Yolo-El Dorado-Sacramento County CA Archives Biographies.....Frazer, Donald 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 19, 2005, 2:10 pm

Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891)

DONALD FRAZER, of Woodland, has been a resident of California since 1850. He was
born near the town of Inverness Scotland, and when he was about the age of
thirteen years he came with relatives to the United States, locating in
Livingston County, New York, on the Genesee River; there he was an employe upon
a farm. In the autumn of 1829, in connection with his brother, he located upon a
farm near Elgin, Illinois; but the year afterward, in company with another
brother, he began the carpenter's trade in Elgin, and after he completed his
knowledge of the business he worked two years in that calling in Chicago, and
afterward about Elgin until he started for California. This trip was made with
eight other parties. Crossing the Missouri River at a point called Old Fort
Kearney, May 5, 1850, they followed the trail to New Fort Kearney, now simply
known as Fort Kearney, Nebraska. The road was alive with people and teams, on
their way to the new El Dorado. As part of the company desired to travel faster
than the rest, a division took place, and Mr. Frazer, who had made new
acquaintances among the immigrants, joined a new company, along with some of his
old friends, who were agreed on the rate of travel, and they appointed a man
named Overall, from St. Louis, captain. As their cattle and stock had to be
guarded during the night, the men were detailed by the captain for the various
duties, day and night. At one point they paid some Indians, on demand, some
flour, sugar and tobacco, for the privilege of passing through their territory.
By the time they reached the Humboldt River they began to experience
considerable hardships for the want of water free from alkali, and lack of
provender for their horses. To obtain grass they put two wagon-beds together,
with wagon-covers underneath, and with these made their way to the islands in
the river, where the desired forage was found. They arrived at Placerville
August 27, having good luck in getting all their animals through.

  Mr. Frazer followed mining the first three years, suffering a great deal of
exposure, and then for a year and a half he followed teaming from Sacramento,
and next he came over into Yolo County and began farming on Willow Slough, where
he and others took up a tract of land which was not then surveyed. For years
afterward he began running a threshing-machine, in which he had a half interest.
Dry weather and short, crops put a stop to this enterprise, and Mr. Frazer sold
his farm with the intention of returning to the States; but before he got under
way he changed his mind and entered the live-stock business, in which he did
well—by hard work and a strict watch on a number of hard cases, however, until
1864; when he sold out the most of his stock. The next year, with other parties,
he took an interest in another large band of cattle, as in 1864, being a dry
year or season, many were driven out of the country, and the consequent scarcity
raised prices. He continued in this trade until about 1878, when he sold out and
moved into Woodland, where he has since led an easier life. In November, 1885,
the grocery house of A. D. Porter was purchased by the firm of Harling, Frazer &
Co., which subsequently became Smith, Frazer & Co., which establishment, is one
of the oldest in the city and is unquestionably one of the leading mercantile
houses.

  In political matters Mr. Frazer has been a Republican ever since the party was
organized, although not in any sense a politician. When Woodland was first
organized as a town he was elected a member of the Board of Trustees, and was
re-elected for the second term. He has been a member of the Masonic order for
the past ten or twelve years.

  Mr. Frazer was married in 1865, to Harriet C. McCreary, a native of the State
of New York.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.


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