History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon. Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon

JOSEPH FRASIER AND FAMILY                                1882
Mrs. Mary Frasier Corwin

     The parents of Joseph Frasier were Allen Frasier, born in Caithness, Scotland, and Mary (Kennedy) Frasier, born in Perthshire, Scotland. From the union of Allen and Mary Frasier were born eleven children of whom the fifth was Joseph, born December 25, 1835.
     In childhood, with their parents, they migrated to Prince Edward's Island, arriving before 1800 at the present site of Belfast across a narrow channel from Picton, Nova Scotia.
     In April 1849 the family moved to a farm near Bath, Maine. The seven boys of the family learned the ship building trades, Joseph choosing that of black-smith, making nails used in the ships.
     In 1854, at the age of 19, Joseph went to Wisconsin where he followed the carpenter trade until he enlisted, Oct. 28, 1861, in Company L., Capt. Thos. Derry 3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry, at Madison, Col. Wm. A. Barstow commanding. This regiment did active service in Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas. Joseph Frasier was honorably discharged at the close of the war at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Returning to Wisconsin, this natural mechanic, learned and followed the trade of plastering and stone mason.
     On the 12th of hay, 1867, Joseph Frasier and. Margaret Tuffley were married at her father's home near Boscobel, Grant Co. Wisconsin. Her parents were George Tuffley of Harbourn, Warwickshire, England and Mary (Darby) Tuffley of Nottingham and Birmingham, England. Margaret was the eldest child and the second child and was born in London Nov. 6, 1847. The family migrated to the United States in 1850 coming by way of Liverpool, in a sailing vessel to New Orleans, thence up the Mississippi River to the Wisconsin River, settling at Bascobel, Grant County where he bought land at fifty cents per acre, which land is still in the family. In his 96th year Mr. George Tuffley was asked why he wanted to come to America, his reply was "I wanted to own land and I wanted to vote." He took out citizenship papers at his first opportunity. Margaret was the youngest when the family crossed the Atlantic but six others were born in the United States.
     After the marriage of Joseph Frasier and Margaret Tuffley in 1867 her history is merged in his and their children. Their first home was at Springfield, Wis., where Mary was born and at Middleton, Wis., a son Frederick A. joined the family. Moving to Minnesota, three more children were added to their family in the next decade, Clara, Margaret and Joseph. In 1878 they moved to Turner Co., South Dakota where Katherine Sylvia was born Jan. 19, 1880. In May of that year they sold their claim and traveled by railroad to San Francisco thence by ocean steamer to Portland and by river boat to The Dalles thence by farm wagon to a claim north-west of Bickleton where they lived until the spring of 1882.
     Two brothers of Joseph Frasier, Simon and Dan were working in The Dalles for the O.R.N. Co. and there Joseph Frasier moved his family and found employment while the family occupied a small house belonging to John Marden and there experienced their first great sorrow in the death of little Katie who passed away April 30, 1882. In their time of sorrow they also found friends among their neighbors, Mrs. W.B. Potter and Mrs. Martin Nickelsen. On September 26, little Alice came to cheer their hearts and brighten the home.
     In Feb. 1883 the family moved to the farm of W.B. Potter at Hood River on the Belmont Road. Anne (Frasier) Adams was born in Belmont, March 16, 1884, also Vina Frasier, who became the wife of Carl Galligan and lives in California. Edwin was born November 28, 1886 and died in The Dalles July 5, 1888.
     From the Potter farm they moved to the Weidner farm and on Feb. 12, 1890, moved to Mary's homestead where they remained until they moved to their present home 1220 Montello Ave., in 1903. Joseph Frasier was a member of the United Brethern church and later of the Christian Missionary Alliance Church. He was a charter member of Canby Post Grand Army and also a charter member of that organization in The Dalles, before moving to Hood River. In social intercourse he was modest and unassuming and enjoyed a good story and could tell an anecdote with zest. He had read widely of the best literature and had a fund of general information. He paid his financial obligations promptly. He had a natural mechanical ability and always did a workmanlike job. For several years, he and his son, Joseph, Jr., were partners in the plastering business in Hood River. He died October 5, 1921 with all his children at his bedside.

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