Joseph Lapenois Fry

     Joseph Lapenois Fry was born on 7 October 1851 at Charleston, Kanawha County, Virginia.¹ He was the son of James Henry Fry and Jane A. Donnally.¹ Joseph Lapenois Fry married, at age 27, Elizabeth Julia Follansbee, age 23, daughter of James Morrill Follansbee and Eliza Gillette Stevens, on Wednesday, 21 May 1879 at Kanawha County, West Virginia.¹ Joseph Lapenois Fry died on 14 March 1927 at Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia, at age 75 years, 5 months and 7 days.¹
     History of the Great Kanawha Valley, With Family History and Biographical Sketches. A statement of its Natural Resources, Industrial Growth and Commercial Advantages. First Printing 1891. Second Printing 1994. Gauley & New River Publishing Co., P.O. 101, Gauley Bridge, WV 25085. pp. 169 & 170.

JOSEPH L. FRY

Hon. Joseph L. Fry, the present mayor of Charleston, first saw the light in Charleston, October 7, 1851. His parents were James H. and Jane A. (Donnally) Fry. His education was received in the public schools of his native city, and at the Charleston Institute, after which he took up the study of the law, but never completed the course. He early became active in politics, and his services were soon acknowledged by the democratic party, which elected him in 1875 to the office of city recorder, and for three successive terms he was kept in that office. In 1882 he established a book and stationery business which he has since conducted. In 1887 he was elected mayor of Charleston and again was honored by an election in 1889. From 1881 to 1883 he was city assessor. Mr. Fry is a member of the Kanawha lodge, No. 20, A.F. & A.M., and also of Keuka lodge, No. 26, K. of P.

He married, in 1878, Miss Eliza J., daughter of Rev. James M. Follansbee, of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. Five children have been born into this happy home: Frank, Lee, Joseph L., Jr., Cleveland S. and Willdarrah. James H. Fry, his father, was a native of Virginia, and was one of the early salt manufacturers of the Kanawha valley. He was a member of the Virginia state senate for several terms, and was sheriff of Kanawha county for about thirty years. He died in 1864. His wife, who still survives him, was a daughter of Col. Andrew Donnally, after whom the first steamboat on the Kanawha river was named. She resides in Charleston, and is a devoted member of the First Presbyterian church. Two of their sons, James H. and Andrew P., were soldiers in the Confederate army.