DEATH OF WILLIAM C. FRAZEE in Florence Siefert Scrapbook

This post was contributed to the Crawford County Chapter of OGS by Kristina Stearley as part of the Florence Siefert Scrapbook in 2010.

The scrapbook is compiled from undated, unidentified newspaper clippings involving events in the lives of Crawford County citizens living in or having connections to New Washington, Tiro, Shelby, Sulphur Springs, Chatfield, Bucyrus, Ashland, Mansfield, and other areas. Only minimal spelling or punctuation corrections were made. Unreadable areas are shown by underlines, dots &/or question marks. This collection has been scanned, “optical character recognized” (OCR’d), proofed, then coded for HTML by volunteers of the Crawford County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. Since the copies are not of the best quality errors may have been made. Please contact us if you find corrections needing to be made or can verify any missing dates which could be added.

W. C. FRAZEE

Death laid claim to another widely known citizen last Monday in the person of William C. Frazee, the furniture dealer and funeral director. He exhibited a remarkable tenacity of life, as his death seemed imminent many times for over a week previous to the hour of dissolution, which was Monday morning at six o’clock. It was seven weeks ago last night, on Tuesday evening, Dec. 6, when Mr. Frazee was attacked with paralysis at his store. He suffered a second stroke the following morning, when he took his bed never to rise again. During those seven weeks he gradually grew worse, and much of the time his condition was doubly sad because he had lost full use of his mind, and was not aware of his condition. He was cared for most tenderly, and all that medical skill could do was done, but all efforts were fruitless.
Death has removed one of the best known residents of Ashland. Owing to the business that he was engaged in, the people became well acquainted with him, and he was highly regarded over the county. He came to Ashland county in 1863 from Allegheny county, Maryland, where he was born Dec. 10, 1841, making his age 57 years, 1 month and 6 days on the date of his death. He spent over a year teaching school and working on a farm, and then moved to Ashland and engaged in business, first with John Rebman in the provision trade and then with Jos. Stofer in the same business. While in this last partnership he was elected county clerk and served two terms from 1870 to 1876. He got a good financial start by his official position, and embarked in the manufacture of bed springs with E. W. Wallack. Later they went into the furniture and undertaking business, and he continued so until his death, building up a very large trade. His patronage extended over adjoining counties, thus showing that he was trusted as a business man. He died leaving a fair competence as the result of good business methods. Besides being county clerk, Mr. Frazee was also councilman of Ashland two terms in the beginning of this decade. While he held that office he took much interest in improving Ashland, and the first street was paved with brick.
Mr. Frazee was a member of several lodges, the I.O.O.F., the Free Masons, and the Knights of Pythias. He became a Mason Feb. 1, 1869, and united with the Mansfield Commandry, Knights Templar, last September, and this order with others officiated at the funeral this afternoon at three o’clock. Rev. A. H. Smith, pastor of the church to which Mr. Frazee and family belonged conducted the services, assisted by Rev. D. B. Duncan and Rev. J. W. Cummings. The deceased was married on Dec. 24, 1864, to Nancy Swineford. His devoted wife and a sorrowing daughter, Carrie, survive the husband and father.