J. M. Fryman was burned to death in his own home Monday evening. He and his wife were sitting in the kitchen when they thought they smelled smoke. Upon investigation they saw some smoke coming in through a corner of the kitchen that adjoined the rest of the house. Mrs. Fryman opened the door into the main part of the house and smoke and flames shot out so far she couldn’t even close the door. Mr. Fryman couldn’t believe there was much fire and grabbed a pail of water and rushed in to put it out but was overcome with the smoke and never came out again. Jessie, the only girl at home, was out coasting and by the time the neighbors could get there the house was wrapped in flames and no one could think of entering. Not a single article of clothing or furniture was saved. The charred remains of Mr. Fryman were taken out of the debris and brought to this city by Coroner Pierce and placed in his morgue to await the day of the funeral, which will probably be held Friday, though word has not yet been received from Mr. J. R. Stone, a daughter who lives in California. Joe, the youngest son lives on a portion of the old farm and Dennis lives near St. Edwards, Neb. Mrs. Scott Fitch lives at Payette, Idaho, and Mrs. “Bud” Rhoades in Dallas, S. D. Mr. Fryman was one of the early settlers here and was 59 years of age.

#2-The following was from the Blair Democrat Nov. 18, 1974

65 Years Ago 1909

Blair Democrat: “The country home of Matt Fryman four miles northwest of Blair, was burned to the ground Monday evening and in the blaze Mr. Fryman lost his life and the remains were found charred beyond recognition when the fire was finally extinguished.”

#3-The following was from the Tribune Nov. 24, 1909

A fire, which probably caught from a stove in the sitting room, burned the Mat Fryman home to the ground Monday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Fryman were in the kitchen when the fire broke out and Mr. Fryman went into the burning room with a pail of water and was probably overcome with smoke. When the body was recovered it was burned beyond recognition. Mr. Fryman was an old settler in high esteem by all who knew him.

#4-25 Nov., 1909 - Blair Democrat - Matt Fryman

MAN BURNED TO DEATH

The country home of Matt Fryman four miles northwest of Blair was burned to the ground Monday evening, and in the blaze Mr. Fryman lost his life and the remains were found charred beyond all recognition when the fire was finally extinguished.

The family were all out in the kitchen waiting for supper and Mr. Fryman had gone to sleep in a chair. Being awakened by his wife and called to supper, he remarked that he smelled smoke and wondered where it was coming from. Up to this time the family had not been aware of the smoky condition of the air in the room, but as soon as Mr. Fryman called their attention to it all could smell it quite plainly.

A search was immediately instituted and opening door into another room they were met with a heavy cloud of smoke. Mr. Fryman immediately ran out of the house to get a pail of water and returning entered the blazing room to dash the water on the fire. By this time the family were all out of doors and were expecting Mr. Fryman to come out, but he failed to reappear after entering the blazing room, and his remains were found just inside of the door after the fire had demolished the home.

The building which was almost a new one was one of the substantial farm homes of the community and is a total loss. The origin of the fire is still a mystery, but is is presumed the it was caused by mice and matches.

No arrangements have been made for the funeral, the family waiting for answers from relatives at distant points.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #114633078