BIOGRAPHY: Reuben Fraser; Montgomery, Orange co., New York transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the Counties. Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United States. New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895 PROF. REUBEN FRASER. There is no profession more honored or more honorable than that of the teacher who has in his charge the training of the young mind, the development of the intellect, and the unfolding to receptive ears of the wondrous beauties of nature, of science and of history. Greater praise can be bestowed upon no one than to say that a man is a successful, faithful and progressive teacher, and such commendation deservedly belongs to Professor Fraser, Principal of the Montgomery Union School. The history of the institution of which he isthe head is worthy of more than passing mention by the biographer. The Montgomery Academy, which was merged into the public school in 1882, was founded in 1790. The original frame structure was in 1820 replaced by the present brick building, from which, during the years that have since passed, young men and young women have gone forth to occupy positions of honor in the religious, business, agricultural and social world, - young men and women, many of whom have now grown old, but in whose hearts the memory of their happy schooldays will ever glow with the freshness of youth. This institution bears the distinction of having been the fourth of the kind founded in the state. It was duly incorporated April 25, 1791, under the care of the Regents of New York, and its progress from the first was encouraging. From 1825 until 1845 the Principal was Jacob Tooker, a man who possessed a master mind, and the effects of whose work are still apparent. About the middle of the present century, however, the magic power of the academy decreased and finally departed. Having lived its day and done its work, it gave way to the onward march of popular education. Under these circumstances it was therefore deemed best by the Trustees to transfer the property to the Board of Education, who were authorized by law to take it. November 11, 1881, the meeting was held which resulted in the establishment of the Union Free School with the academic department. Under the new management the school was opened February 6, 1882, with Professor Fraser at the head, he having accepted a call to the position of Principal. Here he has labored since, with the exception of the term of 1888-8g, when he was persuaded to accept the supervision of the academic department of Geneva College, at Beaver Falls, Pa. The work did not prosper here during his absence, and in response to the urgent appeals of his former pupils and the citizens of Montgomery, he returned to his former position, which he has since filled. Born in Bethel, Sullivan County, N. Y., July 25, 1844, the subject of this notice is the son of James and Harriet (Alexander) Fraser, natives of County Armagh, Ireland. The family is of Scotch origin, but during the religious persecutions of that country the great-grandfather of our subject, James Fraser, removed to Ireland and settled in County Armagh. His son William came to the United States in 1809 with three brothers, all of whom settled in Sullivan County, N. Y., at a period so early in its history that his nearest neighbor was many miles away. At the time of emigration to America, James Fraser was a child of six years. He grew to manhood in Sullivan County, and after his marriage to Harriet Alexander he settled on a farm adjoining the old homestead. There they remained until death, he passing away when ninety, and she at the age of seventy-nine. For fifty-two years he lived in the same house, a building which he had erected, and which his son, R. Alexander Fraser, now occupies. Reuben, who is the seventh of nine children, was reared on the home farm, and received an excellent education in the Liberty Normal Institute, which he attended for two years. At the age of fifteen he began to teach, and later was a student in the Delhi Academy, after which he resumed teaching. In 1873 he entered Cornell University, where he prosecuted his studies for a time. His first position after completing his studies was as Principal of the Eureka High School at Mongaup Valley, where he made a specialty of preparing pupils for teaching. In his normal class there were about seventy-five students, who were fitted for professional work under his supervision. From Mongaup Valley he went to Barryville, the same county, where he was Principal of schools for four years, he and his assistant having about one hundred pupils. At the request of Hezekiah Watkins, an attorney of New York City, and the son of Dr. Watkins who had built the old Liberty Normal Institute, Professor Fraser became Principal of that school, Mr. Watkins promising to erect a new building if he would remain ten years. He had been but a year in that position, however, when Mr. Watkins died suddenly while visiting in Illinois, and his plans were therefore materially changed. In February, 1882, he came to Mont-gonlery, at the time the old academy was merged into the public school. There is an enrollment of two hundred pupils, with five teachers. The academic department was the third school in the state to be placed under the State University Regents, and fits its pupils to pass the examinations of the hoard. The graduating class of '95 consisted of fifteen bright and earnest pupils, who had pursued the regular course prescribed by the Regents. April 9, 1875, Professor Fraser married Miss Ella, daughter of William and Sarah (Beattie) Wear, who live seven miles north of Newburgh, this county. They have two daughters, the elder of whom, Harriet J., is a graduate of the New Paltz Normal School, and is now employed in the public schools at Washingtonville; the younger, Anna M., is a student in the home schools. The Professor is a member of the principal educational associations, and is deeply interested in everything pertaining to his profession. For twenty-three years he has been an Elder in the Reformed Presbyterian Church at White Lake and Coldenham, and is Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is a decided Prohibitionist, but not active in party affairs. He is a man of pleasing address, and easily wins and retains friends.