From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
publ. 1912, Page 1444-1445
 
ALEXANDER FRASER.  Born on the far-away heights of bonnie Scotland, the 
picturesque land, familiar to us principally through the versatile 
descriptions of such immortals as Scott, Burns and Miller, but spending the 
major part of his life in Walworth county, Wisconsin, Alexander FRASER, a well 
known and venerable citizen of East Troy township, is worthy of special 
mention in a volume of the nature of the one in hand, being truly a pioneer 
and active in the subsequent development of the locality.  His long life of 
usefulness and charitable acts has won for him the sincere affection of almost 
every man, woman and child in his township, and of many of those living in 
townships adjacent.  His early industry has resulted in his possession of a 
neat competence, and while he still enjoys the glow of the golden rays of the 
sun of life that must eventually set behind the horizon of the inevitable, he 
shares that enjoyment with no stint in the companionship of the members of his 
family and his wide circle of friends, won through his residence here of 
nearly three quarters of a century.
 
Mr. FRASER's birth occurred in Scotland on May 8, 1830, the son of James and 
Elizabeth (CAMPBELL) FRASER, both born in Scotland, where they grew up and 
were married and from there they came to America in an old-fashioned sailing 
vessel in 1839 and settled in Walworth county, Wisconsin, purchasing here one 
hundred and sixty acres.  Adding to this as he prospered he became the owner 
of four hundred and forty acres of fine land and was one of the leading 
pioneer farmers of the county , and here he spent the rest of his life.  They 
were the parents of eight children, only one of whom, Alexander, of this 
sketch, is living.
 
Alexander FRASER was nine years old when he was brought to Walworth county and 
here he grew to manhood and assisted with the general work on the home farm, 
and here he received his education, such as could be obtained in the pioneer 
schools, for the country was then new and the settlers had to devote most of 
their attention to the development of the wild land into productive farms.
 
The subject made the arduous overland journey acres the great western plains 
to California in the gold-fever days, and there he remained ten years, engaged 
for the most part in shipping water to the miners, from 1850 to 1860.  He 
tells many interesting incidents of those early times and conditions in the 
then wild West.  Returning to Walworth county, he resumed farming, which has 
been his chief life work, and, having managed well and applied himself very 
assiduously to his work, he is now the owner of one of the choice farms of 
East Troy township, consisting of three hundred and forty acres, where for 
many years he has carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive 
scale, making a specialty of breeding Merino sheep and shorthorn cattle, the 
latter being especially admired for their superior quality.
 
Politically, Mr. FRASER is a Republican and he has long taken more or less 
interest in public affairs.  He has been chairman of the local school board 
for several years.  He is president of the Farmers Mutual fire Insurance 
Company, which position he has held since the same was organized, in fact he 
has been very largely responsible for the great success of this popular local 
institution, which has been successfully operating since 1875 and now covers 
quite a radius of territory.  Mr. FRASER and wife belong to the Congregational 
church.
 
Mr. FRASER was married on May 20, 1850, to Julia Ann CRITES, who was born in 
Genesee county, New York, on May 18, 1831.  She is the daughter of John and 
Elizabeth (GEIGER) CRITES, both natives of Pennsylvania.  This family came to 
Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1842, and settled among the early residents of 
East Troy township, on a farm of two hundred and forty acres, and here became 
well established and spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in 1877 
and the mother in 1876.  Their family consisted of eight children, three of 
whom are living in 1912.
 
To Mr. and Mrs. FRASER two children have been born, namely: Frank L., who 
lives at home and is assisting in operating the homestead, and James W., who 
is farming in East Troy township.  They were both educated in the local 
schools and are both very comfortably situated in reference to material 
affairs, being good workers and of proper integrity.
 
Mr. FRASER is a man whom to know is to respect and admire, for he has always 
shown a kind and obliging disposition and an unswerving honesty.
 
Submitted by Carol