ELISHA E. FRAZIER, the subject of this sketch is one of the prominent farmers and stockraisers of Lincoln Township. He is the son of Dr. Lorenzo Lowe and Hannah (Bryant) Frazier, natives probably of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, the former born July 11, 1819, and the latter March 3, 1821. When a boy Dr. Frazier went with his parents to Tennessee, and received a moderate education, but a rather liberal one for that day. On the 9th of July, 1839, he was married to Miss Bryant and later emigrated to Missouri, where he taught school for some time. He served under Capt. Cunningham in the removal of the Cherokee Indians to the Territory, and for this received a tract of land in what is now Lincoln Township, Christian County, Missouri To this farm he removed in 1849, and died on the same August 31, 1890. When a young man he read medicine with a Dr. Clark in Tennessee, but followed agricultural pursuits until after he came to Missouri, which was about 1847 or 1848. For the first year or so he rented land, but on account of the ill health of the family there moved the next year two miles west, on his grant and into a rail pen with his wagon cover for a roof. Gradually, after coming to Missouri, he began practicing his profession and soon became the leading physician of the entire region. He was contemporary with Dr. E. T. Robertson and practiced all over the region during the war. He met with many thrilling adventures and was often captured and chased by bushwhackers, etc. Early in the war he became first lieutenant of a company of Home Guards, and as they were without a captain at the beginning of the Wilson’s Creek fight he commanded the company. During this engagement his command was cut off and he and others retreated into Kansas. He soon returned, and many of the Confederate citizens requested Gen. Price, who was then in command of the Confederate forces at Springfield, to allow Dr. Frazier to practice his profession without molestation. He took the oath and was permitted to practice at his will. In this and adjacent counties he was well known and very popular. Formerly a Democrat in politics, he later affiliated with the Republican, party and although frequently solicited to run for office his devotion to his profession caused him to refuse. From the age of nineteen he was a devoted Methodist and his career was above reproach. His father, John Frazier, was probably born in North Carolina and from there removed to Tennessee at an early date. He was of French origin and a Revolutionary soldier. He and wife passed the closing scenes of their lives in Tennessee, where they reared eleven children, six sons and five daughters, only four of whom came to Missouri. The mother of our subject was also a worthy member of the Methodist Church. Her death occurred December 24, 1887. Her father was a millwright by trade and followed that in Tennessee until his death. He was of English-German descent.
Our subject was the fifth in order of birth of nine children born to his parents, as follows: Keziah, wife of P. M. Maples, of Stone County; Rebecca, widow of B. F. Rhodes, resides in this county; Sarah Jane died in early youth; Elizabeth died in Tennessee when a child; subject; Minerva, wife of Timothy Maples, of this county; John Winton died young; Solomon Bryant died young, and Samuel Grant, of this county. The original of this notice was born in Bradley County, Tennessee, June 29, 1847, and like the average country boy his time was divided in assisting on the farm and in attending the district school where he secured a fair education. When eighteen years of age he started out for himself as a tiller of the soil, and by his father’s advice remained at home during the war to care for the farm and family. He was captured three times by the Confederate soldiers, but was soon afterward released. On the 20th of August, 1865, he was married to Miss Margaret Jane Sharp, a native of Greene County (now Christian County), Missouri, and the daughter of Joseph B. and Mary Sharp, who came to Tennessee from North Carolina at an early date. Both died at the home of our subject. Mr. Sharp was a farmer by occupation. During the gold fever excitement he went to California, where he remained several years. He also made several trips back to Tennessee with a four horse team.
To our subject and wife have been born twelve children, as follows: Mary, wife of V. L. Dunham; Joseph Lorenzo; Susan Jane, wife of A. J. Holder; Sarah Victoria died when nine years of age; James Sharp; Charley Edmond; Nannie Belle; David Solomon; Phoebe Keziah; Lydia Lowe; Martin Eli, deceased, and an infant. In 1867 Mr. Frazier removed to Howell County, Missouri, where he began improving a claim, and where he remained for four years. He then returned to the old home place in Christian County. This was in 1872 and he has since resided here. He is the owner of 880 acres in different tracts, 460 acres in the home farm, mostly fine bottom land. Mr. Frazier raises cattle, horses, hogs, and has about 450 acres under cultivation, having cleared all but about 100 acres himself. He has held a number of local positions and was justice of the peace nine years. Socially he is a member of Friend Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 352, at Ozark, and he and his wife have affiliated with the Methodist Church for over a quarter of a century and are devoted Christians. His father was also active in religious work and when he first came to Missouri there was no Methodist organization in his neighborhood. He took it upon himself to engage a minister and erected a small church on land which he afterward donated to the church, together with a burying-ground. This is known as Lorenzo Chapel.
