A History by Bill Frazier

William Franklin Frazier was born a year after his parents returned to Missouri from Collin Co., Texas, following the Civil War. His early years were spent on his father's farm where he was farmer for a time. He met his wife, Hattie Brower, in Greene Co., Missouri, where her parents were also farmers. They were married in Springfield, Missouri on November 8, 1888. William later operated a bank in Bois D'Ark, Missouri. The bank failed due to non performing farm loans and William moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1919. He lived at 1328 east 45th St. For the next 26 years he worked for the Kansas City Public Service Company. He was a streetcar conductor, running electric passenger cars that ran on railroad tracks in Kansas City in that era. He retired in 1945 at 78 years of age. He was a member of the Rogerson-Harvey post of the America Legion and the Joseph A. Harder Club, a public service club for employees with 25 plus years of service. He was about 5'10", thin, and straight as an arrow. He was quite active painting and repairing his house at 69 years of age. He smoked cigars and ate very little, just toast and coffee even at family dinners. He suffered a stroke and died at his home on December 29, 1949 and is buried at Clear Creek Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri.

Hattie Brower was the forth child of John J. Brower and Sarah Wilson. Her father was descended form German emigrants. He was born in Randolph Co., S.C. and emigrated to Missouri with his parents in 1854. Her mother was born in Wain Co., Missouri. Hattie grew up on her father's farm and married William Franklin when she was 18 years old. She was foremost a homemaker. When William Franklin moved to Kansas City in 1919 she stayed in Springfield. Her youngest child, John Franklin, was still in highschool at the time. In addition to the completion of his education, her daughters lived near Springfield and she was reluctant to made away from them. She moved to Kansas City in 1924 to rejoin William Franklin. She remained a homemaker and her son continued to live with her until he married in 1931. At some time after 1931, Hattie's daughter Nettie, who was afflicted with severe rheumatoid arthritis at about 30 years of age, moved in with her parents and lived with them for the remainder of their lives. Hattie died suddenly June 21, 1954 on a warm summer evening, while having dinner with her daughters Nettie and Emma, probably of a heart attack.