John A. Frazier
Among the public officials of Center Township, in Grant County, Indiana, is John A. Frazier, one of the most popular and able men who have ever served the township. As trustee he has faithfully discharged his duties, carrying out the work of his office with the same careful attention to details which made him a successful farmer. He ahs lived in this vicinity all of his life and is widely known throughout the country, having always taken an active part in public affairs.
John A. Frazier is the fifth child of Alexander and Jane (Frazier) Frazier. Alexander Frazier was boron in Clinton County, Ohio, and his wife was a native of Highland County, in the same state. Alexander Frazier came to Grant County in 1835, locating on sections No. 2 and No. 11 in Center Township. Here he proceeded to clear a farm and here he lived all his life, dying on April 10, 1888. His wife died in 1893. They had ten children, five of whom are now living. Pharaba, the eldest daughter is the widow of John M. Smith, of Marion; Aaron, the eldest son, died in Kansas about fifteen years ago; Mary died sixteen years ago; Alice is the wife of Edward Phillips, of Marion; John A. is the next; Elisha died in infancy; Elizabeth died in her young womanhood, a victim of diphtheria; Mary lives in Oklahoma; Eli is also a resident of Oklahoma, and Albert died five years ago.
John A. Frazier was born on the home farm, three miles east of Marion, in the 17th of August, 1849, and he lived on that same farm until ten years ago, or during a period of fifty-five years. Over half a century in one place is a record worthy of our cousins across the water in England. John A. Frazier received his education in the public schools of the county and for ten weeks attended a private school in Marion. After completing his education he taught school for a time in Grant County, in Monroe and Center Townships. He then went to Grant County, in Monroe and Center Townships. He then went to farming and after his father's death, when the latter's farms were divided, a part of the old home place fell to his share. He operated this farm of fifty-three acres until 1909 when he removed to Marion, where he has lived since that time.
It was in the Fall of 1908 that Mr. Frazier was elected township trustee of Center Township and he went into office on January 1, 1909. He was a constable of Van Buren Township for a few years during a six year residence in the latter township and for fifteen years he was deputy assessor of Center Township. He is a member of the Republican party and has served as precinct committeeman. In religious matters he is a member of the Friends Church.
Mr. Frazier was married in June, 1875, to Miss Margaret Lugar, who was born in Monroe Township, Grant County, and a daughter of John W. and Elizabeth Lugar. They became the parents of eight children, of whom five are living. Two of these children died in infancy and Willie was only a child when he died. The others are John, who now lives in section 11, Center Township; Gertrude, who is the wife of Wendell Phillips, of Washington Township; Pharaba, who married George Blinn and lives eight miles northeast of Marion; Silas, who is a student in high school, and Helen, who is also a pupil in the high school of Marion.
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner