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    JAMES M. FEREBEE is one of the leading practitioners of dental surgery in the city of Richland Center and his proficiency in his chosen profession is best indicated by the large patronage which he receives. Doctor Ferebee is a product of Richland county and her institutions, having been born in the town of Richwood, Oct. 20, 1863, the son of pioneer parentage. His father, Samuel Ferebee, one of the early settlers of Richland county, was born on the banks of the Yadkin river, in the part of Rowan now known as Davie county, N.C., Aug. 23, 1816. There he grew to manhood, being reared on a farm. When he was a boy his parents moved from eastern to western North Carolina, and he made his home with them until 1838, when he went to Indiana and commenced pioneer life in Madison county, purchasing heavily timbered land and making a small improvement. In 1844 he was married to Elizabeth Ann Chitwood, who was born in Fayette county, Ind., April 24, 1827, and in the fall of the year of their marriage they settled on the Miami reservation. Mr. Ferebee purchased timbered land on the Wild Cat river, erected a log house, cleared a farm and lived there until 1855, when he came to Richland county and settled in the town of Richwood. The next year he traded his property in Indiana for timber land on section 27, in Richwood, and there built a frame house, eighteen by twenty-four feet, to which he afterward made an addition. He cleared and fenced sixty-five acres of land, and in 1874 sold out, removed to the town of Eagle and purchased land on section 28, where he made his home until his death, Oct. 21, 1889, and there his widow still resides. Mr. Ferebee was a man of fair education, a great reader, and kept himself well posted on the topics of the times. He and his good wife were the parents of thirteen children - Thomas J., Frances Nancy J., George B., William J., Samuel A., Mathias C., James M., Franklin J. and Elizabeth, the latter of whom died at the age of nine years, and three others died in infancy. Of those living, Thomas J. is a resident of Nelson, Neb.' Frances married Albert Dunkin and resides at Twin Falls, Idaho; Nancy J. married w. r. Garner and resides in the town of Richwood; George B. is a resident of Edgar, Neb.; William J. manages the hold homestead in the town of Eagle; Samuel A. resides in Nelson, Neb.' Mathias C. is a resident of Eagle Corners; James M. is the subject of this review; and Franklin J. resides near Blue River. James M. Ferebee was reared on the home farm until he had reached the age of nineteen years and he received his preliminary education in the district schools of his native town. He then attended the Norma school at Platteville until June, 1886, after which he taught school until 1888. In the latter year he entered the employ of A. H. Krouskop as clerk and book-keeper, and when his father died, in 1889, he returned to the home farm and remained there one year. In the year 1890 he was elected county superintendent of schools and served in that capacity until Jan. 1, 1895, after which he entered the Louisville College of Dentistry and graduated in that institution on July 1, 1897. He immediately began the practice of his profession at Viola and remained there six months, when he removed to Richland Center, succeeding to the practice of Dr. L. w. Baxter, and he has been successfully engaged in the dental practice at the county seat since. Doctor Ferebee was married, Nov. 2, 1890, to Miss May L. Owen, who was born in Rock county, Wis., July 6, 1869, and to this union there have been born two children - Dorothy and Nellie E. Our subject gives his allegiance to the principles of the Democratic party and in the campaign of 1894 was the candidate of his party for representative in the assembly, but, with the remainder of the ticket, was defeated. He is serving his ninth year as president of the school board of Richland Center, and at the present time holds the same position on the board of managers of the training school. He also served three years as city clerk. Fraternally, the doctor is a member of the Masonic order, the Eastern Star, Modern woodmen of America, Mystic Workers, the Equitable Fraternal Union, and the Beavers.
    EDWIN A. FETTY is a member of one of the sterling pioneer families of Richland county, where he has passed his entire life, and is one of the prominent and successful farmers and stockgrowers of the town of Forest, being also a buyer and shipper of live stock. He was born on the pioneer homestead farm, in Sylvan township, this county, Jan. 12, 1858, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Speedy) Fetty, both native of Jefferson county, O., where the former was born Jan. 20, 1828, and the latter in the year 1833. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this review was John Fetty and the maternal grandfather was Allen Speedy, both having been pioneers of the old Buckeye State. William Fetty was reared and educated in Ohio, whence he removed to Illinois, where he remained until about 1854, when he came to Richland county, Wis., and settled in Sylvan township, where he secured eighty acres of wild land, to which he later added until he was the owner of 130 acres, the greater portion of which he reclaimed to cultivation. He remained on the farm until about 1882, when he removed to Kansas, later passing some time in California, where he died Feb. 25, 1898. His first wife died July 15, 1868, and is survived by four of her five children, and he later married Mrs. Susannah (Hupp) Martin, who survives him, as do also four of their five children. In politics he was a Republican and he and his second wife held membership in the Christian church, his first wife having been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Edwin A. Fetty passed his boyhood and youth on the home farm which was the place of his birth, and he assisted materially in the development of the same from the forest, in the meanwhile duly availing himself of the advantages of the local schools. He has continued to be actively and successfully identified with the agricultural industry and in 1891 he secured his present homestead farm in the town of Forest, the same comprising 120 acres of most arable land, a considerable portion of which he personally reclaimed from the wild state and upon which he has made all the improvements, having erected farm buildings of excellent order. In addition to general farming, stock-growing and dairying he has conducted a successful enterprise in the buying and shipping of live stock, to which he has devoted his attention for the past several years. In politics, though never a seeker of official preferment, he is a staunch supporter of the cause of the Republican party, and his wife is a member of the Christian church. Nov. 7, 1880, Mr. Fetty was untied in marriage to Miss Emaline Henthorn, who was born in the town of Sylvan, this county, March 29, 1862, a daughter of Henry and Harriet (Hopkins) Henthorn, the former of whom was born in Monroe county, O., April 12, 1836, and the latter in Portage county, that state, May 27, 1840. They were pioneers of Grant county, Wis., later removing to Vernon county, and finally taking up their residence in the town of Sylvan, Richland county, in the early fifties. He died in Washington county, Kan., June 9, 1904, his first wife having died in Vernon county, Wis., Nov. 8, 1873. Of their five children four are living. For his second wife he married Clara Okum, who is yet living, as are also their seven children. Mr. and Mrs. Fetty have one son, Oscar Harland, who was born Dec. 11, 1887, and who remains at the parental home.
    THOMAS FOGO has passed his entire life in Richland county and is one of the representative farmers and stock-growers of Sylvan township, where he has a well improved landed estate of 300 acres. He is progressive and public-spirited and his course has been such as to retain to him the confidence and esteem of the people of his native county. He was born on the homestead farm of his father, in Marshall township, this county, Nov. 24, 1876, being a son of Wallace and Elizabeth (Blazier) Fogo, both of whom were born and reared in Ohio, where their marriage was solemnized. They came from that state to Richland county in the sixties and settled in Marshall township, where they still maintain their home, the father being one of the prominent and influential citizens of that section of the county. The subject of this sketch was reared on the home farm and was afforded the advantages of the public schools. He continued to assist his father in the work of the farm until he had attained the age of twenty-one years, when he began working by the month, his father paying him wages for his services and finally giving him 100 acres of land in Sylvan township, - a portion of his present farm. Two years later Mr. Fogo purchased an adjoining tract of 120 acres, and in the winter of 1905-6 he added an adjacent eighty acres to his holdings, thus having a total of 300 acres, about half of which is under cultivation. A considerable amount of native timber still remains on the place, including a number of sugar maples, from which is derived each year a good supply of sugar. Mr. Fogo follows diversified agriculture and has expanded the functions of his farm enterprise to include stock-raising and dairying upon a somewhat extensive scale. He maintains at the time of this writing about eighty head of cattle and fifty head of hogs, and he raises an average of two horses each year, principally of the draft type. Two acres of his land are devoted to an apple orchard, and everything about the homestead betokens thrift and prosperity and indicates that the owner is a man of energy and progressive ideas. In politics Mr. Fogo is a Republican, but he has never been an aspirant for public office. In 1898 Mr. Fogo was united in marriage to Miss Beatrice Sandmire, who was born July 23, 1881. She is a daughter of Jacob and Mary Ellen (Mullendore) Sandmire, well known residents of Forest township, where Mrs. Fogo was reared and educated, having been the fourth in a family of five children. Mr. and Mrs. Fogo have two children, - Freda, born March 5, 1900, and Jacob, born Sept. 21, 1903. The subject of this sketch has one sister, Bertha, who is the wife of Samuel Baxter, of Marshall township. Mrs. Fogo's sisters are as follows: Cora, who is the wife of Frederick Lane; Mertie, who is the wife of George Milum; Daisy, who is the wife of Willis Coy; and Jessie, who remains at the parental home.
    WILLIAM M. FOGO was identified with the progress of Richland county for a full half century, his realm of activity being in that division of civic employment known as the newspaper field. He was an Ohioan by birth, the place of his nativity being Columbiana county, and the date June 18, 1841. His early youth was spent in his native county and state, but when he had reached the age of eleven years his parents migrated to Wisconsin, and he participated in the trials and adventures incident to the journey. The trip was made mostly by water, going down the Ohio river to Cairo, and thence by the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers to what is now the town of Orion in Richland county, and the journey was made from there to Fancy Creek with ox teams. Mr. Fogo thus began a pioneer life at a tender age, but he lived to see the county grow from its wild, undeveloped condition to its present state of productive development. He received as liberal an education as the common schools of his native state and the then new county of Richland afforded, and in addition to a faithful attendance upon these institutions of learning he remained at home and assisted his parents upon the farm until he was eighteen years of age. When but a boy he had taken a fancy to the printer's trade, and in 1859 he entered the office of the Richland County Democrat, of which W. P. Furey was at that time editor, and began work as an apprentice. He continued thus employed until the tocsin of war had sounded a call to arms, and then exchanged the peaceful "stick" for the belligerent musket and marched forth to meet his country's foes in mortal combat. On Dec. 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company F of the Second Wisconsin cavalry, and served one year, when he was discharged on account of ill health, the exact date of his discharge being Dec. 21, 1862. During this term of service he officiated as bugler of his company, taking part in the battle of Cotton Plant and serving through the summer of 1862 in Arkansas, where the malarial climate seriously affected his health. After his discharge he returned home, where he remained until Aug. 30, 1864, when, his health in a measure having been regained, he enlisted as a private in Company B of the Forty-second Wisconsin infantry. A short time afterward, on Sept. 15, 1864, he was promoted to sergeant-major of the regiment and served in that capacity until he was mustered out on June 20, 1865, the war having ended and the Union having been restored. During its term of service the regiment was stationed in southern Illinois and at other points, quelling the secession proclivities of some districts by military surveillance when necessary. His love for newspaper work being as great as before, soon after his return home Mr. Fogo became one of the proprietors of the Richland County Observer and continued as one of its publishers for about one year, when he severed his connection with the publication and, going to Calumet county, he established the Calumet Reflector and conducted that periodical for one year. He then went to Cresco, Iowa, and soon afterward purchased an interest in the Howard County Times, with which publication he was connected until 1873. In the above named year he disposed of his interest in the Iowa paper and returned to Richland Center, where he bought an interest in the Richland County Republican and conducted the paper in partnership with J. H. Waggoner. Various changes in the ownership and management of the paper took place in the succeeding years, which are given in detail in one of the general chapters of this volume, but through them all Mr. Fogo, remained at the helm, and for a period of eighteen years prior to his death was the sole proprietor. He was an able editor, a pungent writer, and under his supervision the Republican and Observer became one of the leading county papers of the state. In addition to his newspaper work he found time to devote to other interests of a public nature, and during his career held many offices of trust and responsibility. He served as book-keeper and assistant clerk in the Wisconsin assembly and was clerk of the committee on war claims at Washington during one year of President Harrison's administration. In 1896 he was elected a member of the assembly from Richland county and was re-elected in 1898, serving two terms in that position with honor to himself and profit to his constituency. For a number of years he was secretary of the Richland County Agricultural Society, and he also served as secretary of the Old Settlers' Association. Mr. Fogo was married in 1866 to Miss Amelia St. John, and to this union there were born two children: Emma C., who is the wife of Ralph Thurber, the present executive clerk to Gov. James O. Davidson; and Stephen W., who is the editor of the Republican Observer. Mr. Fogo died at his home in Richland Center on July 31, 1903, mourned by a host of friends who cherish his memory with the highest regard.
    GEORGE W. FOWELL is one of the successful farmers and popular citizens of Sylvan township, and he has passed practically his entire life in Richland county. He was born in Noble county, O., March 24, 1864, and is a son of William M. and Rebecca (Abels) Fowell, the former of whom was born in Staffordshire, England, in 1829, and the latter of whom was born in Guernsey county, O., in 1835. They came to Richland county in the autumn of 1865, and here the father reclaimed a good farm, being numbered among the honored citizens of Sylvan township, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred Oct. 9, 1900. His widow is still living and makes her home with her children. George W. Fowell was reared to manhood on the home farm and was afforded the advantages of the local schools. At the age of twenty-seven years he bought a tract of eighty acres of timber land, constituting a portion of his present homestead. He reclaimed this to cultivation and from time to time added to his possessions, being associated with his brother in the ownership of somewhat more than 200 acres. The partnership was finally dissolved and an equitable division of the property was made. In 1903 he purchases 220 acres on Mill creek, and the aggregate area of his landed estate is now 430 acres. Mr. Fowell is known as a good business man and as an enterprising and progressive farmer. His homestead is one of the attractive and valuable places of Sylvan township, thrift and prosperity being shown on every side. He is also a stockholder in two cheese factories and a creamery. In politics Mr. Fowell is a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Republican party and he is an influential factor in public affairs of a local order, having been incumbent of several township offices and being at the present time chairman of the town board. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren church. In 1891 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Fowell to Miss Alba Bailey, who was born and reared in this county, the date of her birth being June 29, 1861, and she is a daughter of Elihu and Amanda (Ewers) Bailey, both of whom were born in Belmont county, O., the former in 1817 and the latter Oct. 16, 1831. Mr. Bailey died in September, 1898, and his widow now resides in the home of the subject of this review. Mr. and Mrs. Fowell have two children, - Lorenzo Dow, born Aug. 9, 1891, and Lois, born Jan. 15, 1900.
    PATRICK FRAWLEY is one of the popular citizens of Sylvan township, where he has maintained his home for half a century and where he is now a representative farmer and stock-grower, being further entitled to a consideration in this work as a pioneer of the county. Mr. Frawley claims the fair Emerald Isle as the place of his nativity, having been born in County Kerry, Ireland, March 17, 1846, and being a son of Patrick and Mary (Aharan) Frawley, the former of whom died in Ireland when the subject of this sketch was but two years of age. When he had attained to the age of seven years he accompanied his father and the other children to America, in 1853. They remained about two years in New York, and in 1854 the father came to Wisconsin and settled in Sylvan township, Richland county, where he secured a tract of wild land, which, with the aid of his sons, he developed into a productive farm. The subject of this sketch and his older brother joined the father here in 1855, after having resided a short time in Illinois. Patrick Frawley, Sr., was successful in his farming operations and also built up a prosperous business as a dealer in live stock. He continued to reside on the old homestead until his death, which occurred in 1866. Of his three children the subject of this sketch is the youngest. The eldest, John, went forth as a loyal defender of the Union in the Civil War and met his death in the battle Chancellorsville, in 1862. The other son, Michael is a farmer of Akan township, this county, having been born in 1843. Patrick Frawley, to whom this sketch is dedicated, received a fair common0-school education and he continued to assist in the work of the home farm until he was nineteen years of age, when he began working for wages. In 1867 he entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, working as brakeman and in construction operations and thus continuing about one year, since which time he has been continuously engaged in farming in Sylvan township. Nov. 16, 1875, he purchased his present homestead place, of 160 acres, the greater portion of which he reclaimed from the forest, and he has equipped the farm with good buildings and brought it under most effective cultivation. After the death of his father he bought 104 acres of his father's original homestead, and he now utilizes the same as a stock farm, having a dairy herd of sixty-two head of high-grade cattle at the present time and also making a specialty of raising Poland-China swine. In politics he is a Democrat, but is not held to close partisan lines in local affairs. He is a communicant of the Catholic church. April 15, 1871, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Frawley to Miss Mary Ann Fay, who was born in Ohio, being a daughter of Michael and Mary (Kelly) Fay, both of whom were born in Ireland, whence they came to America in 1846, first locating in Canada and thence removing to Lorain county, O. In the autumn of 1856 they came to Wisconsin, and the father purchased a tract of land in Marshall township, Richland county, where he developed a good farm. He there remained until the death of his wife, in March, 1888, and he then removed to Crawford county, where he died in December of the same year. Of his five children, Mrs. Frawley was the second in order of birth. Anna, who was born in Canada, Jan. 12, 1847, is the widow of Peter Welch and resides on her homestead farm, in Dayton township; Michael, who was born Dec. 12, 1852, is a resident of Crawford county; Patrick, who was born Feb. 4, 1855, resides in Richland Center; Margaret, who was born Oct. 15, 1857, is the wife of George Higginbotham and they reside in the state of Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Frawley have three children; John, born March 1, 1872, is associated with his father in the work and management of the home farm; Mary, born April 5, 1875, is the wife of Stephen Welch, a successful farmer of Crawford county; and Anna, born May 10, 1879, remains at the parental home.
    JOHN H. FRAZIER is senior member of the firm of Frazier & Frazier, editors and publishers of the Intelligencer, at Viola, his associate being his wife, Mrs. Gertrude Frazier, who is likewise the efficient and popular postmaster of Viola, which is the only presidential postoffice in the beautiful Kickapoo valley. Mr. Frazier was born in Vernon county, this state, May 28, 1868, and is a son of Stephen and Ruth E. (Hoopes) Frazier. His father was born in Morgan county, O., Dec. 10, 1837, and the mother was born in Illinois, Jan. 10, 1846. Stephen Frazier was reared and educated in the old Buckeye State, where he continued to reside until about 1860, when he removed to Illinois, where he wedded Miss Ruth E. Hoopes, daughter of Ellis and Grace (Foulk) Hoopes, pioneers of that state, the former having been born Nov. 4, 1804, and having died Mar. 28, 1886, and the latter having been born Jan. 29, 1810, and having passed away July 26, 1879. In 1864 Stephen Frazier came with his family to Wisconsin and settled on a farm in Vernon county, where he also was a successful and popular teacher in the public schools for many years. In 1900 he took up his residence in Viola, and since October of that year he has held the position of mail carrier on one of the rural free-delivery routes from Viola. In politics he is a stanch adherent of the Republican party, and he served as clerk of his township while residing in Vernon county. Of their eight children, seven are living. The eldest son, Dr. Wilmer P., was graduated in Rush Medical College, in Chicago, and is engaged in the practice of his profession at Carthage, Ill.; Monroe V. is editor and publisher of the Tribune at Lewiston, Minn.; Roy R. is an optician by profession and occupation and now resides in the city of Minneapolis, Minn.' Lieutenant Laurence V. was graduated in the United States Military Academy, at West Point, and in the civil engineering corps thereafter passed one year at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and two years as one of the engineers in charge of the construction of Fort McKinley, in Manila, Philippine Islands, whence he was recalled by cablegram in August, 1905, and appointed instructor in civil engineering at West Point, of which position he is still incumbent; the youngest son, Harry O., is employed as stenographer in the office of the Fairbanks-Morris Company, of Minneapolis. John H. Frazier, the immediate subject of this review, passed his boyhood days on the home farm, in Vernon county, and after completing the curriculum of the district school he continued his studies in the graded schools at Newton. In 1888 he entered upon an apprenticeship at the printer's trade, becoming skilled in the varied details of the mystic "art preservative of all arts," and in March, 1891, he came to Viola and for the ensuing two years was foreman in the office of the Intelligencer. He then purchased an half interest in the plant and business and has since been on of the editors and publishers of the paper, which is one of the model weekly papers of the state. Of the same further mention is made in Chapter VI in the general historical part of this work. In politics Mr. Frazier is a stanch supporter of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and he is now serving the fourth term as a member of the county board of supervisors. He was bookkeeper in the assembly of the state legislature for one term and in that body held the position of proofreader for four years. He has represented Richland county on the congressional committee for the third district and he has served as delegate to the congressional convention of the district four successive times, also having been a delegate to the Republican state convention of 1902, taking an active part in the furthering of the party cause in his section of the state. He is affiliated with Viola Lodge, No. 257, Free and Accepted Masons, and Viroqua Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, he and his wife also holding membership in the chapter of the Order of the Easter Star at Viroqua. He is also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Loyal Americans. He is one of the public-spirited business men and popular citizens of Viola, where he commands unequivocal confidence and esteem. July 3, 1893, Mr. Frazier was united in marriage to Mrs. Gertrude Wells, widow of Cliff M. Wells, the founder of the Intelligencer. She was born in West Virginia, and is a daughter of Edward Hopkins, who was born in Virginia, and who died in Indianapolis, Ind., in 1901, at the venerable age of ninety-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Frazier became the parents of two children, the first dying in infancy and the second being Marguerite, who was born August 15, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Frazier are members of the Congregational church of Viola. Mrs. Frazier was appointed postmaster of Viola in July, 1892, and served until July of the following year. In 1897 she was reappointed and has since continued incumbent of the position, having given a most efficient and popular administration of the affairs of the office, which is the only presidential postoffice in the county except that at Richland Center. After the death of her first husband she continued the publication of the Intelligencer and she is still associated with her second husband, the subject of this sketch, in the ownership and publishing of the paper. In 196 she was the publisher of a history of the Kickapoo valley, a valuable work which was compiled by herself and Miss Rose Poff.
    JAMES M. FRUIT has been a resident of Richland county for half a century, having been a boy of ten years at the time of his father's removal to the wilds of this section, and he has gained precedence as one of the prominent and substantial farmers of the town of Bloom, while his also is the distinction of having represented the county as a valiant soldier in the Civil War. Mr. Fruit was born in Jay county, Ind., Apr. 8, 1846, being a son of George and Mary J. (Gordon) Fruit, the former of whom was born in Indiana and the latter in the state of North Carolina. As a young man the father went to Miami county, O., where his marriage was solemnized, and he later removed to Jay county, Ind., being a pioneer farmer in that section. From that county he removed to Howard county, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1856, when he came with his wife and seven children to Richland county, Wis., making the trip overland, with team and wagon. He secured a quarter section of government land in the town of Forest, south of the present village of West Lima, and there he reclaimed a good farm from the virgin forest. His first wife died on this homestead in 1858, and he later married Miss Jane Hurless, a native of Indiana, and both passed the closing years of their lives in the home of the subject of this sketch, the father having been summoned to the life eternal Jan. 27, 1899. He was first a Whig and later a Republican in politics and was a consistent member of the Christian church, as were also both his first and his second wives. Nine children were born of the first marriage: Deborah resides near Marion, Ind.; Charity J. is deceased; Nancy G. lives near Bloom City, Richland county; John died in 1862, while serving as a soldier in the Civil War; the subject of this sketch was the fifth child; Mary resides in Lincoln, Neb.; Eliza J. is a resident of Richland Center; William H. died at the age of three years; and George is a farmer of Forest township. Six children were the offspring of the second marriage: Wesley is a farmer of Forest township; Wallace; Henry lives in the state of Colorado, as does also Daniel; Job is a farmer of Richland county; and Alice resides in Montana. James M. Fruit, subject of this review was reared in a new country, literally growing up in the woods and early beginning to contribute his quota to the work of reclaiming and cultivating the pioneer farm. Under these conditions his educational advantages were limited to a brief attendance in the log schoolhouse of the early days. He remained at the parental home until he had attained the age of seventeen years, when in January, 1864, he tendered his aid in defense of the Union, enlisting as a private in Company D, Eleventh Regiment of Wisconsin volunteer infantry, with which he proceeded to Memphis, Tenn., later being in active service in New Orleans and other places in Louisiana, taking part in numerous engagements in that state and Alabama, aiding in the capture of Fort Blakely, after which he was with his regiment at Montgomery and Mobile, remaining in Alabama until after the close of the war and being there mustered out, after which he returned to Wisconsin, receiving his honorable discharge at Madison. In 1864 he had secured eighty acres of wild land in the town of Forest, Richland county, and after the war he was employed by the month as a farm-hand until 1867, when he married, soon afterward locating on his farm. He cleared about forty-five acres of the land and made good improvements on the place, where he continued to reside until 1881, when he sold the property and purchased his present farm of 100 acres, in section 31, the property lying in the southwest corner of the town of Bloom. His first residence was a log house, which he built on the place, as well as a log stable, only thirteen acres of the tract having been cleared. He has reclaimed about eighty acres of the farm to cultivation and it is now one of the valuable and well improved homesteads of the county. He erected a commodious and attractive brick house and also a good barn, and is recognized as one of the enterprising and scientific farmers and stockgrowers of the county and as a loyal and public-spirited citizen, well worthy of the high regard in which he is held in the community. He is independent in politics, is affiliated with the grand Army of the Republic and both he and his wife are prominent and valued members of the German Baptist church which is located on his farm, taking an active part in all departments of the church work. In 1867 Mr. Fruit was married to Miss Sarah J. Mullendore, who was born in Dayton, Montgomery county, O., being a daughter of Aaron and Lieuvina (Wertz) Mullendore, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Ohio. They removed from Ohio to Indiana, where they resided five years, at the expiration of which, in 1856, they came to Wisconsin and became pioneers of Richland county. They settled in the town of Forest, where Mr. Mullendore reclaimed from the wilds his farm of 1650 acres. He is now (1906) living in Los Angeles Cal., at the venerable age of eighty years, his wife having passed to the life eternal Jan. 6, 1904. They became the parents of five children: David is a farmer of Forest township; Sarah J. is the wife of the subject of this review; Daniel is a farmer of Forest; May Elen is married and lives in this township; George resides in Los Angeles county, Cal., as does also Alice. Of the five children of Mr. and Mrs. Fruit, four are living: Burton C. is a farmer in the town of Marshall, having married Lieuvina Crouse and having three children, - May, John and Pearl; Harvey, who is a farmer of Bloom township, married Miss Ora Long, and they have one child, Bernard D.; Aaron, who is a farmer in the town of Sylvan, married Miss Annetta Ambrose, and they have one daughter, Ina; George Luther is associated with his father in the management of the home farm; and Letis died at the age of six months and fifteen days.
    PHILLIP H. FRY has been numbered among the able representatives of the agricultural community in Sylvan township for nearly forty years, and is a citizen of sterling character. He was born in Greene county, Tenn., Oct. 20, 1835, and is a son of George and Barbara (Smelcer) Fry, both of whom were likewise native of that state, whence they removed to Wisconsin in 1865, settling in Sylvan township, this county, where the father bought 120 acres of land, reclaiming the same to cultivation, there passing the remainder of his life, as did also his devoted wife. Both were members of the Lutheran church and in politics he was a Democrat. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Tennessee, where he remained until 1867, when he joined his parents in Wisconsin. He purchased his present homestead, of 120 acres, in Sylvan township, later adding to its area, by various purchases, until his landed estate composed 280 acres. At the present time his fine farm includes 245 acres, the remaining portion having been sold. He reclaimed his original farm from the wild state and his energy and indefatigable industry enabled him to develop the fine estate which he now owns, the homestead being under a high state of cultivation and equipped with good buildings. Mr. Fry gives his attention to diversified farming and stock-growing and has long been recognized as one of the successful farmers of the township, holding the unqualified esteem of all who know him. In politics he is aligned with the Democratic party so far as national and state issues are involved, but in local affairs he is independent in the use of his franchise, supporting the men and measures which meet the approval of his judgment. Both he and his wife are members of the Untied Brethren church. He is one of a family of ten children and is the eldest of the four now living, the others being Susan M., who resides in Vernon county; Delia Catherine, whose home is in Richland county, as is also that of Issac G., who is a successful farmer of Sylvan township. In June 1854, Mr. Fry was united in Marriage to Miss Mary Ellen Thompson, daughter of Samuel B. Thompson, of Indiana, where Mrs. Fry was born and reared, both of her parents having continued to reside in that state until the time of their death. Of the eleven children of Mr. and Mrs. Fry, the following brief record is consistently given: Samuel B. is deceased; William is in the Black Hills in South Dakota; James C. and Aminda are residents of Richland county; Louis resides in Vernon county; George is a farmer of Sylvan township; Frank R. has charge of the operation of the old homestead; Ira is a farmer of the same township; Elias is deceased, as is also Dora A., and Norman W. remains at the parental home.
If you have resources for Richland County or would like to volunteer to help with look-ups, please e-mail Tim Stowell
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There were 652 visitors at our previous host from 14 Mar 2006 to 1 Aug 2011 and 649 visitors to a previous site from 8 Apr 2002 to 14 Mar 2006.
Another 215 before the old site was removed.

Last updated: 1 Aug 2011
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1906 Richland County Bios
1906 Richland County History
Richland Co., WI Page