WILLIAM H. FRAZIER, a worthy representative of one of the oldest and most prominent families in the county, comes of Highland-Scotch descent, his great-grandfather, Andrew Frazier, the first of the family to come to this country, having been born in Inverness, Scotland. Andrew Frazier married, in his native land, Christina Ross, and in 1772 came with his family to the United States, making his first settlement in Chartiers township, this county, where he remained some years, and then purchased a farm in what is now West Finley township, same county, which piece of land, some four hundred acres in extent, was at that time nearly all unbroken forest. The children born to this worthy old pioneer were David, Alexander, Daniel, Elizabeth (Mrs. William McDonald) and Nancy (Mrs. John Echols). The parents of this family died in West Finley township, at advanced ages, having experienced all the trials and hardships incident to the early times of their coming here. They were members of the old "Three Ridges" Presbyterian Church, and in politics Mr Frazier was a Democrat.
David Frazier grandfather of William H. Frazier, was born in 1779, in Washington county, Penn., and the days of his boyhood and youth were passed on his father's farm in Finley township, a few weeks in the winter season being devoted to attending the primitive subscription schools of the neighborhood. While yet a young man he was married to Jane Ross, of Finley, and then purchased a farm in that township, where he passed the rest of his days, diligently and successfully engaged in general agriculture. He had in early life studied civil engineering, which he followed to some extent in the county. To David and Jane (Ross) Frazier were born seven children as follows: Thomas, Margaret, Andrew B., Jane (Mrs. Daniel McCoy), Christina O. (Mrs. Perry E. Whitham), William and Alfred Ross, all now deceased except Andrew B., who is a Presbyterian minister in Bethany, Ill. The father died in 1839 the mother in 1866. They were members and liberal supporters of the Presbyterian Church at West Alexander. Politically, Mr. Frazier was a Democrat, and held many offices of honor and trust in his township, being a leader in his community. He was elected to the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania, serving one term with marked ability, and he was a justice of the peace many years, in which capacity he was looked up to as a just man and a peacemaker. His walk through life was quiet, unobtrusive and Christian-like.
Thomas Frazier, the eldest son of David, was born in 1810 in that portion of Finley township now known as West Finley, and his early life was spent in Canonsburg, same county, where he was partly educated. He also attended the West Alexander Academy for a time, and then entered Jefferson College, where he graduated about the year 1831. He was twice married: On the first occasion, in 1839, to Nancy, daughter of William Hall, of West Alexander, by which union there were four children: William H.. David (in New Mexico), Agnes (wife of J. W. Blayney, and residing in Washington, Penn.), and one that died in infancy. The mother of this family dying in 1862, Mr. Frazier married in 1865, for his second wife, Barbara, daughter of John McDonald. After his first marriage Mr. Frazier embarked in mercantile business in West Alexander, where he remained some years, and then moved to New Concord, Ohio, where he continued business in the same line. This he sold out after two years, and then returned to his native township, where he purchased a farm and followed agricultural pursuits, including stock raising, until 1869, in which year he moved to the borough of West Alexander, where he lived a retired life until his death which occurred September 17, 1877. His widow still survives him. He practiced civil engineering and surveying for a time, and he it was who surveyed the West Alexander cemetery, where his remains now repose. He was a lifelong Democrat, and filled many prominent local positions of trust with characteristic care and integrity, and for the office of justice of the peace, to which he was twice elected, he evinced peculiar aptness. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.
William H. Frazier, the subject proper of this memoir, was born April 9, 1840, in the borough of West Alexander, Washington Co., Penn., at the common schools of which place he received his rudimentary education, afterward attending the McCluskey Academy. In 1870 he embarked in the grocery business at Bellaire, Ohio, in which he continued seven years, and then moved to West Alexander, where he has since remained. On February 12, 1889, he was married to K. R., daughter of W. H. Johnson, of Wheeling, W. Va. Politically he is a Democrat, and during President Cleveland's administration he was appointed postmaster at West Alexander, serving the incumbency four years. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church at West Alexander, and is a much respected citizen.
Text taken from page 1374 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]