Individual Details

According to an account by Anna B. Casey, in 1851 he went to California with his brother for the Gold Rush, never saw any "gold" so he came home...the brother stayed. "Will" had some trouble finding a way home from California. Finally applied for work on a ship to the Panama Canal [the Canal was not there yet but perhaps he did go across Panama] and worked his way back to New Orleans and up the Mississippi to Palmyra; took about six months.
In 1853, the families packed up and loaded several wagons and spent six months getting to Texas, driving a herd of cattle with them.

William did not appear on the tax rolls of Fannin Co until 1860. The previous year, 1859, 200 acres had vanished from his father's land bought from N. P. Lawson, Abstract #396, and this was the tract that William paid tax on in 1860. He continued to pay tax on this tract through 1872 [as far as I read the tax film]

1860 US Census; Fannin Co TX Beat #4, p.106, Household 695. Wm. Fry age 30, farmer b. in MO. "S." age 21 also born in MO and Emily C. age 1 born in Texas.

1861 Fannin Co Tax Rolls
Wm W. Fry, Abstract #396, original grantee - N. P. Lawson (this was the same as the property his mother paid taxes on), 200 acres - value $1000. 3 horses - $225, 30 head of cattle - $150, Total value $1375.
By 1865, he had 5 horses, 25 head of cattle, 20 head of sheep

There are no family stories of his having served in the Confederacy although some of his brothers did. On the USGenWeb Fannin Co TX website is the following notation:
Wm. W. Fry - Merricks Militia
If he served with Merrick that would seem to be this unit.

The Civil War Soldier Records & Profiles, 1861-1865, Ancestry.com, has William Wallace Fry, born 1830, Marion Co, MO, age 32 - enlisted 22 Apr 1862 in Fannin Co, TX as a private. He served in the Artillery, the 11th LA. Died 1901 and buried Ladonia Cemetery.
From book, Bourland in North Texas and Indian Territory During the Civil War, p. A-146
Merrick's Militia, Fannin County
Ladonia, Beat 4, Jul 1861
a true listing of the Company enrolled and organized at Ladonia, Fannin County, Texas, Beat No. 4, on this day the 6th day of July A.D. 1861.
(listed by Name, Rank, age - selected entries)
Merrick, Geo W., Captain, 30
Fry, Geo. W., Pvt. 25
Fry, Henry H., Pvt. 18
Fry, Wm, Pvt. 31
Hulsey,, J. H., Pvt. 38
McFarland, L. E., Pvt. 28
I hereby certify that the foregoing roll is correct and that said company was organized on this 6th day of July A.D. 1861. George W. Merrick.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this day and date above written.
C. Vick, J.P. [Beat 4, Fannin County}



1870 US Census; Fannin Co TX. Precinct 3, Ladonia P. O. p.21, Household 140. William Fry, age 40, Saphronia age 39, Emley age 11, Bruce age 7, and Samuel age 4. Columbus McCowen age 21, farm laborer born in AR lives with them.
1870 Agricultural Schedule, Prec 3, Ladonia P.O., Fannin Co, TX
William Fry: 60 acres improved land; 140 acres unimproved, $2000 in value. $50 in farm implements. 6 horses. 1 mule. 7 milk cows. 20 other cattle. 15 swine. $500 in livestock. 600 bu Indian corn. 50 bu oats. [2nd page not filmed]

1880 Census. Precinct #4, Fannin Co TX, Hh 150
W. W. Fry, age 50, farmer, b. MO, parents b. KY
S. Fry [female] age 42, Wife, b. MO, father b. NC, mother b. TN
Bruce, 16, son, b. TX
Sam, 14 [daughter has been marked through]
Baby, [male] age 4 months, born May [probably the infant Lafayette, buried Ladonia cemetery]

1890 Texas Directory for Fannin Co lists W. W. Fry, 230 acres under cultivation, in the Planter & Farmer's Section.

1900 Census. William, Violetta & the 3 children are listed. When he gave the number of years he had been married he first said 44, but this had been crossed out and replaced by 11 years. Precinct 4, Fannin, TX, ED 71, Hh 139
William W., b. Jun 1830, age 69, married 11 years, b. MO, parents b. KY
Violetta, wife, b. Jul 1862, age 37, 3 children, b. TX, parents b. MS
Alfonzo, son, b. Oct 1891, age 8, b. TX
Violer, dau, b. Jul 1894, age 5.
Carry D., dau, b. Jul 1896, age 3.

William and Louisa Higginbotham were Married by W. C. Crawford, Minister of Gospel, M.E.C.S.

Buried with first wife in the Abernathy area of the Ladonia City Cemetery.
Pippin Records have death date as 6 Apr 1885 - this can't be right because Carrie was about 5-6 when her father died; she was born 1896 and William Wallace had married Louisa Higginbotham in 1888. In fact the date of 6 Apr 1885 was the death of Sophronia, not William Wallace. The date on the joint grave marker is 17 Dec 1901. Under the dates for William is "Farewell dear father, sweet thy rest." The same is under the dates for Sophronia, except is says "Farewell, dear mother, .....


Anna Bird Casey lists two additional children, Oscar, and Ophelia who married a Mr. Maloney, but had no other information. "Ophelia" would be Emily as she's the one who married Maloney. I doubt there was an "Oscar" - however, I did find an Oscar A. Fry, buried Ladonia Cemetery, born 1869, died 1904 - he would certainly fit in the family, except he never appears with them in a census. He possibly could have been too young to be counted in 1870, but should have been present as about age 11 in 1880 and he isn't there. William's brother Henry had a son named Oscar, listed as A. O. with Henry's family in 1880 - he was age 11. No doubt, Ms. Casey misplaced Oscar and he was Henry's son.

Birth	6 Jun 1830	Palmyra, Marion County, Missouri
Marriage	2 Jun 1859	Fannin County, Texas - Sophronia Abernathy
Marriage	4 Oct 1888	Fannin County, Texas - LOUISA VIOLETTA HIGGINBOTHAM
Death	17 Dec 1901	Ladonia, Fannin County, Texas

Spouse	LOUISA VIOLETTA HIGGINBOTHAM (1863 - 1928)
Child	Alphonzo "Fonnie" Fry (1891 - 1948)
Child	Viola "Ola" Fry (1894 - 1986)
Child	CARRIE DOVE FRY (1896 - 1968)

Spouse	Sophronia Abernathy (1838 - 1885)
Child	Emily Cora Fry (1860 - 1929)
Child	Pleman Bruce Fry (1863 - 1932)
Child	Dr. Samuel Doak Fry (1866 - 1948)
Child	Lillie Fry (1872 - 1875)
Child	Lafayette Fry (1880 - )

Father	ABRAHAM KELLAR FRY (1797 - 1860)
Mother	SARAH A. B. "SALLY" McFALL (1804 - 1901)
Sibling	John Marion Fry (1827 - 1884)
Sibling	Araminta Fry (1829 - 1902)
Sibling	Robert Bruce Fry (1832 - 1917)
Sibling	Benjamin Oscar Fry (1833 - 1852)
Sibling	George Washington Lafayette Fry (1836 - 1915)
Sibling	Amanda Fry (1837 - 1839)
Sibling	Ann Elizabeth Fry (1840 - 1914)
Sibling	Henry Harrison Fry (1846 - 1902)
Sibling	Fitz Edward Fry (1847 - 1921)