Introduction
CAPTAIN ANDREW BLAIR FRAZEE was born on August 28, 1820. He was for many years the Superintendent of the Camden & Philadelphia Ferry Company. He was the subject of a biographical sketch in the 1897 book, Biographical Review Containing Life Sketches of the Leading Citizens of Camden and Burlington County NJ, published in 1897, and featured below. He was active in Masonic affairs and as a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Captain Frazee lived in his later years at 302 North 2nd Street in Camden NJ. His daughter married Camden businessman and County Sheriff Richard F. Smith. Their son, Andrew Blair Frazee Smith, was prominent in Camden business and civic affairs. Another grandson, Robert Blair Frazee, died while serving in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. A second descendant, Andrew Blair Jakway, was also lost during the war, while serving with the United States Navy.
Captain Andrew Blair Frazee passed away on March 28, 1904. He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Camden NJ, with his first wife, Susan Van Hook Voorhees Frazee, who had died in 1871, and his second wife, Mary E. Young Frazee, who died on January 1, 1948.
Biographical Sketch
Biographical Review of Camden and Burlington County NJ, 1897
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Camden Democrat —
Young Man Missing From Burlington
Camden Democrat —
Word was received at police headquarters, Camden, last evening, notifying the officers to be on the lookout for Wm. C. Gatzmer, a prominent young man of Burlington county, who left the residence of Dr. Bradner, at Burlington, on Thursday morning, to visit Capt. A. B. Frazer, superintendent of the Camden and Philadelphia Ferry Company. It is feared Mr. Gatzmer’s mind has been affected from too close attention to his studies. He was perfecting himself for a civil engineer and had also taken up astronomy.
Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
General Sewell, wife and daughter, are now in Rome.
Harrison H. Voorhees, of this city, has been appointed solicitor for Holly Beach, Cape May county.
The Grocers’ Association sent James R. Carson delegate to the convention of the National Grocers’ Association, which met in New York on Wednesday.
After half century of long and faithful service as superintendent of the Camden and Philadelphia Ferry Company, Captain Andrew B. Frazee will retire May 1 to a well-deserved and richly earned rest.
William C. Dayton and family will spend the summer at Cape May.
Martin J. O’Brien was married on Wednesday by Father O’Brien, of Kellyville, Pa., to Miss Maggie Longworth, of Third and Royden streets. Nuptian [sic] mass was celebrated at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Andrew Lyons was best man and Miss Cecelia O’Brien, a sister of the groom, bridesmaid. The ushers were Messrs. Martin Coyne, Secretary John M. Kelly, Francis Xavier O’Brien and ex-Assemblyman O’Brien.
Charles Livingstone, of Ferry avenue and Fillmore streets, entertained a number of friends at his home Tuesday evening.
Lieutenant John Foster has been acting as Chief of Police during the time that Chief Dodd was attending the Grand Lodge of the Legion of the Red Cross.
Postmaster Paul is able to attend to business after a protracted illness.
Howland Croft, senior member of the firm of Howland Croft Sons & Co., started on Thursday for California.
Oliver M. Smith and Mary A. Gregory were united in marriage at the home of the bride’s parents, Third and Mickle streets, by Rev. J. B. Graw, Wednesday night.
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Camden Daily Telegram —
TAYLOR SHOT TO KILL HIM
Camden Daily Telegram —
EXTRA!
Sumner Derrickson Dangerously Wounded During a Row.
THEY FOUGHT OVER A WOMAN
The Participants All Had Their Guns and Knives Ready to Murder.
CAPTURED AFTER A HARD CHASE
The Man Who Did the Shooting Ran from Seventh and Sycamore Streets to the Federal Street Ferry With an Excited, Yelling Mob at His Heels—A Ferryboat Held Until the Police Arrived and Took the Fleeing Man Into Custody—The Wounded Man and His Brother Known as Bad Men.
Robert, alias Charles Taylor, colored, made a desperate attempt last night to murder Sumner Derrickson. Taylor is locked up at the City Hall and Derrickson is at the Cooper Hospital with a bullet wound in his abdomen. The doctors there say that Derrickson is resting easily to-day and that he is in no immediate danger of dying. Taylor claims that he shot Derrickson in self defense.
ROW OVER A WOMAN.
The shooting was the outcome of jealousy. Taylor and Charles Derrickson and the latter’s brother, Sweeney Derrickson, were gambling in a house on Baxter street, between Ann and Seventh streets. A dispute arose and Taylor says that the Derricksons, who are known as bad men, chased him from the house. Sumner Derrickson, Taylor says, had a gun, and Sweeney Derrickson had a knife. At Seventh and Sycamore streets Taylor states that he found his pursuers were pressing him too closely. He turned as he ran and drawing his pistol fired at the two men. The bullet struck Sumner Derrickson in the abdomen and he fell to the ground with a groan. Sweeney stopped to look after his wounded brother and Taylor continued his flight.
SURGEONS FOUND THE BALL.
The wounded man was taken to the Cooper Hospital where the surgeons found the bullet had taken an upward course and lodged beneath the skin in Derrickson’s chest. The ball was extracted and Derrickson was made as comfortable as possible for the night.
The news of the attempted murder spread rapidly and the police were notified at once. An alarm was sent throughout the city and every effort was exerted to capture Taylor who had fled from the scene of the shooting as fast as his legs would carry him. He ran down to Kaighn avenue with the evident intention of taking a ferryboat to Philadelphia where he lives. The crowd that followed him, however, prevented Taylor making his escape in that direction. Like a hunted animal he turned up Second street toward the northern section of the city. The crowd increased each moment and the excitement of the chase became intense.
EXCITEMENT WAS INTENSE.
Policeman Fitzsimmons joined the throng which by this time was yelling “Catch the murderer” and “Lynch him.” People who were retiring threw up their windows in alarm thinking that the police and the crowd were in pursuit of another man suspected of the double murder of Mrs. Zane and Mrs. Shaw of week ago. The chase grew hot along Second street, but Taylor proved himself fleet of foot and reached the Federal street ferry in time to catch the 10.45 p. m. boat.
POLICE CAPTURE TAYLOR.
Collector Andrew Frazee had been notified of the attempted murder and recognized Taylor as the man wanted. He instructed Gateman William Barnard to hold the boat while he sent word to the police that Taylor was at the ferry. The patrol wagon was sent there in a hurry.
In the meantime Policemen Al. Myers and George Cable had arrived and Policeman Fitzsimmons arrived a second later almost winded by his long run. Two respectable colored porters were taken into custody at first, but the policemen soon discovered their mistake and found Taylor crouched up in one corner of the boat. Policeman Fitzsimmons recognized Taylor by a scar on his neck and quickly grabbed him by the throat. The fellow made no resistance and was taken to the waiting patrol wagon by the three officers. Here he was hustled into the vehicle and sent to the City Hall. When arrested the revolver with which the shooting was done was found in Taylor’s pocket, but that individual had cutely reloaded the empty chambers as he ran so as to destroy what evidence there was against him.
Derrickson, brother of Sumner, was formerly of the firm of Reed & Derrickson who several years ago ran the notorious negro resort known as Olive Park where John Hill, a colored youth, shot Joseph Dodson, also colored. Hill afterwards was hanged for his crime and the police broke up the den where the tragedy occurred.
TAYLOR GIVEN A HEARING.
Taylor was given a hearing this morning by Mayor Westcott. The complaint was made by Lieutenant John Foster and accused Taylor of assaulting, shooting and attempting to kill Derrickson. Lawyer Jackson appeared for the defendant.
Edward Fortie, one of the men who was with Derrickson when the shooting occurred, stated that he did not see the first shot, but when the second and third shots were fired Taylor was starting down Kaighn avenue. Fortie and Jordon, with Derrickson, then started to run.
Ida Burton said she saw Taylor and Lawrence Anderson talking at Seventh and Baxter streets. Taylor went slowly toward Derrickson and suddenly pulled a revolver from his pocket and fired point blank at his victim. When questioned by the Mayor she said she saw all of the shots, but when cross-examined by Lawyer Jackson she denied having seen the firing of the first shot.
Aubrey Thompson, who was about fifteen yards distant, said he saw the first shot fired at some one setting back of the station at Seventh and Kaighn avenue. He then saw Taylor go down Kaighn avenue.
Several other witnesses were heard who said they saw the shots fired, but who were not positive as to whom they were directed at.
Policemen Al Myers and George Cable, who made the arrest, said they found the man on a Federal street ferryboat hiding behind an ash cart. Taylor said he had no revolver, but on the way to the City Hall Patrolman Golden found a 32-calibre revolver with three loaded chambers.
Mayor Westcott held Taylor to await the result of Derrickson’s injuries.
Taylor hails from Washington, D. C., and it was stated on good authority that he is wanted in Philadelphia and his native city for misdemeanors.
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Philadelphia Inquirer —
Named: Capt. Andrew Blair Frazee, Frans Ludvik Engdahl, Edward Mills, Herman Mithoefer, S. Glover Rudderow, George T. Maddock, and Frederick G. Weise.
A Good Landing — in 1873
Camden Courier-Post —
Centennial Week brought to the light of day this old water color, which for years hung in the office of the late A.B. Frazee, superintendent of the old Camden & Philadelphia Steamboat Ferry Company. It was painted in 1873 by one Hoagland, a local artist of 60 years ago. Before his death, Frazee gave the picture to I.N. Price, an employee of the company in the old days. Mr. Price, who now lives at 725 Spruce Street, presented the picture to his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Ethel Price, who, in turn, gave it to the Courier for publication.
Evergreen Cemetery
Evergreen Cemetery, Camden NJ – August 22, 2003