Samuel Elsworth Fraze has been in the undertaking business and a funeral director in Eastern Indiana for over forty years. With members of his own family as partners and associates he has developed a service recognized as the foremost in equipment and appointment throughout Randolph County, with establishments at Union City and Winchester.
Fraze was born in Randolph County, March 12, 1865, son of John H. and Nancy (Lasley) Fraze. His father was a native of Preble County, Ohio, a son of John and Abigail (Blanchard) Fraze, who came from New Jersey to Ohio. Mr. Fraze's maternal grand- parents were David and Nancy Lasley, natives of Indiana, where their respective families were pioneers. John H. Fraze spent his life as a farmer and lived to a good old age, passing away at Saratoga in Randolph County when eighty seven years of age. His wife died at the age of eighty-six. Samuel Elsworth Fraze had the advantages of the grade and high schools during his youth. He trained for his profession with the Egyptian Embalming School, at Boston, Massachusetts, and when twenty-one years of age began his business as an undertaker at Ridgeville, Indiana. After ten years he moved to Winchester, where his branch of the business is carried on under the firm style of The Fraze Funeral Home, Composed of S. E. Fraze; C. C. Fraze, his son; O. O. Fraze, a nephew of S. E. Fraze; and E. W. Diggs, Mr. S. E. Fraze's grandson. Mr. Fraze, in 1904 bought an undertaking business at Union City, at which time his nephew, O. O. Fraze became his partner. Mr. Fraze's son, C C. Fraze, is also in the business. Mr. Fraze has had his home in Union City since 1912. At both cities where the funeral homes are established the Fraze establishments have completely motorized equipment, including funeral cars, coaches, ambulances. At Union City Mr. Fraze bought the old home of Judge Theodore Shockney, one of the finest homes in that city, surrounded with beautiful grounds, with shade and ornamental trees. This is located at 432 West Pearl Street, and the office of the business is at 316 West Oak Street. Mr. Fraze has been a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Republican, a Knight Templar Mason, a member of the Lodge and Encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, B. P. O. Elks, Modern Woodmen of America and Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is a member of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association. Mr. Fraze still owns the farm on which he was born. This comprises 100 acres, and his father secured thin land by trading for it two cows and a horse. By a former marriage there were four children: Opal, deceased; Olive, Mrs. Frank Barnd, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Mrs. Lucile Barelow, of Fort Wayne; and Canton C., associated with his father's business. Mr. Fraze in 1911 married Myra Hopkins, of Ohio.
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Lora Radiches.