John and Catherine Eberhardt Fry Family

First generation

John and Catherine Eberhardt Fry were early pioneers in Ashland County, OH, purchasing 80+ acres from George and Nancy Potdorf in what was then in Mohican Township, Wayne County in January, 1837. Catherine was born in Morrisons Cove, Huntington County, PA and John was born in New York state, according to his death certificate.

John and Catherine were married in Stark County in 1831, her name being registered as "Everhart" in the county records (the family name would also be spelled differently, as "Frye" in their first property purchase). They would have nine children: Josiah (1832-1869); George Washington (1834-1892); John (1837-1862); Benjamin (1838-?); Mary Ann (1840-1847); Catharine (1843-1869); William (1847-?); Harvey (1848-1868); and Franklin Pierce (1852-1894).

Three of the sons would go to California in the Gold Rush, living in various mining camps. Josiah would apparently die there, possibly as early as 1861. John Fry, Jr. would perish in 1862 aboard the SS Golden Gate while returning to Ohio via the Panama Canal route. George Washington Fry would remain in California, eventually being one of the first settlers of what is now Lassen County, near Susanville, CA.

Two sons, Benjamin and William, would eventually inherit the homestead. While John and Catherine were both members of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Jeromesville, OH, these two sons would become elders when the Mohican Reformed Church (Lutheran), formed in 1845 in Mohicanville.

Photos and Images

* Catherine Eberhardt (1811-1884) and John Fry (1809-1872) portrait photos
* McDonnell's 1861 atlas for Mohican Township
* Probate Court "Notice of Appraisement" for John Fry's estate
* Currier & Ives' color print of the burning of the S.S. Golden Gate, where John Fry, Jr. would perish in 1862. For more information on the sinking of the S.S. Golden Gate see this account.
* George Washington Fry (1834-1892), who would remain in California, married Louisa Mary Dewitt (1840-1926), who already had four children when they married in 1870. The couple were pioneers in Lassen County, CA and would have three additional children of their own. Louisa with Cora Belle Fry and Harvey Jay Fry around 1900.
* Cemetery markers in the Mohicanville Cemetery. The cemetery is full of Fry and Offineer relatives, as this list compiled by John Bush indicates.
  -- site of Fry family gravestones.
  -- John Fry, "Died Dec. 31, 1872, Aged 63 years, 5 months 11 days"
  -- Catharine, "Wife of John Fry, Died April 27, 1884"
  -- Catharine (Fry), "Wife of John L. Metcalf, Died Dec. 16, 1869, Aged 26 years, 8 months, 1 day". Catharine's cause of death was listed as "lung congestion".
  -- Harvey, "Son of J. & C. Fry, Died Dec. 22, 1868, Aged 20 years 7 months, 23 days". Harvey was killed by machinery while operating a sawmill.
  -- Mary A., ""Daughter of J. & C. Fry, Died Jan. 11, 1847, Aged 6 years, 9 months, 22 days"

Revision: 4/12/2007