Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 4th ed., 
1887 Boyle Co.

GENERAL SPEED S. FRY was born September 9, 1817, five miles west of
Danville, on a farm known as "Spring house."  He was eighth of seven
sons and six daughters, eleven of whom lived to be grown, born to 
Thomas W. and Elizabeth Julia (Smith) Fry.  Thomas W. Fry was born in 
Albemarle County, Va., was brought to Kentucky when thirteen by his 
grandfather, afterward became a substantial farmer in Mercer (now 
Boyle) County, and owned about 1,200 acres, and many slaves.  In 1836 
he removed to Crawfordsville, Ind., and engaged in the milling business 
till his death in 1837, at the age of fifty-three years.  His widow and 
family remained in Crawfordsville till her death in 1848.  Thomas W. 
was a son of Joshua Fry, who was born in Albemarle County, Va., married 
Peachy Walker, immigrated with his family to Mercer County, Ky., about 
1783, and was highly educated, and one of the most celebrated teachers 
in Kentucky.  He taught without compensation, including several years 
in Centre College, also taught in a large school in Garrard County 
without pay.  He owned large farms in Garrard, Lincoln and Mercer (now 
Boyle) Counties, also a large tract near Louisville; was also a large 
owner in slave property; was a strong and active Whig, and died in 
1836 at the age of seventy-five years; was of English and German
extraction.  Eliza J. (Smith) Fry, the mother of Gen. S.S.Fry, was born
in Mercer (now Boyle) County, KY., and was the daughter of John Smith, 
and sister of Hon. John Speed Smith of Madison County, Ky.  John Smith 
was born in Virginia, where he married a Miss Speed.  He was of English 
descent and one of the early pioneers of Kentucky.  Gen. Fry received 
his early training in the common schools on Salt River, under Duncan 
Robinson, subsequently under his grandfather; entered Centre College, 
and after completing  the sophomore year entered Wabash College at 
Crawfordsville, Ind., in 1838, and graduated in 1840.  Shortly after he 
returned to Kentucky, and commenced the study of law under his uncle, 
John Speed Smith, of Madison County; received his license in 1843, and 
entered into practice in Danville.  The law not being congenial to his 
taste he engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1846, when, at the call 
for troops for the Mexican war, he organized a company of which he was 
elected captain, and was attached to the Second Kentucky Regiment under
Col. McKee.  He participated in the battle of Buena Vista, where his 
company had the honor of firing the last guns.  Gen. Fry after his 
return re-entered the mercantile business.  On November 7, 1847, he was
united in marriage to Mildred T. Smith of Jefferson County, Ky., a 
native of Shelby County.  One daughter was born to this union: Mildred 
S. Turner, of Bowling Green.  Gen. Fry's wife died in June, 1849.  He 
married his second wife, Cynthia A. Hope, in 1851, to whom three sons 
were born: Frank W., Thomas J. and Speed S.  The two younger are in 
business in Kansas City. He lost his second wife August 31, 1884.  In 
1851, under the provisions of the new constitution, he was solicited to
run for county judge, to which he was elected for a term of four years,
was continuously re-elected, and held the office until the breaking out 
of the late war.  He immediately and earnestly espoused the cause of 
the National Government, and set to work organizing a home guard. 
In April, 1881 [sic], he enrolled 100 young men, and succeeded in arming
and maintaining the organization as "Home Guards" until President
Lincoln called upon the State for troops.  He received authority from 
Gen. Nelson to raise a regiment, and August 6, 1861, with a handful of 
recruits, opened "Camp Dick Robinson" in Garrard County; recruiting was 
slow, but on October 9, 1861, his regiment, the Fourth Kentucky 
Volunteer Infantry, was mustered into service by Gen. George H. Thomas. 
In September, 1865, Gen. Fry was mustered out of service, carrying with 
him the honors of being a brave and good soldier and commander.  In 
1866 he was the Republican candidate in his district for Congress.  For 
some time he was engaged in collecting claims against the Government.  
In April, 1869, he was appointed supervisor of internal revenue for his 
district, which office he held until the consolidation of the district 
in 1872.  Gen. Fry was a strong Whig, and emancipationist before the 
war; since he has identified himself with the Republicans. In religious 
belief he is a Presbyterian, and has for several years been a ruling 
elder of that church.

Fry Smith Walker Speed Robinson McKee Turner Nelson Thomas Hope
=
Mercer-Ky Garrard-Ky Lincoln-Ky Madison-Ky Jefferson-Ky Shelby-Ky
Albemarle-VA IN MO

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/boyle/fry.ss.txt