Biographical Sketch of B. B. Frazer, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, MO >From "History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881, St. Joseph Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc., St. Joseph, Missouri. ********************************************************************** B. B. Frazer, of the firm of Smith, Frazer & Co., manufacturers and jobbers of boots and shoes, was born in Pennsylvania, March 15, 1826, and emigrated to Clark County, Ohio, February 15, 1845. In April, 1846, he came to Missouri in the employ of William Sloan for the purpose of selling goods at St. Joseph. After investigating the situation, and not being pleased, he decided to locate at Weston. At that time, and for many years, Weston was the leading town on the river of Northwestern Missouri. Continuing business there for two years, he exchanged his goods for cattle and drove them to Philadel- phia, which, at this time, seems impossible. After his return, through the kindness of Mr. A.P. Goff, who was then clerking at Fort Leavenworth in the commissary department, a situatiion was obtained, where he remained four or five months, after which he was employed by Young & Belt, of Weston, remaining with them until they sold out, and was retained by the new firm, C.A. & E. Perry. In 1854 and 1855, great excitement prevailed over Kansas and Nebraska lands. Mr. Frazer and R. Brown bought land and laid out the town of Brownsville, Nebraska. Mr. Frazer remained there for two years, improving and selling lots and at the same time managed a small stock of goods, which was the first in the town. Returning to Oregon, Holt County, MO. in 1856, he was elected mayor of the city, and afterward he was elected County Commissioner. The war then breaking out, and demoralizing business, in the fall of 1861, he with R. E. Turner, loaded ten or twelve ox and mule teams with goods which they took to Denver, Colorado, and remained until the following February. In the fall, Mr. Frazer visited his old home in Pennsyl- vania, and while there, in January, 1863, he married Miss Annie E. Sterrell, daughter of Hon. Robert C. Sterrell, of Carlisle, Cumber- land County, Pennsylvania. By this union they have had seven child- ren, five of whom are living. In March, 1864, he returned to Missouri, and a partnership was formed by R. E. Turner, H. L. Williams, J. M. Frazer and B. B. Frazer. He and Mr. Williams took charge of the business at Forest City, Holt County, MO., and R. E. Turner and J. M. Frazer established a wholesale grocery trade at St. Joseph, the firm name being Turner, Frazer & Williams. The business at St. Joseph increased so rapidly that it was decided for the best interests of all, for Frazer & Williams to move to St. Joseph, which was done, and the business continued for two years, at which time Messrs. William & Frazer sold their interest to Turner, Frazer & Co., which firm still exists. The subject of this sketch has always been interested in Holt County, and is now a partner in retail business in Craig, and is President of the Frazer & McDonald Bank, at Forest City, which was established in 1873. He has been a member of the First Presbyter- ian Church since 1864 and an elder in the same, and has always con- tributed liberally to churches and educational institutions, and every good cause receives his hearty support. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Penny Harrell ====================================================================