Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Fraser, C E 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 28, 2008, 11:27 pm

Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

C. E. Fraser is practically living retired from active business. He has made 
his home in Plainfield since 1855 and for many years was closely associated 
with the commercial and manufacturing interests of the village and his labors 
constituted an important, element in the growth and upbuilding of business 
life here. He came from New York to Will county in 1855, being then a youth of 
ten years. He was born in Bethel, Sullivan county, New York, in 1845, a son of 
J. R. and Ann E. (Brown) Fraser, who were natives of the Empire state. On 
reaching Illinois they located in Lockport township, where the father secured 
a farm and carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 
1875, when he was fifty-six years of age. He had served in various local 
offices of the township and was always a reliable citizen, interested in all 
movements or measures that tended to promote the general welfare. His wife 
passed away several years prior to his death, when she was about thirty-five 
years of age. C. E. Fraser of this review has two brothers and a sister, 
namely: Mrs. Vinson of Joliet; T. B., who is living in Auburn, Nebraska; and 
W. A., of Rutland, Vermont. C. E. Fraser, as stated, spent the first ten years 
of his life in New York and then accompanied his parents to Will county, 
Illinois, where he has resided continuously for about fifty-two years. After 
acquiring his early education in the public schools, he attended the 
Northwestern College at Plainfield and entered active business life when about 
twenty-one years of age. He first engaged in farming on the old homestead and 
later turned his attention to other lines of business. From 1871 to 1882 he 
was engaged in merchandising and for twelve years he was active in tile 
manufacturing in Plainfield and is still financially interested in the 
business. He was one of three organizers of the company, his associates being 
A. G. Brown and William Gascoigne, who equipped and started the plant in 1883 
for the manufacture of drain tile and brick. Employment is furnished to ten or 
twelve men and from the beginning the enterprise has been very successful. Mr. 
Fraser continued actively in business life until about 1894 or 1895, since 
which time he has devoted his attention to the management of his farming 
interests in Will county, for he owns valuable farming property here and 
derives therefrom a good income. Mr. Fraser has been married twice. He first 
wedded Miss Ellen E. Hagar, of Plainfield, a daughter of Jonathan Hagar, an 
early resident here. Mrs. Fraser died in 1883, leaving one son, Merton H., who 
died at Socorro, New Mexico, at the age of nineteen years. Mr. Fraser's 
present wife was Lettie J. Smiley, also of Plainfield, a daughter of James H. 
Smiley, who came to Will county at an early day. There are two children by 
this marriage: Elma E., who at the age of nineteen years is attending Beloit 
College, in Wisconsin; and Leila G., who is six years of age and is attending 
school in Plainfield. In politics Mr. Fraser has always been a stalwart 
republican, keeping well informed on the questions of the day and giving 
stalwart support to the principles which he believes. He has served as 
president of the board of aldermen of the village of Plainfield and has taken 
an active and helpful part in public affairs. He served as alderman for a 
number of years and is at present time president of the board of education. He 
has put forth earnest and effective labor for the benefit of the village and 
the value of his services is widely acknowledged. Socially he is connected 
with the Masonic lodge at Plainfield, and he and his wife are members of the 
Congregational church. Mr. Fraser is one of the best known citizens of the 
village, having for more than a half century resided here, and with its 
interest he has been most closely identified. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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