Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Fraser, Charles E ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 9:56 am Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County CHARLES E. FRASER is one of the progressive citizens of Plainfield, to whom is due much of the credit for the substantial improvements noticeable in the place. He was born in Sullivan County, N. Y., November 17, 1845, a son of James R. and Eliza (Brown) Fraser. He was the oldest of six children, of whom one died in infancy and Leila in girlhood. Thomas B., the second son, is a retired merchant living in Sterling, Neb.; Anna M. is the wife of Joseph Vinson, of Joliet; and Willard A. is principal of the schools of Rutland, Vt. The father was one of the twelve children of Robert Fraser, who came to this country from Ireland, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. After settling in New York he engaged in agricultural pursuits. During the war of 1812 he served in the American army. After having engaged in farming in New York for a number of years, our subject's father came to Illinois in 1855 and settled first in Plainfield and next in Lockport Township, this county, where he improved a farm. He continued to reside on this place until his death, at fifty-six years of age. On the Democratic ticket he was elected road commissioner, which office he filled for several years. He took an active part in the work of the United Presbyterian Church. At the time he moved west his son, our subject, was a lad of ten years, and for some time afterward he attended the district schools in Lockport Township and the Northwestern College at Plainfield. The first business in which he engaged was that of merchandising, in which he continued for twelve years. For a similar period he was interested in the manufacture of tiles, supplying the local markets. With two gentlemen as partners, he built up an extensive and profitable business. Though no longer connected with the business, personalty, he is still interested in the plant. He owns both city and farm property, which he rents. As a Republican, Mr. Fraser has been identified with local politics. For some sixteen years he has served as a member of the village board. For three terms he filled the office of mayor, and during his administration many improvements were introduced, including the establishment of the waterworks. In 1876 he was made a Mason. He is a member of Plainfield Lodge No. 536, A. F. & A. M., in which he has been secretary and treasurer. He is connected with the Congregational Church, in which he is treasurer of the church and librarian of the Sunday-school. In 1871 he married Ellen E., daughter of Jonathan Hagar, of this county. Two children were born of this union, but one died in infancy. The son, Merton H., lived to be almost twenty years of age, but died at Socorro, N. M., where he had gone with the hope of benefiting his health. After the death of his first wife Mr. Fraser was again married, being united, September 3, 1885, with Lettie J., daughter of J. H. Smiley, of Plainfield. They have two daughters, Elma E. and Marion E. Additional Comments: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/fraser1107gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb