W. P. A. Cemetery Survey - Frazee Cemetery, Defiance Township

The Works Progress Administration was formed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in reaction to the Great Depression as a means of employing Americans and stimulating the economy.  Established in 1935, one of the projects of the W.P.A. was to conduct Historical Records Surveys, one of which included finding information on cemeteries and the graves of veterans.  The W.P.A. was disbanded in 1943, but the historical information provided on these surveys continue to be of interest and are, thankfully, preserved.

In this series, some of the general surveys of Defiance County cemeteries will be shared, transcribed as written with a few punctuation and/or spelling changes for readability.  The surveys were probably done around 1936.
 
For more up to date information on the cemeteries, check out this chart on our website:
 http://defiancecountygenealogy.org/cemeteries.html

The Frazee Private Burial Plot

1. Name of Cemetery:   The Frazee Private Burial Plot

2. Location, how reached:

Located on the H. Block farm, along the Auglaize River, in section #35, Defiance Township and opposite, across the river from Wayne Street in the city of Defiance.  To get to this graveyard, take 66 south from the Court House to the Francis Street River Bridge across the Auglaize River and turn to the right at the first road, across the river, travel a half mile on this road to its end, which brings you into H. Block's barnyard. Then walk back across their meadow, a quarter of a mile, to the first hill, on top of this hill is located the graveyard.

3. Name and address of caretaker:

None, once in the last five years and since Blocks owned the farm, some relatives of the Frazees buried here have visited it and fixed it up some.

Photo from www.findagrave.com

 4. General description, size, appearance, denomination, fencing, etc.:

This graveyard sets on a hill in a woods, surrounded by large trees.  It is exactly square, contains one fourth of an acre of land, and is completely fenced with an old fashioned iron grill fence in very good repair.  In the plot are planted six cedar trees, one in each corner and one in the center of the front and back.  At one time, and up until 1900, it was quite a showplace; however, since the Frazees have all left this territory, it has been forgotten and grown up with weeks and brush, still yet it can be seen to have been a very nice burial plot.

It was used only by the Frazee family; all who are buried in it are of that name or relatives of them.  There are twelve tombstones in the graveyard, all of good sandstone that was prominently used from 1870 to the first part of the twentieth century.  It is one of the old, abandoned graveyards still in fairly good condition.

6. Names of important persons buried there, for what known:

The Frazees were, at one time, wealthy land owners and wood stave owners of Defiance, Ohio, back during the Civil War.

Photo from www.findagrave.com   Only one stone remains.

7. Markers of unusual appearance:

The largest marker in the center is of the pedestal type with an obelisk shaft about ten feet high and made of sand stone.  The others are smaller, but of the same type.  There are twelve still standing. 

8. Unusual epitaphs:

The large marker in the center gives a brief history of the Frazee family, most of the small readings (are) indiscernable.

9. Is cemetery used for new burials?

This graveyard has not been used since 1903, and was a private one for the Frazee family.

C. Cadwallader and C. Gish, Reporters

Consultants:

Abram Smith, Defiance, Ohio

Mrs. H. Block,Defiance, Ohio