted his attention to farming and lumbering for many years, being 
a hard worker and gaining success through consecutive toil and 
endeavor. At the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion he was among the 
first to tender his services in defense of the Union, enlisting in the 
Sixteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and the history of the regiment 
constitutes the history of his personal war record. He was taken 
prisoner and was confined for six days in Libby prison, at Richmond, 
being then paroled. He served during practically the entire period of 
the war.

	In 1880 Mr. Fry came to South Dakota and took up a tract of 
government land in Lincoln county, where he remained until he came to 
Charles Mix county and took up a homestead claim, on a portion of which 
the village of Bartholdi is now located. He is now the owner of a half 
section of valuable and well-improved land, and of the same about one 
hundred and sixty acres are under a high state of cultivation, while 
the remainder is devoted to grazing purposes and to the raising of hay. 
He has been successful in his farming enterprise and is one of the most 
honored pioneers of the county. He was one of the founders of the 
village of Bartholdi, where he has been engaged in the general 
merchandise business, securing an excellent patronage, and has also 
been postmaster of the town. In politics he is an uncompromising 
Republican and he and his wife are valued members of the Presbyterian 
church, while fraternally he is identified with the Grand Army of the 
Republic.

	Mr. Fry was united in marriage to Miss Abby Lane, who was born 
and reared in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, and they have had six 
children.