Gilmore Fry, born in June 1863 in Freeport, Illinois, moved with his family to Yankton County, South Dakota, in 1869. His father, Joel Fry, pre-empted land and became a successful farmer, landowner, and community leader. Raised amid the pioneer environment, Gilmore witnessed significant regional changes. In 1899, he married Nettie Lawrence, with whom he had three children: Agnes, Alice, and Willard. Gilmore later managed a lumber yard and elevator for the Atlas Elevator Company in Mission Hill while also owning 500 acres of land. Active in his community, he aligned with the Republican Party and the Congregational church.
Gilmore Fry was born in Freeport, Illinois, in June 1863. His father, Joel Fry, was a native of Pennsylvania and in 1854 removed to Illinois, where he remained until 1869, when he started for Yankton County, South Dakota, traveling by stage between Sioux City. On reaching his destination, he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land north of Yankton and began the development of a farm, although living in the city. He was a carpenter by trade and engaged in contracting to some extent. In 1874, however, during the grasshopper scourge, he left Yankton and since that time has engaged in farming, owning and operating four hundred and eighty acres of farming land. He also has town property and has made judicious investments in real estate so that his realty holdings are valuable as well as extensive. He has also engaged in the stock business, and at the present time he makes his home in Irene, South Dakota, which town was named in honor of his daughter. In early manhood, he wedded Elizabeth Forry and they became the parents of four children: Jemima, now deceased; Alice, the wife of W. P. Swartz, a druggist of Pueblo, Colorado; Gilmore; and Irene, who is the wife of H. P. Hartwell, a businessman living in the town of Irene, South Dakota. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fry yet survive and are esteemed people of the community in which they reside. They hold membership in the Evangelical church, taking an active part in its work, and in the cause of education Mr. Fry is deeply interested and has done effective service in its behalf as school treasurer. His political support was given in early life to the Whig party and upon its dissolution, he joined the ranks of the Republican party, of which he is a worthy representative. On this ticket, he was elected to the legislature in 1895 and in the discharge of his official duties proved himself a most loyal citizen.
Under the parental roof, Gilmore Fry was reared amid the wild scenes of pioneer life in Yankton County. He was only six years of age when he arrived here. All around him was a wild, unbroken prairie and it was only at long distances that pioneer homes were to be seen. In 1899, he wedded Nettie Lawrence, a daughter of D. O. and Harriet (Branch) Lawrence. Her father, formerly a farmer and stock raiser of Minnesota, came to Yankton County about 1875 and afterward removed to Clay County, where his death occurred in 1897. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fry have been born three children, Agnes, Alice, and Willard.
In his business affairs, as the years passed by, Mr. Fry has prospered and he now owns five hundred acres of land, most of which is devoted to pasturage, and this he rents. He is the manager for the Atlas Elevator Company of Minneapolis, having charge of their lumber yard and elevator business at Mission Hill. He has acted as its representative for about a year, and prior to that time, he was engaged in the grain business for the Kansas City & St. Paul Company. He votes with the Republican party and has held some school offices, yet has never been an active politician in the sense of office-seeking. He also has some lodge relations and he and his family belong to the Congregational church at Mission Hill. Mr. Fry can remember when the Indians were more numerous than the white settlers in this portion of the country, and as the years have advanced, he has been a witness of the wonderful transformation that has occurred here and has borne his full share in the work of advancement.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.