James G. Frayer
JAMES G. FRAYER, contractor, Bucyrus, a son of James and Grace (Sigerson) Frayer; born April 14, 1826 in Butler Co., Penn. His youth was spent amid the scenes of rural life until 14 when he went to the town of Butler, and was there apprenticed to a man named William Fouzer, a builder, under whose direction daring a term of three years, he learned the triple trade of brick-laying, stone-cutting and plastering. Just after the fire at Pittsburgh, Penn., in 1845, our subject went there to follow his trade; but workmen were so plenty that a brick-layer only received 87 cents per day. In 1848 Mr. Frayer began building under contract, and continued in the vicinity of Pittsburg until 1856. In that year, he started West but stopped at Bucyrus to visit a friend, when he was persuaded to remain. From 1856 to 1862, his energies were confined to the principal buildings of Bucyrus. He erected during that period the Quinby Block, Presbyterian and Lutheran Churches and several other large buildings. In 1863 he was a employed by the Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad Company to build their depots and hotel stands, at present from Crestline to Allegheny City. In 1865, he erected the State Lunatic Asylum at Dixmont, Penn., which contains over two million brick. In about 1869, he received the contract for the brick-work of the Lunatic Asylum at Athens, Ohio which alone contained twelve million of brick. In company with other gentlemen in 1868-69, he built the schoolhouses of Crestline, Galion and Cardington. In 1870, the firm of Miller, Frayer & Sheets was formed and have since built the magnificent court houses of Erie, Richland and Licking Counties. This firm has in its employ from one to three hundred men. Mr. Frayer was a member of the firm of B. B. McDonald Co., which was organized in about 1871, and graded six miles of the Ohio Central Railroad. The same firm also traded and laid seven miles of track from the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad to the coal mines. The firm of Frayer & Sheets have the contract for building the extensive railroad shops of the Ohio Central at Bucyrus. On Feb. 8, 1850, Mr. Frayer united in marriage with Miss Mary .J. Garner of Sharpsburg, Penn. Of this union there are five children living and two dead.
From History of Crawford County and Ohio, Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, Chicago, 1881