W(illiam) L(aurent) Dryer

Submitted by Arlene Goodwin

Transcribed from Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana, Historical and Biographical. F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers. Chicago. 1882. Pages 413 - 414

W. L. Dryer was born in Greene County, N. Y., December 1, 1831, and is the son of Darius and Clarissa (Rogers) Dryer, of English descent. Darius Dryer, who was born in Massachusetts, came from New York to this township, (Milford township, LaGrange County, Indiana), with his family, in November, 1837; he died here in February, 1861. Mrs. Dryer, a native of New York, now eighty years of age, is living with her youngest daughter. The subject commenced learning wagon-making at the age of nineteen, but soon turned his attention to carpentering; this he followed a number of years, and in 1857 purchased the farm where he now resides. This land was all timber, except 16 acres, and Mr. Dryer has worked hard at clearing it; he now has 120 acres, valued at $60 per acre. Mr. Dryer was married in 1858, December 23, to Lodema Taylor, who was born in this township (Milford Township LaGrange County, Indiana) April 20, 1841. They have had five children—one infant, Laura, Morton W. and Lura, all deceased, and Mary A., living. Mrs. Dryer’s parents were Theston and Nancy (Blair) Taylor, of English descent, and natives of New York and Vermont, respectively. Mr. Taylor entered land in this township (Milford township, LaGrange County, Indiana) in 1836, and two years later the family came. Mr. Dryer is a stanch Republican; has served a Pathmaster and School Director a number of terms each. Zenas B. Dryer, the subjects youngest brother, enlisted in 1861 in the Twenty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and now sleeps in a soldier’s grave at New Orleans.

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