MEMOIE OF PEKSIFOR FRAZER O 



MEMOIR OF PERSIFOR FRAZER 

 BY E. A. F, PENEOSE, JE. 



Dr. Persifor Frazer was born in Philadelphia, July 24, 1844, and died 

 in the same city April 7, 1909. He was the son of John Fries Frazer 

 and Charlotte Cave Frazer. His family were among the early settlers 

 of Pennsylvania in the colonial days, having come originally from Scot- 

 land, and the town of Frazer, in eastern Pennsylvania, was named for the 

 Frazer family in America. The Frazers have always been prominent in 

 the atfairs of the State and nation. Gen. Persifor Frazer, the son of the 

 first of the family in America, was the great-grandfather of Dr. Persifor 

 Frazer, and commanded with distinction in the Eevolntionary War. 

 Eobert Frazer, the grandfather of Dr. Persifor Frazer, was an eminent 

 lawyer in Philadelphia and a member of the Pennsylvania legislature. 



John F. Frazer, LL. D., the father of Persifor Frazer, was professor 

 of chemistry for many years at the University of Pennsylvania, and also 

 vice-provost of the same institution. He was one of the most eminent 

 scientific men of his time in America, and there still live men who can 

 recall with pleasing remembrance the informal Sunday evening gather- 

 ings at Professor Frazer's house in Philadelphia, where the scientific 

 questions of the day were discussed. In these weekly assemblages were 

 to be found such men as Dr. John L. Le Conte, Professors Genth and 

 Lesley, and other local scientists, as well as scientists from elsewhere, 

 who happened by chance to be in Philadelphia. His hospitality to his 

 fellow-workers became known far beyond the limits of the city, and many 

 a man of science found a congenial haven at his house. 



Persifor Frazer was brought up among these surroundings, and his 

 natural inclination for science had every opportunity to develop in such 

 an atmosphere. One of the earliest traits that manifested itself in him 

 was his remarkable versatilit}^, and nothing in any branch of science or 

 human affairs failed to interest him. This trait was rapidly developed 

 in his youth by intercourse with the masters of various branches of sci- 

 ence who assembled at his father's house ; and no better evidence of his 

 versatility is shown than the fact that in later life he acquired eminence 

 in three distinct branches of learning — chemistry, geology, and the study 

 of handwriting. He was also an accomplished linguist, speaking French 

 and German as he would English, and with this he combined remarkable 

 powers as a conversationalist and speaker. As a public lecturer he 

 always commanded the respect and attention of his audience by his elo- 

 quent and lucid address. In another direction his versatility was shown 

 when he served with marked credit and distinction in both the Army and 



