Goodspeed Biography Abner W. Frazier

Abner W. Frazier, an influential citizen of Rhea County, and resident of Dayton, was born in Rhea County, Tenn., October 21, 1821.  His parents, Beriah and Barbara (Gibbs) Frazier, were of Scotch-Irish and German descent respectively.  The father was a native North Carolinian, born May 4, 1776, and died in Rhea County October 25, 1858.  The mother was born April 18, 1789, in Knox County, Tenn., and died in Rhea County July 8, 1866.  They were married in Knox County, Tenn., May 1, 1806, and lived in that county until 1818, at which time they came to Rhea County, and settled eight miles east of Dayton, on the Tennessee River, where they passed the remainder of their Days.  They were among the first settlers of Rhea County, immigrating there several years before the Indians left.  The father, before he came to Rhea County, was engaged in the service of the United States, concerning the Indians on the Tennessee River. Our subject’s father was a farmer and a prominent citizen of Rhea County.  He held the office of justice of the peace for several years. The Frazier family is largely connected in Tennessee.  Judge Frazier, of Davidson County, was the first cousin to the subject of this sketch.  Abner W. Frazier was one of a large family of children. He secured a good academic education, and assisted his father on the plantation, remaining there until the death of his parents.  In 1867 he purchased and settled on a farm, giving his attention exclusively to agricultural pursuits up to 1883, at which time he sold out and moved to Dayton, and retired to private life.  September 2, 1858, he married Miss Mary J. Craighead, a native of Alabama, born in Jackson County October 8, 1829.  This union resulted in the birth of one son and one daughter; the latter, Mary B., was born October 21, 1861, and died September 8, 1886.  She had married M. G. McDonald October 8, 1884, and left a son, Carl, who was born August 14, 1886.  B. A. Frazier, son of our subject, was born November 21, 1859, and is the well-known and popular editor of the Dayton News-Gazette.  A. W. Frazier is a Democrat, and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.  His grandfather, Samuel Frazier, was born in 1759 beyond the waters. He came to America at an early day, and fought for independence, and took part in the battle of Guilford Court House, North Carolina.  The grandmother, Rebecca (Julian) Frazier, was born March 17, 1749.  She was a French Huguenot, and settled in South Carolina with her ancestors.

Published by The Goodspeed Publishing Co 1887