Anthony A.
Fraker
Anthony A.
Fraker, of Brandywine Township, was born in
the City of Wilmington, Delaware, February 3, 1834. He was the
second of six children, four sons and two daughters, born to Anthony
and Hannah (Preston) Fraker, the former of whom was born in
Oberhoff, Switzerland, November 27, 1799, and emigrated to
America with his mother, in 1816. After an eventful voyage of
ninety days, they landed at New Castle, near Philadelphia, on New
Year's Day, 1817. He remained with the man who paid his passage seven years, after which he spent two
years in Philadelphia.
He then spent one winter in New Orleans, after which he returned
to Wilmington, Delaware, and there was married to Hannah Preston.
She died twelve years later, leaving to his care four small
children. With these he emigrated to Indiana, and settled in
Brown County. He afterward moved to Johnson County, five
miles north of Franklin, where he was married to Sarah Anderson.
He moved to Shelby County in 1865, where he has ever since
resided except three years during which he was a resident of Edin
burg, where his second wife died. He now makes his home with the
subject of this sketch, and though in the eighty-eighth year of his age
he is enjoying good health and still works at the trade of a carpet
weaver, which has been the chief vocation of his life. The
paternal grandparents of our subject were: Joseph and Anna
(Taylor) Fraker. His maternal grandparents were, Isaac
and Sarah (Cartwell) Preston, the former a native of Ireland,
and the latter a native of Delaware. His three brothers were Joseph,
Isaac and Daniel, the last two of whom are deceased.
His two sisters were Sarah and Mary, the former
of whom is deceased. His mother was born in Pennsy1vania. He
was about fifteen years old when his father came to this State and
settled in Brown County. About three years later they removed
to Johnson County. There our subject was married to Melissa
Bishop, October 6, 1859. She was born in Brandywine Township,
this county, June 5, 1839, the daughter of Isaac and Weighty (Tilson)
Bishop, both natives of Virginia. Her paternal
grandparents were: John B. and Rhoda Bishop. Her maternal
grandparents were Thomas and Eunice Tilson. She had six brothers and four sisters, as follows:
Ransom, Mary A., Marcy, Stephen, Rhoda, John B.,
Eunice E., David, Wilham H., and Lewis C., of
whom Ransom, Mary A., Rhoda, Eunice E., and David, are
deceased. Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Fraker
located in Brandywine Township, in which they have ever since resided. Since his marriage, Mr. Fraker has given his entire
attention to farming, in which pursuit he has had good success. He and
wife are the parents of five children: Florence A., born January 6, 1861;
Lillie B., born April 6, 1863, died April 26, 1866; Maggie M., born December 29, 1866, died December 18, 1870;
Minnie I., born February 19, 1874, and Clarence T., born July 26,
1 877. Mr. and Mrs. Fraker are members of the Baptist Church. In politics the former is an ardent Republican. He owns a
handsome little farm of fifty-one acres, nearly all of which is under
cultivation. He is an industrious farmer, and he and wife are among
the worthy and esteemed citizens of the township.
History of Shelby County, Indiana, Chicago: Brant & Fuller, 1887,
"Brandywine [Township] Sketches, pages 612-613.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
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