The William E. Fry Family

By Alleen David

William E. Fry (Originally Fryer), (1848-1894), a native of Troy, Alabama, was discharged from the Confederate Army in 1865 at age 17. He came to Texas in 1875 and married Mollie A. Dulaney (1860-1932) of Rusk. In 1885, they moved to Jacksonville, where he engaged in farming, their farm having been located on the present site of West Side School. They were active members of First Baptist Church.

Their children were Tom, who died as a young man in 1904; John, who died in infancy in 1879; Daisy (1880-1970); Lillie (1882-1963); W. B. (1885-1934); and Lloyd, who died at age 12 in 1900.

Widowed at 34, Mrs. Fry continued farming for two years, and in the late 1890s opened a dressmaking shop in downtown Jacksonville. She was chosen to make the uniforms worn by the girls at Alexander Collegiate Institute (now Lon Morris College), and also fashioned many beautiful dresses for weddings of that era. Daisy, also a well-known seamstress, assisted her mother in the business, and later continued the work in the family home until her retirement.

Lillie, a milliner in such early day stores as Getz, and Black and Powell, was married in 1906 to E. S. (Gene) David (1876-1963). He was employed in the hardware firm of Hodges and Gragard Brothers, and later became a lock and gunsmith. They were First Methodist Church members. Their children, Gordon, Alleen and Louise, reside in Jacksonville.

W. B. (Bud), a painting contractor, was a charter member of the Jacksonville Fire Department and served as chief from 1914 to 1930. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. In 1920, he married Eula Holley (1894-1960), a native of Wharton, and a long-time employee of the local telephone company.

Jacksonville young people, July 20, 1901. Front, l. to r., Daisy Fry, Everett Love and Nell Hayes; back, l. to r., Daisy Cottrell, John Matkin, Lillie Fry.

Mrs. Mollie A. Fry at her home, Johnson Street, early 1930s.

W. B. (Bud) Fry with Model T and canine friends in early 1920s.