Obituary #4

Canadian immigrant, war veteran, policeman and tuberculosis victim - there's a lot to think about there. After the Irish and Germans, Canadians were the most next most common immigrants to Jamaica Plain around the turn of the century. Tuberculosis was a disease of the time - we've been able to forget about it since the middle of the 20th Century. I've read that the NO SPITTING signs that used to adorn subway stations were put there to stop the transmission of TB. This shows that even a young man like patrolman Fraser could succumb.



Boston Daily Globe November 4, 1907


Spanish War Veteran.

Patrolman Austin A. Fraser, Popular Jamaica Plain Officer, Dies of Tuberculosis.




Patrolman Austin A. Fraser of division 13, Jamaica Plain, died yesterday morning in his home, 24 Walkhill st, Forest Hills, of tuberculosis. He was 32 years old and leaves a widow and infant son. Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning at 9 in St Thomas church, Jamaica Plain. Burial will be in Mr Benedict cemetery.

Patrolman Fraser was one of the most popular officers at station 13, and the esteem in which he was held has been shown in a substantial manner during his illness of a number of months.

He was born at Antigonish, N.S. Jan 9, 1875, the son of John and Mary Fraser. He was appointed to the police force of this city Oct 5, 1900, and assigned to duty at division 5. Two years later he was made a regular patrolman. He was absent on sick leave from Oct 15, 1902 until May 1, 1903. On June 3, 1903, he was transferred to division 13, Jamaica Plain, where he had remained until incapacitated from duty last May.

He was a veteran of the Spanish war, enlisting in Co L, heavy artillery, MVM, May 2, 1898. He did duty at fort Slocum, N.Y. and later was assistant to the paymaster of the U.S. Army and twice visited Cuba with that official.

On Oct 28, 1906, he was married to Miss Agnes L. Harney of Jamaica Plain.

He was a member of Roger Wolcott camp, Spanish war veterans; Jamaica Plain council, Knights of Columbus, and Clan McNeil of Malden.