The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 427 ERNEST W. FRY. Ernest W. Fry, who has now been a resident of Prosser for over fourteen years, has not only one of the most important grain and produce establishments of the town but also is the owner of a modern alfalfa mill with a capacity of about four thousand tons per year. A native of New York, Mr. Fry was born in Mount Vision, June 20, 1874, and is a son of Walter and Eleanor N. Fry, the former deceased, while the latter still makes her residence in New York. The father was a Presbyterian minister. Mr. Fry of this review was reared amid the refining influences of a Christian home and received his education in the public schools of New York. He decided upon a business career as best suited to his tastes and ability and entered upon life's active work as a clerk in a hardware establishment at Utica, New York, where he remained for four years. At the end of that time he opened a hardware store in Utica but sold out and later entered the butter, egg and poultry business in the same city. He continued in the east until March, 1904, when he came to Prosser and established a grain and hay business with Ezra Kemp. This partnership was profitably continued for about five years, or until 1909, when Mr. Fry acquired the interest of Mr. Kemp. The business has since been under his sole management and he has proven himself an able business man of high principles. In his dealings he always sets honor before profit and has therefore earned the trust and confidence of those who have dealings with him. His word is as good as his bond and is taken as such. The building in which his business is located covers a space of sixty-four by three hundred feet and belongs to Mrs. Kemp, from whom Mr. Fry leases. He largely buys hay and grain for the market and is engaged in the sale of feed. In 1916 Mr. Fry also built an alfalfa mill covering a ground space of one hundred by fifty feet and another building one hundred and twenty by twenty feet. In 1917 his property was destroyed by fire but he replaced the buildings immediately with new ones. His mill, which is turning out alfalfa meal, has a capacity of about fifteen tons per day. He employs from six to fifteen men, according to necessity. Mr. Fry also has a warehouse at Grandview and owns a modern elevator at Whitstrand, Washington, and a warehouse at Mabton. All this serves to indicate the magnitude of his business. In 1918 he shipped one thousand carloads of hay alone besides ninety-five cars of alfalfa meal and twenty-five cars of wheat. His business in this line is one of the largest in his section of the state and in its administration and management Mr. Fry has shown keen perception and especial executive talent. Moreover, in all his dealings he is guided by the highest principles. While shrewd in his business dealings he never takes undue advantage and in many instances has extended generous treatment to his clients and customers. In short, he is not only an able business man, but he is a big man, taking his character from every point of view, and is in the truest sense a self-made American. In 1897, in Utica, New York, Mr. Fry was united in marriage to Miss Mary Evans and they have seven children: Walter. nineteen rears of age; Paul, aged seventeen; Kenneth, sixteen; Ernest, twelve; Mary, eight; Wilfrid. six: and an infant daughter unnamed. The family enjoy a high social standing in the county and their home is renowned for its bounteous hospitality. Mrs. Fry takes an active part in all church and charitable projects and in the newer movements connected with war service. In politics Mr. Fry is independent, giving his support to such measures and candidates as he deems most worthy of his support. He is a Presbyterian in his religious belief and his fraternal connections are with the Modern Woodmen of America. While he has attained prosperity for himself, he has done much good in furthering the development of Prosser and Benton counties by his extensive business enterprise and he is ever interested in any measure which may prove of benefit to the district and is ever ready to give of his means and of his services in order to promote such measures. He is a man of vision who preconceived the possibilities of Benton county and has made good use of the opportunities which presented themselves to him. While he has become one of the leading business men of his part of the state, no other fortunes were wrecked in order to attain his ends. On the contrary, he has always been considerate of the interests of others and has often gone out of his way to let the other man live. All who know him speak of him with the highest respect, recognizing in him a man of more than ordinary qualities as men go, one with fine business acumen, with a strong character, with a sense of justice and with the best qualities of heart. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.