http://books.google.com/books?id=bZl4AAAAMAAJ&q=baidland#v=snippet&q=mcgrew&f=false pg. 268, THE FRYE FAMILY The Speers and Frye names were introduced into the wilds of W. Pennsylvania about the year 1772. Henry Speers, the older, with Regena Froman, his wife, settled on the farm now known as the Gibsonton Mills, on the (East) Monongahela River below Bellevernon. Abraham Frye and family located on the opposite side of the river. He owned and afterwards gave to his children, among others, the farms now owned by John Conrad at Lock No. 4, by Joseph Ryan, William McMehan, Smith Frye, James Sampson and William Rogers. The Speers and Fryes were intimately associated in everything that pertained to each other's comfort, and this fact, in those days of trial and danger, was no small affair. In going from place to place or in the field these settlers were compelled, for personal safety, to carry fire-arms so as to meet the attacks of the Indians. At one time the girls and boys of the Frye family having gone across the river to mile their cows, were overtaken by a storm. They sought shelter under a tree, and whilst there one of their number was killed by lightening. In the midst of this sore trouble the Indian's whoop was heard in the distance, warning them of a new danger. Leaving the dead one, the others sought security beneath the floor of an old cabin. They were hardly quiet in their new retreat before the Indians entered the cabin, in which they remained all night, dancing and whooping, unconscious of the prize within their grasp. It was a long night to the prisoners beneath the floor, but when morning came the Indians departed and the milkers escaped to their dwelling, where the sad story was told. The bones of this dead one no doubt was the first of the Frye family to bleach on the banks of the Monongahela. We are able to trace the history of 2 sons and 1 daughter of Abraham Frye, SR. Their names were Abraham, Nancy and Samuel. We cannot determine whether Benjamin Frye, one of the executors of the older Henry Speers, was a brother of the last named or not, but his wife being a daughter of Henry Speers leads us to infer that he was a brother of Abraham Frye, SR. Abraham Frye, JR, son of Abraham Frye, SR., m. a daughter of Henry Speers, and had a large family. In this way we make it out that he and Benjamin were brothers and m. sisters - daughters of Henry Speers. Their sons were Thomas, Benjamin, Abraham, Smith, Luke, Johnson, Noah, James, and Elijah. He lived and d. on the farm now owned by the late Mrs. Joseph Ryan, near Lock No. 4, on the Monongahela River. He built the old house which was torn down by James S. Jones, to give place for the present building. We think his remains are in the old Frye graveyard on the hill (behind the West Penn power plant), above the upper end of Charleroi. His son, Benjamin, resided for many years on the farm now owned by the heirs of John Carson, lately deceased. Benjamin also ran an old-fashioned water grist and saw mill, in what is now known as Scott's Hollow, which lead from his farm to Pigeon Creek, in Carroll. The entire mill at one time was washed into Pigeon Creek by an imaginary water spout; the very very millstones were taken into the creek, a mile distant. He removed west very many years ago. Abraham's son, Abraham, known in his day as West's Abe, lived on the Jacob Crabb farm, in Fallowfield, now owned by the heirs of Washington Cooper. He kept an Inn where travelers were entertained and musters of the militia were held on the first Monday of May in each year until the good old law was repealed. After the building of the state road from Pittsburgh to Brownsville, in about 1832, the traveling on this route was very large for that day. Four-horse coaches were at times on regular days run on this road, but the principal travel was by horseback. Frye's Inn was a famous stopping place on this road. The mail was never carried on this road - it was carried from Beallsville via Bentleysville, Williamsport, Rogally, &c, to Pittsburgh. Even after the building of the Pike the Williamsport people depended on the cross mail via Rogally for their principal mail. Benjamin Frye removed many years ago to Sandusky, OH, where he d. at an advanced age. About 60 years ago Smith Frye moved to IL; was one of the first settlers of Peoria City; was Sheriff of Peoria Co.; was a fine taker; and was regarded as a shrewd, popular and successful business man and politician. He was killed in a personal encounter with some individual at the same place where his son, Jacob, was killed in after time. Luke lived near the old Baptist church in Horseshoe. His wife was a West. Luke was the father of West Frye, Esq., who has long been a resident of Finleyville, in Washington Co., where he d. Mar. 12, 1891. He was also the father of the wife, (of?) Elgy Van Voorhis, who many years ago lived at the old distillery, which is now owned by W. J. Markell, in Carroll, on what is known as Yerty's Run. Elgy is still living, but his wife is dead; he has long been one of Greene Co's most wealthy cattle dealers. West Frye m. Christina, daughter of the late Daniel Van Voorhis. She was a sister of Mrs. Sallie Cooper, of Mingo, and Mrs. B. F. Bentley, of Monongahela City. Johnson, another son of Abraham Frye, d. at Ringland's old mill on Maple Creek, now known as the Twilight Mill. He was the father of A. P. Frye, who d. on the old Cooper farm, at the mouth of Maple Creek, a few years since. His remains, along with those of his wife, who d. afterwards, were interred in the Monongahela Cemetery. A. P. Frye was the father of Johnson, of whose whereabouts we do not know; also the father of Hester, wife of B. Parsons, of Maple Creek, and H. B. Frye, a well known business man at this time in Allegheny City. The oldest son, Noah, d. many years ago in Bellevernon. Noah, son of Abraham Frye, m. Lucy Colvin; he lived in E. Williamsport, better known as Catsburg, in the first ward of Monongahela City. Noah was killed in a coal bank near Dagg's ferry. Thomas, another son, m. a West and lived all his life on the farm at Lock No. 4, now owned by John Conrad. The old house in 1889 was torn down and in its stead John Conrad has erected a beautiful mansard roof frame building. It is one of the most attractive residences in the valley, and its design and finish reflects great credit to the owner, architect and builder. Thomas' son Resin now resides in the town of Bellewood below Monongahela City, although his large landed estate is situated in Fallowfield and Carroll townships. He is one of Washington Co.'s most successful farmers. His wife is a daughter of the late John Eckles, a well-known mechanic in early days. She is a sister of Hamilton Eckles, a well-known river man, whose wife was Lucinda, daughter of the late Sampson Reeves, of Rostraver township, Westmoreland Co., who lived and d. on the farm now owned by his son Samuel. One of Thomas Frye's daughters m. John Wilson, who resided near the site of the old Horseshoe Meeting House, and was a wealthy and successful farmer. He is deceased. Another daughter m. Noah Jones, of Bentleyville. Rev. O. P. Hargrave's wife is also a daughter; her former husband was Stephen Thomas, long known in his connection with Lock No. 4. Another daughter m. Andrew Hazelbaker, now deceased. The remaining members of the family of Thomas Frye we cannot trace. Nancy, daughter of Abraham Frye, was the wife of the late Noah Speers, who laid out Bellevernon, and whose history in detail will be given in another place. Samuel, brother of Abraham Frye, occupied the high lands of the Frye family. He built and d. in the old frame house that stood near the new one erected by Jackson Frye, and now owned by James Sampson. Samuel m. Christina, daughter of Henry Speers, the older. They had several sons and daughters. Isaac moved to IL, where he d. many years ago. Samuel m. Elizabeth, better known as "Aunt Betty", daughter of the late Capt. Daniel Van Voorhis by his 3rd wife, and only sister of the late Isaac Van Voorhis. They lived in the old log house which stood near the brick house built by their son Solomon, and on the farm now owned by William Rogers, it being a part of the original Frye homestead. Samuel and wife had a large family of boys and girls. Solomon m. a daughter of Parker Scott, Esq. She d. a few years since in the town of California, on the Monongahela River. Her husband was one of the old fashioned mechanics who work to the scribe. He acquired considerable reputation by the publication of a volumen of miscellaneous poems. He is dead. Nancy m. Samuel McCrory, whose mother was a daughter of the well known elder, Henry Speers, and grand daughter of the older Henry Speers, and sister of the late Apollus Speers, of Speer's Ferry. Nancy's husband d. in 1852, leaving her with a large family. She is deceased. Lewis, another son of Samuel and Elizabeth Frye, m. a sister of John Shanton, of Carroll township, and has been dead many years. Henry is a wealthy farmer in the vicinity of Bentleyville. His wife has been dead some years. Samuel resides in or about Bentleyville. Louisa, one of the daughters, m. John Shanton, Esq., Ursula was Jefferson Redd's first wife, and Sallie was his second wife, all of whom are dead. Bettie m. E. T. Cooper, son of F. K. Cooper, of the Dutch settlement in Carroll. He built the stone distillery just below the upper wharf in Monongahela City. Shortly after it was in operation it was destroyed by fire. Of late years it has been converted into a knitting factory. The Doctor and wife are now residents of Beaver Co. The father, Samuel Frye, of these children, d. some 60 years ago; but "Aunt Betty" lived until Aug. 18, 1875. Rebecca, sister of Samuel Frye, m. Henry Shepler, who lived and d. in the old house that stood where the new residence of William Rogers was erected, near what is known as Cooper's Mill, on Maple Creek. Katie m. William Croskey, of the vicinity of Cadiz, OH. Sarah m. John Van Voorhis. In 1812 he moved to Muskingum. The history of John and Sarah is given more in detail elsewhere. Mary Frye m. Daniel Van Voorhis, whose history is given in the Van Voorhis Family. Abraham Frye, better known as Ringland's Abe, was b. in the old house before mentioned, on the old Frye tract of land, on Jan. 12, 1793. He m. Isabella Ringland Sep. 13, 1813, in the old house that stood above the present residence of his son in law, Abram Colvin, on the Brownsville Road, in Fallowfield. In the same house was b. his wife, on Apr. 5, 1796. Her father, John Ringland, was in his day regarded as the largest land holder in Washington Co. His children all d. early, except for Mrs. Frye, who, at his death, inherited his large estate. Abraham was one of the best of men. Naturally good hearted, was generous to a fault. He never learned any trade, yet he was skilled beyond his day in almost every trade. He made of iron or wood whatever he needed. In the absence of an anvil he used his ax driven into a piece of wood, and with this improvised anvil before the kitchen fire he made many a useful article, even at the expense of annoying the cooks. He was general pewter-spoon moulder for the neighborhood, and his moulds, then so convenient, are still in existence. He shod his own horses, made his own grain cradles and sickles, his own files; made and operated the first threshing machines in the Co., or anywhere else, a part of which can still be seen; he cut the stone for and built his model spring house; cut and put in place the stone in the house in which he and his wife lived and died, and in which his son Smith now resides. In a word, he was a man of extraordinary genius. He always lived on the farm where he was b. The remains of both are interred in the family burying ground on the farm. Soon after his marriage he went to TN to see if he could find a better location, but returned in a very short time and told his wife: "No better place than home; we will build a new house", and the sequel speaks for itself. His sons Samuel and John both m. daughters of Parker Scott, Esq., and both of them have nearly always since marriage lived on the old Ringland mill farm on Maple Creek. Their wives are deceased. Christina, daughter of Abraham Frye, m. Abram Colvin. They reside in the new brick house near the old Ringland manison on the Brownsville and Pittsburgh state road. Smith lives on the homestead where his parents d. Jackson recently sold to James Sampson his part of the home farm, and removed to S. KS. His first wife was a daughter of Garret Wall, Esq., of Allegheny Co., and his present wife is a daughter of the late Moses Colvin. Henry, Abraham and Noah live in TN. Noah is dead. Sarah Ann is the wife of Thomas McGowan, of Lock No. 4, who has been identified since his youth with the Monongahela Navigation Co.. Clarissa m. Alexander Allman, and is dead. Isabella is the wife of E. T. Van Voorhis, of the vicinity of Kansas City, MO. (pg. 274)