Name:
Donald Martin Fraser 
Location served:
Morpeth  
Years in Practice:
1869 to 1908
Area of Specialization:
Family Medicine  

Biography:

Dr. Donald Martin Fraser was born in Middlesex County, Ontario on the 29th of April, 1846.  Dr. Fraser was the 9th of 11 children born to Donald Fraser and the former Jane Martin. His parents were farmers and his siblings were; Samuel Martin Fraser, William Fraser, Jane Fraser, John Martin Fraser, Robert Martin Fraser, James Harshaw Fraser, Mary Fraser, Ely Fraser, Maxwell “David” Fraser and Martin Scott Fraser.  His parents had emigrated from Inverness, Scotland in 1833 with their eldest 2 sons, Samuel and William.  The Fraser family settled on a farm on Wharncliffe Road, south of London, Ontario.

Dr. Fraser graduated M.D. from McGill University in 1869. The topic of his graduation thesis was Stricture of the Urethra. Dr. Fraser joined the College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 28th of May, 1869.  In the early part of 1870, Dr. Fraser was interning in Chicago (Illinois) but in the fall of 1870 he was residing and practicing medicine in Morpeth.

Dr. Fraser married Caroline M. Michie on the 22nd of December, 1873 at her mother’s home in London, Ontario. Mrs. Fraser was born on the 21st of July, 1847, the daughter of John Michie and the former Caroline Elliott.  She had a younger brother named John Michie who was born in 1850.  Mrs. Fraser’s father died on the 26th of September, 1851.

Dr. and Mrs. Fraser resided in Stratford after their marriage. Dr. and Mrs. Fraser were the parents of 5 children. They had 3 daughters; Caroline Michie Fraser was born on the 10th of August, 1875, Jean M. Fraser was born in 1878 and Mary Fraser was born in 1880. Their son Donald John Martin Fraser was born on the 1st of January, 1885 and died of whooping cough on the 9th of May, 1885. Another son, Maxwell John Fraser was born in Stratford on the 25th of June 1886.

Dr. and Mrs. Fraser had a home and medical office built on Downie Road, near Waterloo Street in Stratford in 1876. Dr. Fraser’s medical practice was listed in the 1880-1881 Stratford City Directory and the 1893 Ontario Directory and Gazetteer. Of interest, there are 2 Dr. Donald Fraser’s in both of the directories; Dr. Donald B. Fraser and Dr Donald M. Fraser. (It is unknown if they are related.)

Dr. Fraser died on the 9th of December, 1908. Mrs. Fraser died on the 26th of November, 1924. Dr. and Mrs. Fraser were buried at Avondale Cemetery in Stratford.

*Dr. Fraser’s brother, Dr. John Martin Fraser is also featured on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.

**Dr. Donald Fraser’s son Maxwell Fraser, also became a physician.