NOBLE COUNTY OHIO - BIO: FRAZIER, William Hugh *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Tina Hursh frog158@juno.com November 4, 1999 *********************************************************************** >From the The Ohio Biographies Project http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~usbios/Ohio/mnpg.html a part of The U.S. Biographies Project http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray/usbios/usbiog.html WILLIAM HUGH FRAZIER, the fourth son and seventh child of George and Bethiah (Randall) Frazier, was born in Hubbard, Trumbull County, Ohio, March 11, 1826. His father was a native of Kent County, Maryland; came to Ohio with his parents in 1802; married a native of Washington County, Pa., and reared eight children. Hannah (Ripley), Henry, William H., Sarah R. (Watt), George, Israel, Andrew, Asa, of whom four are still living: Sarah, George, William H. and Andrew. The father died in Guernsey county in 1852. He was a man of great natural ability and force of character. While in Trumbull County he served as a magistrate, and was regarded by his neighbors as a man of sound sense and good judgement. The subject of this notice was reared on a farm and attended school in hs native town until twelve years of age, when he accompanied his parents to Guernsey County. Here he continued attending the common schools in winter and working on the farm in summer, until he became of age. He then entered Madison College at Antrim, Guernsey County, spending his vacations at home in farm-work and study; but finding his health impaired, and believing that he would not be able to continue his labors as a farmer, he decided to begin the study of the law. At the time an older brother, Henry, was pursuing a course of study for that profession, and William placed himself under his tutelage, continuing until twenty-six year of age, when he was admitted to the bar at Coshocton, May 17, 1852. Immediately after his admission he began the practice of his profession with his brother Henry at Sarahsville, then the county seat of Noble County. In the following August his brother died. William H. continued in practice at Sarahsville until 1858, when he removed to Caldwell, the new county seat. In March, 1865, he formed a partnership with James S. Foreman, which continued one year, after which he practiced alone. In 1855 he was elected prosecuting attorney for the county, and by successive re-elections was continued in the office for ten years. He was twice chosen to this office without opposition. In October, 1871, he was appointed by Governor Hayes to fill the unexpired term of Hon. Moses M. Granger as judge of the court of common pleas, and at the annual election held the same month he was elected to the same office for the term of five years. Subsequently he was twice re-elected as judge of the court of common pleas in the eighth judicial district, no other candidate being put in nomination against him. September 8, 1884, after having been nominated for circuit judge, he tendered his resignation as common pleas judge, having served in that office thirteen years lacking one month. At the annual election in October, 1884, he was elected one of the judges of the circuit court for seventh circuit, and in the allotment of terms he was allotted the term of four years. Possessed of keen, analytical mind, discriminating, careful and thoughtful; honest of purpose and sound in judgement; of extensive general information and thorough knowledge of the law, aided by a ready and retentive memory, in his long and unbroken service upon the bench, Judge Frazier has been distinguished for his love of justice, his fidelity to the law, and the equity and candor of his decisions. His unassuming manners and agreeable social qualities render him deservedly popular with men of every party and every condition in life. He is a Republican, both in the political and in the literal signification of the word, and has risen to his present position solely through his own merits, his perseverance, energy and industry. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. As a citizen of Noble County, Judge Frazier has been prominent in every movement calculated to advance the interests of his town and county. With others he founded the first bank in the county, became its first president and still retains that position; he was also one of the incorporators and first directors of the Cleveland and Marietta Railway, and gave largely of his time and money to promote the building of the road. Judge Frazier was married November 30, 1854, to Minerva E. Staats, of Noble County, who is still living. They have three sons and four daughters, Jennie (Lloyd), Anna (Neuhart), William A., George E., Mary E., Louis B. and Minnie M. The married daughters reside in Los Angeles, Cal. History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887 The Legal Profession Transcribed by Deb Murray