Alexander Fraser: Master Baker (52 Ancestors #29)

Born in Middle Mill, Markinch, Scotland, December 8th 1807 to tenant farmer/master miller William Fraser (1767-1838) and his wife Agnes Bane (1769-1835).

Alexander Fraser was the fifth son, and eighth child born into a family of ten children. Raised in a millhouse in the shadows of Balgonie Castle in Fife, Scotland.

Alexander's father William, himself a son of a miller, was born in Craighouse mill, as was his grandfather Duncan Fraser (1725-1795).

By the time Alexander came along his parents had already lost two children, a son and a daughter.

map of Balgonie Castle/Mill area

The mill that his father ran was situated along the River Leven that was lined with mills of various sorts stretching out like fingers from the Castle.

middle mill cottages

Life as a working class family may have been hard. Any type of labor and toil as a way of living is surely hard. Working for the Royal family and whatever Earl was in charge of the land at the time. Although there was the opportunity for school, with both parochial and parish schools situated in Markinch, the best one could hope for was to apprentice and become a mill overseer one day. Eventually retiring in a worker's cottage, always a tenant.

Alexander apprenticed under his father in the trade of miller and was, according to his great grandson, a baker in the town of Edinburgh. Whether this is true or not I have yet to discover.

On March 25, 1832 Alexander Fraser wed Elizabeth Chalmers in Edinburgh. The couple emigrated to New York City later that same year. The journey would have taken at least two weeks. Elizabeth may have been pregnant at the time.

I've often wondered why Alexander and Elizabeth came to America. I like to imagine it was because they were young and had grand plans of a bigger and better life than the generations that came before them. Staying in Scotland would most certainly have limited Alexander. Perhaps becoming the next tenant farmer/mill man at one of the many mills in the shadows of Balgonie Castle. (Note: all of Alexander's siblings stayed in Scotland and are buried in the same churchyard as their ancestors)

 a 19th century woodcut with an impression of
the spectacular Nov 13, 1833 Leonid storm.
Courtesy Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

In January 1833, their first child, a daughter named Agnes, was born. Alexander was listed in the NY City directory as a baker living at 147 Orange (rear) in what is now Manhattan. Later that year the young family experienced one of the most curious and perhaps frightening natural occurrences; know as 'The Night The Stars Fell', the Leonid meteor shower occurred pre-dawn November 12th and could be seen across the globe.

"On the night of November 12-13, 1833, a tempest of falling stars broke over the Earth... The sky was scored in every direction with shining tracks and illuminated with majestic fireballs. At Boston, the frequency of meteors was estimated to be about half that of flakes of snow in an average snowstorm. Their numbers... were quite beyond counting; but as it waned, a reckoning was attempted, from which it was computed, on the basis of that much-diminished rate, that 240,000 must have been visible during the nine hours they continued to fall." - Agnes Clerkes, Victorian Astronomy Writer

On the evening of December 16, 1835 the Fraser family witnessed the first of what would be three Great Fires in their lifetime. Very near where Alexander had his bakery a massive fire broke out in a warehouse. It quickly spread, thanks to gale-force winds, and ultimately destoyed 13 acres in the downtown business district encompassing 17 city blocks. I do not know if Alexander was directly effected, but I'm certain the family had a front row seat to the frightening event.

As the city rebuilt another disaster was looming. And Alexander was at the epicenter. May 10th 1837, known now as the Panic of 1837, began with New York banking institutions and resulted in the shortage of  currency, sending the US into a depression that would last until the mid 1840's.

But life rolled on, Alexander continued to bake and in 1838 the family welcomed their second child, a daughter named Janet (named after Elizabeth's twin sister) to the family. William, third child and first son, was born in 1840, the newly planted American family was growing.

By the early 1840's Alexander had expanded his business. He was now the proprietor of a Fancy Goods shop on Pearl Street near Hanover Sq. Scottish tenacity, perhaps, that brought him through despite the apparent hardness of the times.

A third daughter, Elisabeth, arrived in 1844. Alexander and family were now residing on Varick Place, between Bleecker and West Houston.

Fraser's business (red star and black arrow)
to right of burned area

Summer of 1845. July 19. 2:30 am. Saturday. A small fire started on the third floor of a whale oil shop blocks from Fraser's Fancy Goods Shop. By 3 am the City Hall alarm bell was sounding, likely arousing Alexander from much needed sleep. Ten hours later the blaze had been doused, leaving behind death and destruction. Alexander narrowly escaped tragedy once again. 345 buildings were destroyed, 26 people lost their lives.

The family welcomed their final child, a son named James Chalmers, in 1849.

Alexander continued to run his shop, the children grew and prospered. On May 1st, 1855 Alexander and Elizabeth's first born, Agnes, was married to a young Scottish immigrant, James Irons. For reasons unknown James and Agnes Irons decided to remove to a frontier city called Chicago shortly after the wedding. For more reasons unknown, Alexander, Elizabeth and the rest of the family decided to go as well. (Perhaps the desire to escape such a flammable city?)

Alexander quickly established a new bakery in his new city. Partnering with Mark Forsyth, the Fraser and Forsyth Bakery operated at 87 Market St. The city directory of 1856 lists the business as being established one year. The family home was on Blue Island Avenue.

Alexander and family still had one more dance with fire on their card.

red dot = origin / darkened area = fire spread

October 8th, 1871. Mrs O'Leary's Cow. Well, not really, but that's how the story goes. And once again Alexander and family are scant blocks from the conflagration, and most probably the business, this time around, went up in flames.

Alexander was 63 at the time and did not rebuild. He is found in the City Directories through 1876 as residing on Blue Island Ave, no longer listed with an occupation.

By 1878 Alexander is living with his widowed daughter Agnes in her sizable family home on West Adams.

Alexander Fraser died May 2nd 1883 at the age of 75. His wife Elizabeth followed six years later. The couple is buried in the large Irons family plot in Graceland Cemetery, along with numerous descendants, my father being one.

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From the pastoral landscape of Scotland, to the rough and tumble city of New York, and finally to Chicago, the city on the prairie; Alexander Fraser experienced a life none of his ancestors or siblings could imagine. He came to America with a dream in his heart and fulfilled it, the proud owner of his own business, working for himself, owning his own home, and firmly establishing his legacy on American soil.


©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Agnes Fraser Irons: A Born Businesswoman (52 Ancestors #24)

I wanted to continue my 52 Ancestors challenge with another woman. My 2nd great grandmother Agnes Fraser Irons.

When I began the 52 ancestor challenge I had intended on focusing on my female ancestors, but found it (obviously) difficult. The farther back I went the less information I could find.

Agnes is no exception, so the story of her life will be told with facts I am able to discover of her father and her husband.

I first 'met' Agnes when I received a box of photographs upon my father's passing. The box contained an assortment of photos of people in various decades of history. Most of them were not labeled. My dad, having just passed, could not be asked about these relatives. My mom helped the best she could and I pieced the rest together - mostly.

Agnes Upper Left

The photos really intrigued me. Who were these people? I set out to find out.

Agnes was born in New York City January 4, 1833 although she began life in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her parents Alexander Fraser and Elizabeth Chalmers were married in the spring of 1832 and soon after set sail for America and the dream of a better life. The young, expecting couple arrived in New York City in the autumn of 1832.

Agnes' father was a master baker and flour merchant in Scotland, from a long line of mill men and master millers. What brought them to America I have yet to discover, although it may well have been to establish the family's business on new shores.

But this story is about Agnes.

Agnes was the oldest of 5 children. She had two younger sisters and two younger brothers. I don't know much about her early life or if she attended school. I would suspect she did, this was not a family of pioneers living on the desolate plains. New York was a well established city and there were numerous free schools, ward schools and religious schools operating in Manhattan at that time.

Manhattan 1851

In looking into to the history of the time, the Seneca Falls Convention may have been a hot topic around the Fraser household in 1848. Agnes, 15 years old by then, I imagine held some opinions in favor of the convention. As a 21st century woman, and a rather bull-headed one at that, I have trouble wrapping my head around the time when women were property, second-class citizens with no voice of their own. I would like to imagine that Agnes was very much in favor women's rights and held a strong opinion.

The Crystal Palace

In 1853 the World's Fair, Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations came to New York City. The Crystal Palace must have been something to see! I'm sure, as a young woman of 20, Agnes would have attended such a marvel. I know I would have! This may well have been where she met her future husband, James Irons III. An exciting young Scot who had recently immigrated to the United States, by way of a two year detour to Australia to mine for gold.

On May 1, 1855 Agnes and James were married in New York City, and by the following spring were settled in their new home in Chicago, IL.

James Irons opened a plumbing business and Agnes went about putting their new home in order. They are found living on Madison Avenue at the corner of LaSalle. The residence was also the location for James' plumbing business. There was a large livery and stable next door.

In March of 1857 the Irons' welcomed their first born, a son named Alexander Fraser Irons. Sadly, the baby died just 3 months later. The young couple purchased a large plot in Graceland Cemetery and laid their son to rest.

A Bunch of Irons'

The following March Agnes gave birth to their second son, a health baby also named Alexander Fraser Irons.

In January of 1860 Agnes gave birth to twin daughters, Elizabeth and Christine. The growing family was still living on Madison Avenue.

In March 1862, still squeezed into the Madison Avenue home, their son James was born, and in March of 1864 their daughter Aggie arrived.

With 5 children under the age of five to care for I'm certain Agnes had her hands full!

1867 proved to be a bittersweet year for the Irons family. The couple welcomed their sixth child, a daughter named Janet, on the 13th April, only to lose Aggie, who had just turned three, 17 days later. The family buried their little daughter next to her brother in Graceland Cemetery.

By the spring of 1871 the Irons clan had relocated to a home farther west, across from a fine park, on West Adams St. James continued to operate his business out of the Madison Avenue address. In October of that year I'm certain the family was extremely thankful they moved when they did. The Great Chicago Fire burned the area surrounding the plumbing business, where they were residing just months prior.

Burned Area in Red

I don't pretend to know the horror of watching, helpless, as the city burned. Of wondering and worrying about friends and family who lived in the area. Of where the fire would spread or when it would stop. Agnes was newly pregnant in October 1871 and the family was no doubt wondering if their livelihood was being irreparably destroyed.

1873 Ad

The business survived, the building most likely did not. The business had a Halsted Street address in 1872 but by 1873 it was back on Madison Street.

But, back to Agnes.

In May of 1872 Agnes gives birth to a son they name William - who ironically (?) grew up to be a City of Chicago fire chief.

And finally, in 1874, the family's last child, a son named Charles, was born.

Life was settling down, Agnes had her hands full raising 7 children from teens to infants.

Then, in 1877, another tragedy. 

James died just one month past his 50th  birthday. Leaving Agnes with a lot of mouths to feed and a business to look after. Agnes and her children buried James in Graceland Cemetery with his two young children.

1878 Ad

There must have been some knowledge of James' illness and impending death, the plumbing business changed names in 1877 from James Irons Plumbing to A.F. & J Plumbing. A.F. being Agnes Fraser and J. being James' brother John. The pair ran the company, employing sons Alexander and James, for the next 15 years. Most of the children continued to reside in the family home, helping their mother with the household expenses.

Irons Clan

The next decade appeared to be a tedious but joyous one as Agnes buried her sister in 1879, her father in 1883, her mother in 1889, and her brother in 1890. All in the large family plot in Graceland Cemetery. She witnessed the marriage of her son Alexander in 1882, her daughter Christine in 1883 and the birth of her first grandchild in 1885. 

When the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition rolled into town I would suspect Agnes was quite ready for some distraction. This would have been her second World's Fair. How exciting!

Irons Clan

But there was another, darker affair playing out that I imagine was the bigger news of the time. Dr. H. H. Holmes, serial killer. His gruesome murders and ultimately his own death sentence made for quite a lot of talk around the city.

   By 1900 Agnes had two more grandchildren, had seen her son James married and was planning for her son William's wedding.

Irons Clan

William and his bride Margaret gave Agnes two more grandchildren. The family remained close. The adult children that never married remained in the family home with Agnes. Her daughter Christine had moved to Montana, but the remainder of the family lived in Chicago.

Agnes died on June 13, 1909 and was buried in the family plot in Graceland Cemetery.

Irons Family Plot - Graceland Cemetery - Chicago, IL

One year later her youngest son Charles finally settled down. He and his wife Clara had three children.

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I am currently in the process of tracing the many living descendants of Agnes and James Irons.