Randolph County, Indiana
Ozzie Fraze
The essential conditions of human life are ever the same; the surroundings of individuals differ but slightly, and when one man passes another on the highway of life to reach the goal of prosperity before others who perhaps started out in their careers before him, it is because he has the power to use advantages which probably encompass the whole human race. One of the leading business men of Union City, Randolph county, who seems to have had the sagacity to see readily and grasp instantly opportunities that led to success is Ozzie O. Fraze, widely known embalmer and funeral director, he having been engaged in this line of endeavor for a number of years.
Mr. Fraze was born in Randolph county, October 20, 1874. He is a son of W. H. and Etta (Fields) Fraze, for many years residents of this county, later moving to Van Buren county, Michigan, where the father was engaged in general agricultural pursuits. His death occurred in 1899. The mother is now living in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The paternal grandfather, John Fraze, was also a farmer all his life. He died at an advanced age in 1908. His widow, known in her maidenhood as Nancy Lasley, is now past eight-six years old.
Ozzie O. Fraze was reared on the farm and educated at Benton Harbor, Michigan. He was graduated from the Benton Harbor College with the class of 1896. He took up the study of embalming and received his Indiana license in 1908 and his Ohio license in 1911. He began life as a farmer, which he continued until he was was twenty-one years old, and after leaving the farm he engaged in the hotel business until 1902, when he moved to Winchester, Indiana, and entered the employ of S. E. Fraze in the undertaking business, remaining with him until 1909, when our subject moved to Lynn and established an undertaking business on his own account, conducting the same successfully until 1910, when he sold out and removed to Union City and bought out the business of D. W. Bickel, undertaker, and in July, 1911, he formed a partnership with his uncle, S. E. Fraze, under the firm name of S. E. & O. O. Fraze, and this is one of the best and busiest firms of funeral directors in Randolph county, enjoying a lucrative and rapidly increasing business. They are well equipped in every respect and maintain a neat and modernly appointed office and parlors. They understand every phase of the embalming and undertaking business. S. E. Fraze has been in the undertaking business about twenty-five years.
Ozzie O. Fraze was married June 8, 1904, to Floy Watts, a daughter of Joseph Watts, of Winchester, Indiana. He is in the postal mail service. Mrs. Fraze grew to womanhood at Winchester and was educated in the common schools there. To our subject and wife one child has been born, Harry Watts Fraze, whose birth occurred in Winchester. March 16, 1909. The wife and mother was born in that city April 14, 1880.
Politically, Mr. Fraze is a Republican, and religiously he is a member of the Christian church. He belongs to the Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias. the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Owls.
Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana, 1914.
Contributed by Gina Richardson