William J. Fraser Biography from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire
From: Barbara Gottlock - BGOTTLOC@ccsd.edu

Surname: FRASER
Source:  History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens
          by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1915

Page 1261

     WILLIAM J. FRASER, of Portsmouth, N. H., formerly engaged in
business here as a mason, but now retired, was born at Port Mouton, Nova
Scotia, February 2, 1836. He is of Scotch extraction, his father being a sea-
faring man. The parents came to Portsmouth with two children in July, 1851.
They had one child born in Portsmouth.
     William J. Fraser was the eldest of his parents' three children. In April,
1850, he shipped on board a fishing vessel commanded by John Fisher and
owned by Noble Brothers of Portsmouth. He sailed for the firm three sum-
mers, going to school in the winter. After being engaged in this kind of
work for three years, he gave it up and applied himself to learn the mason's
trade under Luther A. Hurd, in due time becoming an expert workman.
Later, in 1860, he entered into partnership with Otis Green, with whom, under
the firm name of Fraser & Green, he carried on a profitable business for ten
years. After separating from Mr. Green he conducted the business alone until
1897,  when he retired. Industrious and enterprising, and possessing an ex-
cellent reputation for good work, Mr. Fraser could seldom be found without
orders ahead. In addition to masonry he executed stucco and other orna-
mental work with taste and despatch, employing from ten to fifteen men.
     Mr. Fraser first married Miss Mary F. Pratt, by whom he had one son,
Clarence W., who for thirteen years wvas treasurer of the Piscataqua Sav-
ings Bank. For his second wife Mr. Fraser married Miss Martha J. Otis,
daughter of Harrison G. Otis of Portsmouth. He and his wife attend the
Methodist Episcopal church of Portsmouth. In politics Mr. Fraser is a
democrat and served on the board of assessors and in the city council for a
number of years respectively. He is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Osgood
Lodge,  No.48, Strawberry Bank Encampment, and Canton Senter, and is a
member of the Mechanic Association. He has a comfortable residence at No.
11 Howard Street, where he is passing the evening of life in comfort and
ease.

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