FRASIER, WILLIAM AND BARBARA (FRASER)

by Evelyn Elliott (Revere) and Gladys Furrow (Van Deusen)

Entry F147 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

About 1915 William and Barbara Frasier and grandchildren
Lynn Buchanan and Barbara (Isa) Smith

William Edgar Frasier, son of George and
Rachael (Keller) Frasier, was born in Madi-
son, Wis. on August 31, 1858; and came to
Stockham, Ne. with his parents in 1873.

Barbara Juletta Fraser, daughter of Alex-
ander and Mary (Jenkins) Fraser was born
June 22, 1865 near Chessire, Gallia County,
Ohio. At the age of eight she moved with her
parents to a farm near Stockham, Ne., where
she grew to womanhood.

On Sept. 13, 1880, William and Barbara
were united in marriage at Aurora, Ne. Five
children were born to this union: Ralph, who
married and settled near Aurora; Amarilla
married James Smith; Edith married Don
Buchanan, moved to Montana, and later,
after her husband's early death, returned to
Hooker County with her four children, and
settled on a homestead southwest of Mullen;
Cynthia married George Van Deusen, a
neighboring homesteader; Bertha married
Clarence Revere, and made her home on a
ranch north of Hecla.

In 1901, the Frasiers moved to Hecla by
team and wagon and resided in the section
house. William, known to friends as Billy, was
section boss for the railroad; when Hecla
boasted a store, a lumberyard, and Kincaid-
ers in the area. With the help of Cynthia and
Bertha, Barbara cooked for the section crew
and did their laundry.

In 1902 they settled on their homestead
south of Hecla, or seventeen miles southwest
of Mullen where they lived until his death,
May 14, 1937. There were many hardships on
the farm. Barbara helped with the farm work,
picked corn, mended fences, milked cows, or
whatever needed to be done besides her
garden, chickens and housework. William
was an old time fiddler and played for many
dances. Fourth of July celebrations were
sometimes held at the Frasier home. A stand
was set up where you could buy lemonade or
ice cream for five cents. Firecrackers were
also available. Horse races and foot races
were part of the days activities. The grand-
children can recall many happy days spent at
the grandparents home.

Mrs. Frasier moved south of Mullen in the
spring of 1942 to be near a daughter and
husband, Clarence and Bertha Revere. She
moved to Mullen with them in 1955, and lived
with them until her death on Dec. 15, 1960.
Mr. and Mrs. Frasier are buried in Cedarview
Cemetery.