known as Col. Alexander Fraser of Fraser’s Point (1 May 1801-5 June 1891), public figure. Born at Fort Augustus, Inverness-shire, Scotland, he was brought to Canada as an infant, 1802. His father Donald Fraser (1773-22 March 1852) settled first at Williamstown, then on 3 May 1815 bought a 750-acre estate at Fraser’s Point (originally called Johnson’s Point and Point du Lac), GC, from Sir John Johnson for £1000. Fraser’s Point and Fraser’s Creek at that location got their name from this Fraser family. Alexander Fraser was educated at Williamstown and at Bishop Macdonell’s college at St. Raphael’s. At some stage before his marriage, he was a student for the priesthood. Alexander Fraser was involved “for many years” in lumbering. (obit. in Glengarrian) He was a lumber agent at South Lancaster and Lancaster and perhaps in connection with his lumbering interests he travelled a lot to Montreal and Quebec. He was not interested in farming, and on his father’s death in 1852 the landed estate was divided, with one half going to Alexander’s son (called Donald like his grandfather) and the other half to Alexander’s younger brother Evan. Evan was married to the sister of the contractors Donald A. and James A. McIntosh.

     Alexander Fraser, the subject of the present entry, to return to him, was active over many years in the GC militia. Having received his commission as ensign, 1822, and as lieutenant, 1830, he received his captain’s commission Jan. 1838 in the 1st regiment of the Glengarry Militia, serving under Col. Alexander Fraser of Fraserfield. Alexander Fraser of Fraser’s Point saw military service on the loyal side in the Rebellion of 1837; he served at Montreal and St. Philippe, and also was stationed at Lancaster and Cornwall. In 1882 he became a colonel. He died at Fraser’s Point, and is buried at Williamstown. Roman Catholic. He is remembered as a leading citizen, and for his hospitality. The writer of his obituary in the Glengarrian said, “Speaking of memorials and the early history of this country, no man was better versed and possessed more reliable information than Colonel Fraser.” The obituary writer also said that Fraser “personally knew and was on terms of friendship with every man who represented the county since 1812.” John McLennan, ex-MP, wrote in his 1887 essay on “The Early Settlement of Glengarry,” that “To him I am indebted for much information for this paper,” and described him as “hale and hearty at the age of 84 years.”

     Alexander Fraser was married on 19 Feb. 1830 by Bishop Macdonell to Margaret Summers (died Oct. 1893, or a little earlier, c. 1891). She was the daughter of Andrew Summers, U E Loyalist, of Summerstown, and was the granddaughter of John Cameron the Wise. Their twelve children included David Fraser. Evan T. Fraser, MLA for Welland 1905-1914 and MP for Welland 1917-1921 was a grandson of Col. Fraser, but was not born in Glengarry.

Long and valuable obituary, Glengarrian 10 July 1891 repr. Standard Freeholder 30 April 1937 * date of his father Donald Fraser’s death: family sources; also stated as 21 March 1853 * John McLennan, “The Early Settlement of Glengarry,” Transactions of the Celtic Society of Montreal (1887), note on this family, 119 (also in Ross, Lancaster, 206). Was McLennan also the author of the Glengarrian obituary? * Fraser, Gravestones, I, 19-20 * two undated obituaries of his wife, ASC ii, 5, 26 and other collections * obituary of his sister Mrs Alex Chisholm, Glengarrian 30 Aug. 1895, repr. Fraser Obits. 49 *obituary of his son Donald Alexander (Donald A.) Fraser, Cornwall Standard 3 May 1912 * Boss 236, 242 * Fraser (1959) 29-30 & maps: conveniently shows on one map both Fraser’s Point, GC, and the point of the same name on the Quebec side of Lake St. Francis. Also on these two points: Alan Rayburn, Naming Canada (1994) 203