This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Getman Fryer Medd Hanchett McMullen Calkins Wise Holt Butters Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/gUX.2ACEB/239 Message Board Post: The Tomah Journal Published 15 Mar 1901 “OBITUARY MRS. ELIZABETH FRYER Died, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. L. Medd, in Tomah, Wednesday, March 6th, 1901, Mrs. Elizabeth Fryer, in the 78th year of her age. Elizabeth Getman, daughter of Peter and Barbara Getman, was born in Columbia, Herkimer County, New York, Aug. 20, 1823. She was married to Mr. John Fryer Sept. 1st, 1844. Soon after their marriage they turned their eyes to the then new west, stopping first at Troy, this state, then at Baraboo; and in 1855 with three children they located in what is now LaGrange township, near Tomah. At once they began to carve out a home, first for temporary use erecting a log shanty and later a more comfortable log home. They were compelled to undergo the many hardships of frontier life such as were incident to this country in an early day, going long distances to mill and for such articles of merchandise as were needed, until Tomah had reached such magnitude as to demand a store. In July, 1884, Mrs. Fryer met the great bereavement of life in the loss of her husband, a devout Christian and staunch member of the M.E. church for 40 years. Mr. And Mrs. Fryer were the parents of six children. The oldest, Harvey, died in 1860. The remaining children, all present at the funeral, are Mrs. Sarah Hanchett, of Shelby, Mich.; Mrs. Libbie Medd, Tomah, Wis.; Mrs. Lettie McMullen, Marshfield, Wis.; Mrs. Clara Calkins, Washburn, Wis.; Mr. W. S. Fryer, Tomah, Wis. Mrs. Fryer also has one sister living, Mrs. Fred Wise, of Tomah, Wis. For the past nine years Mrs. Fryer has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Medd. At 18 years of age she was converted. The church record of the local church here has always since the founding of the organization contained her name. Her memory went back to Methodism’s first pastor in Tomah, Mr. Jno. Holt, who preached here in 1856. Mrs. Fryer has ever shown to the world a God fearing, devout Christian character. She was extremely loyal and liberal to the church of her choice. With her demise our loss can only be compensated by the memory of a grand life, well lived. Heaven is the richer. The funeral was conducted according to plans arranged by the deceased long before her death. It was held Sunday afternoon, March 19th, from the home, Rev. C.E. Butters using the text that Mrs. Fryer had chosen, Ps. 23:4. The choir sang selections chosen also by the deceased. The remains were laid to rest in the Tomah cemetery beside those of her beloved husband.” [Elizabeth is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah, Monroe County, Wisconsin. She was a sister of my great great grandmother.] Bonnie Gilson http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~bgilson/