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Below is a family biography included in The History of Benton County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Benjamin Fryback, or “Uncle Ben,” as he is familiarly known, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, March 22, 1818, and is the son of John Fryback, of Lancaster County, Pa., and grandson of George Fryback, who served in the War of the Revolution, participating in the battle of Bunker Hill and other engagements. Benjamin Fryback, with his elder brother, moved to Tippecanoe County, Ind., in 1840, was married to Miss Isabel Hoover, and one daughter was the result of this union. This daughter married Broham Briar, of Indiana, and is now living in Oregon. Mrs. Fryback died while living in Indiana, and in 1848 Mr. Fryback was united in marriage to Miss Emerine Steely, of Tippecanoe County, Ind., daughter of David Steely, of the same place. To Mr. and Mrs. Fryback were born six children, of whom four daughters and one son survive. They are named as follows: Nancy; Margaret, who is married and the mother of six children; Robert, married and the father of two children; Laura, married and the mother of five children; Rachel, married, and has a family of four children; and Amanda, who is also married and has two children. Mr. Fryback is a member of the Odd Fellows and Masonic lodges, having joined the former lodge, No. 22, at Lafayette, Ind., April 22, 1847. In 1865 he moved, with his family, and a party of thirteen wagons (over which they stood guard at night on account of depredations committed by guerrillas on emigrant trains), to the place where he now lives, and there located October 11, 1865. He has resided there the principal part of the time since, and is the owner of about 1,000 acres of rich prairie and timber land. On this fine farm of Mr. Fryback’s, which is situated two and a half miles northwest of Lincoln, has been found a fair quality of coal, the vein being about eighteen inches in thickness; but this has never been prospected to any great extent, although there is supposed to be quite a deposit there. A good quality of limestone, which produces the very best quality of lime, is also found in abundance on the farm. In politics Mr. Fryback is an unconditional Union man, and therefore votes with the Republican party. He has filled the position of school director for several terms, to the complete satisfaction of the district.

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This family biography is one of 86 biographies included in The History of Benton County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Benton County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Benton County, Missouri family biographies here: Benton County, Missouri Biographies

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