General Jacob Fry, who built the first house in Carrollton and was one of Greene county's most honored citizens, was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, September 20, 1799, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native state and in early manhood went to Edwardsville. About 1819 he first visited Greene county and at that time it is said that he made from boards split from a walnut tree the first coffin constructed in the county. Following his return to Alton, Illinois, he hewed the timber for the first mill erected at that place. He had, however, been favorably impressed with Greene county and its possibilities and returned to this locality about the beginning of 1821.
He was a prominent man in the new county of Greene, promoting many of the movements which resulted in substantial growth and improvement and taking a very active part in its public life. He was a member of the first grand jury, was deputy sheriff in 1822 and was elected sheriff in 1828, filling the office for ten years. He was married to Miss Emily.
General Fry served as colonel in the Black Hawk war, while after its close he was elected a major general of the militia. Further official honors awaited him, for in 1837 he was appointed commissioner of the Illinois & Michigan canal and in 1856 was collector of customs at Chicago. During the Rebellion he commanded a regiment which did valiant service at Shiloh. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California and assisted J. D. Fry in the conduct of a store in the mining districts for a time. Subsequently they sold out and removed to Sacramento, where they opened a general mercantile establishment, which they conducted for some time.
In 1856 he and his son Captain Fry returned to Illinois and for two years the General resided in Ottawa, La Salle county, but in 1858 he again located on the old homestead, six miles south of Carrollton, where he died in 1882. The important part which he bore in the early development and later growth and progress of his county entitled him to distinctive mention as one of its most honored pioneers and one to whom the county owes a debt of gratitude.
In his family were five children, but Captain William Fry is the only surviving son. James B., who was a graduate of the West Point Military Academy and continued in the regular army, took an active part in the war of the Rebellion, during which time he was provost marshal general with headquarters at Washington, D. C. He was also actively engaged in the war. Sarah was the second of the family and William M. the third. Edward became a resident of Chicago and afterward of San Francisco, Cal.
Past and present of Greene County, Illinois By Edward Miner, 1905
Jerseyville, Ill., Jan. 28 - The death of General Jacob Fry occurred yesterday, at his home, near Kane, in this county. In the death of Gen. Fry one of the old, distinguished citizens of Illinois passes away. He was born Sept. 20, 1799, in Fayette county, Ky. His father was a German by birth, but came to America in 1750 and lived to take part in the Revolutionary War. Young Jacob came to Illinois in 1819 and stopped first near where Carrollton, in Greene county, now stands. Thence he came to Alton and followed his trade, that of a carpenter. A year later he returned to Greene, and to him belongs the honor of building the first house in Carrollton. He was, in fact, identified with the first social, religious and political history of that part of the State.
Gen. Fry was an original Democrat in his political views, and cast his first vote for President Monroe. Soon after the organization of Greene county, he was made the first constable in the county, and later the first Deputy Sheriff, and held both offices simultaneously for six years. At the outbreak of the Black Hawk war he became Lieutenant Colonel of Col. J. D. Henry's regiment, attached to Gen. Joseph Duncan's brigade. After the violation of the first Black Hawk treaty Gen. Fry became the commander of a regiment under Gen. Whiteside. The term of service of this regiment expired, and Fry assisted to raise another, which was mustered into service by Maj. Robert Anderson, of Fort Sumter fame, and which contained a private soldier of no less note in the later history of the State and country than Abraham Lincoln. In one of the former regiments commanded by him in this war the Hon. O.H. Browning, Judge Archibald Williams, the late Gov. John Wood, and others of subsequent distinction in our history, served as privates. At the close of the Black Hawk war, Col. Fry returned to Greene County. During the session of the Legislature for 1836-7 he was appointed Commissioner of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and then he took up his home at Lockport. He was reappointed at the session of 1838-9, and again in 1840-1. He was closely allied with the history of the canal enterprise. When the canal passed into the hands of the bondholders he was made the Commissioner on the part of the State to settle up the business and dispose of the forfeited property, the proceeds of which amounted to $287,000. Under a new organization of the Canal Commissioners he was made Trustee on the part of the State by appointment of Gov. Ford, and finally retired in 1847 after having served in connection with the canal enterprise for ten years.
He went to California in 1850 and remained three years, during which time he was elected to the Legislature of that State. He returned to Illinois in 1853, and some few years later discovered and exposed the great canal-scrip fraud, one of the loudest scandals known in the history of this State. In 1857 Buchanan made him Collector of the port of Chicago, a place he lost the next year through the jealousy of some of the President's friends, it was alleged, on account of the friendship existing between Fry and Douglas. He then returned to Greene county and in 1861 raised the Sixty-first regiment, and went into the service in March, 1862. He was in the battle of Shiloh, and was captured by Forest at Trenton, Tenn. In 1863 he resigned on account of ill health and failing sight and a year or two later he became entirely blind.
Gen. Fry's wife was a daughter of Gen. James Turney, of Carrollton. His eldest child is the wife of J. D. Fry, a wealthy Californian. His eldest son, Gen. James B. Fry is a West Point graduate, and has distinguished himself in the country's service. The second son, William M., is a citizen of Greene county, and the third of San Francisco.
The death of Gen. Fry removes one of the remakable men of the State. There are, indeed, few men left of the stock that flourished in Illinois when he was in his prime. IL State Journal, Springfield, IL 1-29-1881
He was a prominent man in the new county of Greene, promoting many of the movements which resulted in substantial growth and improvement and taking a very active part in its public life. He was a member of the first grand jury, was deputy sheriff in 1822 and was elected sheriff in 1828, filling the office for ten years. He was married to Miss Emily.
General Fry served as colonel in the Black Hawk war, while after its close he was elected a major general of the militia. Further official honors awaited him, for in 1837 he was appointed commissioner of the Illinois & Michigan canal and in 1856 was collector of customs at Chicago. During the Rebellion he commanded a regiment which did valiant service at Shiloh. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California and assisted J. D. Fry in the conduct of a store in the mining districts for a time. Subsequently they sold out and removed to Sacramento, where they opened a general mercantile establishment, which they conducted for some time.
In 1856 he and his son Captain Fry returned to Illinois and for two years the General resided in Ottawa, La Salle county, but in 1858 he again located on the old homestead, six miles south of Carrollton, where he died in 1882. The important part which he bore in the early development and later growth and progress of his county entitled him to distinctive mention as one of its most honored pioneers and one to whom the county owes a debt of gratitude.
In his family were five children, but Captain William Fry is the only surviving son. James B., who was a graduate of the West Point Military Academy and continued in the regular army, took an active part in the war of the Rebellion, during which time he was provost marshal general with headquarters at Washington, D. C. He was also actively engaged in the war. Sarah was the second of the family and William M. the third. Edward became a resident of Chicago and afterward of San Francisco, Cal.
Past and present of Greene County, Illinois By Edward Miner, 1905
Jerseyville, Ill., Jan. 28 - The death of General Jacob Fry occurred yesterday, at his home, near Kane, in this county. In the death of Gen. Fry one of the old, distinguished citizens of Illinois passes away. He was born Sept. 20, 1799, in Fayette county, Ky. His father was a German by birth, but came to America in 1750 and lived to take part in the Revolutionary War. Young Jacob came to Illinois in 1819 and stopped first near where Carrollton, in Greene county, now stands. Thence he came to Alton and followed his trade, that of a carpenter. A year later he returned to Greene, and to him belongs the honor of building the first house in Carrollton. He was, in fact, identified with the first social, religious and political history of that part of the State.
Gen. Fry was an original Democrat in his political views, and cast his first vote for President Monroe. Soon after the organization of Greene county, he was made the first constable in the county, and later the first Deputy Sheriff, and held both offices simultaneously for six years. At the outbreak of the Black Hawk war he became Lieutenant Colonel of Col. J. D. Henry's regiment, attached to Gen. Joseph Duncan's brigade. After the violation of the first Black Hawk treaty Gen. Fry became the commander of a regiment under Gen. Whiteside. The term of service of this regiment expired, and Fry assisted to raise another, which was mustered into service by Maj. Robert Anderson, of Fort Sumter fame, and which contained a private soldier of no less note in the later history of the State and country than Abraham Lincoln. In one of the former regiments commanded by him in this war the Hon. O.H. Browning, Judge Archibald Williams, the late Gov. John Wood, and others of subsequent distinction in our history, served as privates. At the close of the Black Hawk war, Col. Fry returned to Greene County. During the session of the Legislature for 1836-7 he was appointed Commissioner of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and then he took up his home at Lockport. He was reappointed at the session of 1838-9, and again in 1840-1. He was closely allied with the history of the canal enterprise. When the canal passed into the hands of the bondholders he was made the Commissioner on the part of the State to settle up the business and dispose of the forfeited property, the proceeds of which amounted to $287,000. Under a new organization of the Canal Commissioners he was made Trustee on the part of the State by appointment of Gov. Ford, and finally retired in 1847 after having served in connection with the canal enterprise for ten years.
He went to California in 1850 and remained three years, during which time he was elected to the Legislature of that State. He returned to Illinois in 1853, and some few years later discovered and exposed the great canal-scrip fraud, one of the loudest scandals known in the history of this State. In 1857 Buchanan made him Collector of the port of Chicago, a place he lost the next year through the jealousy of some of the President's friends, it was alleged, on account of the friendship existing between Fry and Douglas. He then returned to Greene county and in 1861 raised the Sixty-first regiment, and went into the service in March, 1862. He was in the battle of Shiloh, and was captured by Forest at Trenton, Tenn. In 1863 he resigned on account of ill health and failing sight and a year or two later he became entirely blind.
Gen. Fry's wife was a daughter of Gen. James Turney, of Carrollton. His eldest child is the wife of J. D. Fry, a wealthy Californian. His eldest son, Gen. James B. Fry is a West Point graduate, and has distinguished himself in the country's service. The second son, William M., is a citizen of Greene county, and the third of San Francisco.
The death of Gen. Fry removes one of the remakable men of the State. There are, indeed, few men left of the stock that flourished in Illinois when he was in his prime. IL State Journal, Springfield, IL 1-29-1881
General Jacob Fry, who built the first house in Carrollton and was one of Greene county's most honored citizens, was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, September 20, 1799, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native state and in early manhood went to Edwardsville. About 1819 he first visited Greene county and at that time it is said that he made from boards split from a walnut tree the first coffin constructed in the county. Following his return to Alton, Illinois, he hewed the timber for the first mill erected at that place. He had, however, been favorably impressed with Greene county and its possibilities and returned to this locality about the beginning of 1821.
He was a prominent man in the new county of Greene, promoting many of the movements which resulted in substantial growth and improvement and taking a very active part in its public life. He was a member of the first grand jury, was deputy sheriff in 1822 and was elected sheriff in 1828, filling the office for ten years. He was married to Miss Emily.
General Fry served as colonel in the Black Hawk war, while after its close he was elected a major general of the militia. Further official honors awaited him, for in 1837 he was appointed commissioner of the Illinois & Michigan canal and in 1856 was collector of customs at Chicago. During the Rebellion he commanded a regiment which did valiant service at Shiloh. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California and assisted J. D. Fry in the conduct of a store in the mining districts for a time. Subsequently they sold out and removed to Sacramento, where they opened a general mercantile establishment, which they conducted for some time.
In 1856 he and his son Captain Fry returned to Illinois and for two years the General resided in Ottawa, La Salle county, but in 1858 he again located on the old homestead, six miles south of Carrollton, where he died in 1882. The important part which he bore in the early development and later growth and progress of his county entitled him to distinctive mention as one of its most honored pioneers and one to whom the county owes a debt of gratitude.
In his family were five children, but Captain William Fry is the only surviving son. James B., who was a graduate of the West Point Military Academy and continued in the regular army, took an active part in the war of the Rebellion, during which time he was provost marshal general with headquarters at Washington, D. C. He was also actively engaged in the war. Sarah was the second of the family and William M. the third. Edward became a resident of Chicago and afterward of San Francisco, Cal.
Past and present of Greene County, Illinois By Edward Miner, 1905
Jerseyville, Ill., Jan. 28 - The death of General Jacob Fry occurred yesterday, at his home, near Kane, in this county. In the death of Gen. Fry one of the old, distinguished citizens of Illinois passes away. He was born Sept. 20, 1799, in Fayette county, Ky. His father was a German by birth, but came to America in 1750 and lived to take part in the Revolutionary War. Young Jacob came to Illinois in 1819 and stopped first near where Carrollton, in Greene county, now stands. Thence he came to Alton and followed his trade, that of a carpenter. A year later he returned to Greene, and to him belongs the honor of building the first house in Carrollton. He was, in fact, identified with the first social, religious and political history of that part of the State.
Gen. Fry was an original Democrat in his political views, and cast his first vote for President Monroe. Soon after the organization of Greene county, he was made the first constable in the county, and later the first Deputy Sheriff, and held both offices simultaneously for six years. At the outbreak of the Black Hawk war he became Lieutenant Colonel of Col. J. D. Henry's regiment, attached to Gen. Joseph Duncan's brigade. After the violation of the first Black Hawk treaty Gen. Fry became the commander of a regiment under Gen. Whiteside. The term of service of this regiment expired, and Fry assisted to raise another, which was mustered into service by Maj. Robert Anderson, of Fort Sumter fame, and which contained a private soldier of no less note in the later history of the State and country than Abraham Lincoln. In one of the former regiments commanded by him in this war the Hon. O.H. Browning, Judge Archibald Williams, the late Gov. John Wood, and others of subsequent distinction in our history, served as privates. At the close of the Black Hawk war, Col. Fry returned to Greene County. During the session of the Legislature for 1836-7 he was appointed Commissioner of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and then he took up his home at Lockport. He was reappointed at the session of 1838-9, and again in 1840-1. He was closely allied with the history of the canal enterprise. When the canal passed into the hands of the bondholders he was made the Commissioner on the part of the State to settle up the business and dispose of the forfeited property, the proceeds of which amounted to $287,000. Under a new organization of the Canal Commissioners he was made Trustee on the part of the State by appointment of Gov. Ford, and finally retired in 1847 after having served in connection with the canal enterprise for ten years.
He went to California in 1850 and remained three years, during which time he was elected to the Legislature of that State. He returned to Illinois in 1853, and some few years later discovered and exposed the great canal-scrip fraud, one of the loudest scandals known in the history of this State. In 1857 Buchanan made him Collector of the port of Chicago, a place he lost the next year through the jealousy of some of the President's friends, it was alleged, on account of the friendship existing between Fry and Douglas. He then returned to Greene county and in 1861 raised the Sixty-first regiment, and went into the service in March, 1862. He was in the battle of Shiloh, and was captured by Forest at Trenton, Tenn. In 1863 he resigned on account of ill health and failing sight and a year or two later he became entirely blind.
Gen. Fry's wife was a daughter of Gen. James Turney, of Carrollton. His eldest child is the wife of J. D. Fry, a wealthy Californian. His eldest son, Gen. James B. Fry is a West Point graduate, and has distinguished himself in the country's service. The second son, William M., is a citizen of Greene county, and the third of San Francisco.
The death of Gen. Fry removes one of the remakable men of the State. There are, indeed, few men left of the stock that flourished in Illinois when he was in his prime. IL State Journal, Springfield, IL 1-29-1881
He was a prominent man in the new county of Greene, promoting many of the movements which resulted in substantial growth and improvement and taking a very active part in its public life. He was a member of the first grand jury, was deputy sheriff in 1822 and was elected sheriff in 1828, filling the office for ten years. He was married to Miss Emily.
General Fry served as colonel in the Black Hawk war, while after its close he was elected a major general of the militia. Further official honors awaited him, for in 1837 he was appointed commissioner of the Illinois & Michigan canal and in 1856 was collector of customs at Chicago. During the Rebellion he commanded a regiment which did valiant service at Shiloh. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California and assisted J. D. Fry in the conduct of a store in the mining districts for a time. Subsequently they sold out and removed to Sacramento, where they opened a general mercantile establishment, which they conducted for some time.
In 1856 he and his son Captain Fry returned to Illinois and for two years the General resided in Ottawa, La Salle county, but in 1858 he again located on the old homestead, six miles south of Carrollton, where he died in 1882. The important part which he bore in the early development and later growth and progress of his county entitled him to distinctive mention as one of its most honored pioneers and one to whom the county owes a debt of gratitude.
In his family were five children, but Captain William Fry is the only surviving son. James B., who was a graduate of the West Point Military Academy and continued in the regular army, took an active part in the war of the Rebellion, during which time he was provost marshal general with headquarters at Washington, D. C. He was also actively engaged in the war. Sarah was the second of the family and William M. the third. Edward became a resident of Chicago and afterward of San Francisco, Cal.
Past and present of Greene County, Illinois By Edward Miner, 1905
Jerseyville, Ill., Jan. 28 - The death of General Jacob Fry occurred yesterday, at his home, near Kane, in this county. In the death of Gen. Fry one of the old, distinguished citizens of Illinois passes away. He was born Sept. 20, 1799, in Fayette county, Ky. His father was a German by birth, but came to America in 1750 and lived to take part in the Revolutionary War. Young Jacob came to Illinois in 1819 and stopped first near where Carrollton, in Greene county, now stands. Thence he came to Alton and followed his trade, that of a carpenter. A year later he returned to Greene, and to him belongs the honor of building the first house in Carrollton. He was, in fact, identified with the first social, religious and political history of that part of the State.
Gen. Fry was an original Democrat in his political views, and cast his first vote for President Monroe. Soon after the organization of Greene county, he was made the first constable in the county, and later the first Deputy Sheriff, and held both offices simultaneously for six years. At the outbreak of the Black Hawk war he became Lieutenant Colonel of Col. J. D. Henry's regiment, attached to Gen. Joseph Duncan's brigade. After the violation of the first Black Hawk treaty Gen. Fry became the commander of a regiment under Gen. Whiteside. The term of service of this regiment expired, and Fry assisted to raise another, which was mustered into service by Maj. Robert Anderson, of Fort Sumter fame, and which contained a private soldier of no less note in the later history of the State and country than Abraham Lincoln. In one of the former regiments commanded by him in this war the Hon. O.H. Browning, Judge Archibald Williams, the late Gov. John Wood, and others of subsequent distinction in our history, served as privates. At the close of the Black Hawk war, Col. Fry returned to Greene County. During the session of the Legislature for 1836-7 he was appointed Commissioner of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and then he took up his home at Lockport. He was reappointed at the session of 1838-9, and again in 1840-1. He was closely allied with the history of the canal enterprise. When the canal passed into the hands of the bondholders he was made the Commissioner on the part of the State to settle up the business and dispose of the forfeited property, the proceeds of which amounted to $287,000. Under a new organization of the Canal Commissioners he was made Trustee on the part of the State by appointment of Gov. Ford, and finally retired in 1847 after having served in connection with the canal enterprise for ten years.
He went to California in 1850 and remained three years, during which time he was elected to the Legislature of that State. He returned to Illinois in 1853, and some few years later discovered and exposed the great canal-scrip fraud, one of the loudest scandals known in the history of this State. In 1857 Buchanan made him Collector of the port of Chicago, a place he lost the next year through the jealousy of some of the President's friends, it was alleged, on account of the friendship existing between Fry and Douglas. He then returned to Greene county and in 1861 raised the Sixty-first regiment, and went into the service in March, 1862. He was in the battle of Shiloh, and was captured by Forest at Trenton, Tenn. In 1863 he resigned on account of ill health and failing sight and a year or two later he became entirely blind.
Gen. Fry's wife was a daughter of Gen. James Turney, of Carrollton. His eldest child is the wife of J. D. Fry, a wealthy Californian. His eldest son, Gen. James B. Fry is a West Point graduate, and has distinguished himself in the country's service. The second son, William M., is a citizen of Greene county, and the third of San Francisco.
The death of Gen. Fry removes one of the remakable men of the State. There are, indeed, few men left of the stock that flourished in Illinois when he was in his prime. IL State Journal, Springfield, IL 1-29-1881
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