The “Aunt & Uncle” series of biographical sketches are Artificial Intelligence (AI) compiled narratives of selected individuals from my Genealogical database. The selected AI will used the RootsMagic Individual Summary from my Genealogical Software, Roots Magic. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 46 years of research. Today's Biography of Owen Ulrich Dry ( (1754-1840): A Life Spanning the Birth of a Nation was compiled with the assistance of Claude Sonnett 4 and is entitled:
Owen Ulrich Dry (1754-1840): A Life Spanning the Birth of a Nation
Early Life and Family Origins
Owen Ulrich Dry was born on December 4, 1754, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, during the final years of British colonial rule. His parents were Charles Dry (1730-1797), later known as a Patriot during the Revolutionary War, and Anna Christina Muss (1739-1801). Owen came from German immigrant stock, as evidenced by his original name "Ullrich Dorr" in the church baptismal records.
Three years after his birth, on December 4, 1757, young Ullrich was baptized at the Goshenhoppen Reformed Church in Montgomery County. The baptismal record lists him as the son of Carl Dorr and Christina, with witnesses Ullrich Greber and Anna Margaretha. This was a tight-knit German-speaking community where families maintained their Old World traditions while adapting to life in colonial America.
Owen grew up during a time of increasing tension between Britain and her American colonies. When he was 18 years old, on Good Friday, April 9, 1773, he was confirmed in the church alongside his brother Johan Martin Durr, who was 13½ years old. This religious milestone came just two years before the first shots of the American Revolution would be fired at Lexington and Concord.
Revolutionary War Service
Like many young men of his generation, Owen answered the call to arms during the American Revolution. From 1779 to 1782, when he was in his mid-twenties, Owen served in the North Carolina forces. His military service is documented in the North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers for the Salisbury District, showing he was actively involved in the fight for American independence.
This service likely brought Owen to North Carolina, where he would spend the rest of his long life. Many Revolutionary War veterans received land grants as compensation for their service, which may explain how Owen came to settle in what would become Cabarrus County.
Marriage and Family Life
First Marriage to Eve
Around 1776, at approximately age 22, Owen married Eve Dry (1757-1828). This union, which lasted over 50 years until Eve's death, produced four children who would carry on the Dry family name in North Carolina:
Christina Dry (born 1777) - She married Peter Kauble (also spelled Cauble) on October 17, 1797. Pastor Markard recorded her as the daughter of Ulrich Dry, and she received $100 in her father's will.
John F. Dry (1780-1842) - Owen's eldest son, who lived to age 62. In 1815, Owen sold John a 200-acre tract of land on Dutch Buffalo Creek for $300, suggesting John was establishing his own farm nearby.
Catherine "Katy" Dry (1783-1858) - She married Jacob Miller on March 25, 1807, with her brother John serving as bondsman. Jacob Miller later became one of Owen's executors, showing the close family ties maintained over the years.
Daniel Dry (1795-1836) - The youngest child, who unfortunately predeceased his father by four years. Owen's will specifically mentions "the heirs of the body of my son Daniel Dry," indicating Daniel had children who would inherit from their grandfather.
Life as a Landowner and Farmer
The 1790 census shows Owen as head of a household in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, with one male over 16 (himself), three females, and three males - likely his growing family. By 1800, the family had moved to Salisbury in Cabarrus County, where they would remain for the rest of Owen's life.
Owen was an active participant in the land acquisition opportunities available to settlers in North Carolina. On November 23, 1798, he received Land Grant No. 107 for 100 acres in Cabarrus County, paying four pounds for the property. Four years later, on November 19, 1802, he obtained a much larger grant - 210 acres on the waters of Dutch Buffalo Creek under Grant No. 269. This substantial property formed the heart of his farming operations and would remain in the family for decades.
The detailed description of this 210-acre tract in the land grant shows it was prime farmland with water access, bounded by various trees and natural landmarks. This was the property where Owen "resided," according to later deed records, and it provided the foundation for his family's prosperity.
Later Years and Second Marriage
Eve Dry passed away in 1828 after more than 50 years of marriage. Owen, now 74 years old, lived as a widower for six years before making a decision that caused quite a stir in the community.
Marriage to Catherine Polk
On December 9, 1834, at the remarkable age of 80, Owen married Miss Catherine Polk, who was 70 years old. This late-in-life marriage attracted attention from local newspapers, with The Weekly Raleigh Register publishing somewhat sardonic commentary about the union of two people "in their dotage," adding "all for the Administration" - a reference to the political implications or perhaps the practical arrangements involved.
The marriage bond was witnessed by P.B. Barringer and A. Corzine, showing that despite his advanced age, Owen maintained connections within the community. This second marriage would last until Owen's death, providing companionship in his final years.
Final Years and Legacy
As Owen entered his eighties, he began making preparations for his death and the distribution of his substantial estate. On February 21, 1839, at age 84, he drafted his last will and testament, demonstrating that while he was "old and weak in body," he remained "of sound mind & memory."
The will reveals Owen's careful consideration for his family members. He ensured that Catherine would receive all the property she had brought to the marriage, along with use of the garden, cotton patch, firewood, orchard, and half the rental income from the plantation during her lifetime or widowhood. He made specific bequests of $100 each to his daughter Christine Kimble and to the heirs of his deceased son Daniel, while his surviving son John would receive an equal share of the remainder.
Notably, Owen forgave all debts his children owed him, writing that "all the notes and receipts which I now have against any of my children shall be given up to them and not counted." This generous gesture suggests a man who valued family harmony over strict financial accounting in his final years.
Owen died on March 5, 1840, at age 85, in Concord, Cabarrus County. He was buried at Saint Johns Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery, maintaining his connection to the German Lutheran faith of his youth even after more than eight decades in America.
Historical Context and Significance
Owen Ulrich Dry's long life spanned some of the most transformative years in American history. Born under British rule in 1754, he lived through:
The French and Indian War (1754-1763)
The American Revolution (1775-1783), in which he served
The formation of the new nation and adoption of the Constitution
The presidencies of George Washington through Martin Van Buren
The War of 1812
The Missouri Compromise (1820)
The Indian Removal Act (1830)
The nullification crisis in South Carolina (1832-1833)
His transition from "Ullrich Dorr" to "Owen Dry" reflects the broader Americanization of German immigrant families. His military service in the Revolution demonstrated his commitment to his adopted country, while his success in acquiring substantial landholdings showed his ability to prosper in the new nation.
Estate Settlement
After Owen's death, his executors Peter Kauble (his son-in-law) and Jacob Miller (another son-in-law) managed the estate according to his wishes. Catherine Polk Dry continued to live on the plantation and receive her designated benefits until her own death, which occurred before November 4, 1843.
The final settlement came on November 4, 1843, when the executors sold the 200-acre homestead to Henry Bangle for $472. The detailed deed description shows this was the same property Owen had acquired through his 1802 land grant, demonstrating how he had built his life around this particular piece of North Carolina soil.
The estate sale yielded $498.08, a substantial sum for the time, reflecting Owen's success as a landowner and farmer over his nearly nine decades of life.
Owen Ulrich Dry's story represents the experience of countless German-American families who helped build the early United States - immigrants who served in the Revolution, established successful farms, raised large families, and contributed to the growth of their communities while maintaining connections to their cultural and religious heritage. His longevity allowed him to witness the transformation of British colonies into a growing nation, making him a living bridge between the colonial era and the antebellum period of American history.
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