Dr. Jonathan William Fraser, M. D.

1885 - 1947  (62 years)

• Name	Jonathan William Fraser
  Prefix	Dr.
  Suffix	M. D.
  Born	27 Jun 1885	Mount Forest, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/218338518
  Interesting	medical
  Occupation	1923	112 Queen St. S., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Doctor
  Occupation	1927
  	medical officer of health
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-126886
  Died	9 Sep 1947	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Buried	Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Person ID	I126886	Generations
  Last Modified	9 Jun 2025

  
  

  Family	Mabel Evelyn Stewart,   b. May 1896, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 26 Dec 1960, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 64 years)
  Children	1. John M. Fraser   2. Robert Roderick Fraser,   b. 18 Nov 1921, Cochrane, Cochrane District, Ontario ,   d. 1964, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 42 years)   3. Frances Fraser,   b. 1928,   d. 1999  (Age 71 years)   4. William F. Fraser   5. Eleanor Fraser
  Last Modified	10 Jun 2025
  Family ID	F58579	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  FRASER, JONATHAN WILLIAM was the first in the succession of full time Medical Officers of health by whom this community has been so well served. Born on June 27, 1885 near Mount Forest, the son of Wm. A. and Mary Fraser, he obtained his preliminary education at Whitby. He attended Queen's University, receiving his B. A. degree, and in 1914, the degree of M. D. Following an internship in Montreal, he began to practice in Kemptville before moving to Cochrane, where he remained until 1923. While in Cochrane he took part in the fight against typhoid fever during a severe epidemic In December 1923 he opened an office at 112 Queen St. S. in Kitchener, he practised there until 1925 when he went to Chesley, returning to Kitchener in May of 1927 to accept an appointment as Medical Officer of Health. During his twenty year career some of his accomplishments were; the organization under the Board of Health of the school nursing system, the installation of a full time dental department, the establishment of a tuberculosis control branch, and the institution of free preschool health examinations. He adopted the use of toxoid for the prevention of diphtheria, and arranged vaccination against smallpox on a voluntary basis in schools and in industry, he was the originator in Ontario of the preschool examination system, and one of the earliest users of diphtheria toxoid in this manner, he was also appointed by the province as director of the venereal control clinic for this district. During his career he earned the respect and support of the Board of Health, a necessary factor in the development of his programs, especially considering the financial stress and pressures of the depression which occupied much of the time of his incumbency. He served as president of the North Waterloo medical Association, the Ontario Public Health Officers Association, and was on the executive of the dominion Health Officers Association, and the Canadian Public Health Association. After a lengthy illness he died on September 9, 1947, and was survived by his widow, the former Mabel Stewart, three sons and two daughters. Dr. Alexander D. Campbell, Doctors in Waterloo County 1852-1925 ____________ Dr. J. W. Fraser, City M.O.H. for 20 Years, Dies Dr. J. W. Fraser, Kitchener's medical officer of health, died last night at St. Mary's Hospital. He had been ill five months. The city's first full-time medical officer, he relinquished his practice. in Chesley to accept appointment by City Council here in May, 1927. During his 20 years service he was responsible for the broadening of Kitchener's health department to include many branches of public health endeavor. He was known throughout the Dominion as one of Canada's leading authorities. GRADUATE OF QUEENS Born June 27, 1885, at Egremont Township, near Mt. Forest, Ont, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William A. Fraser, he graduated in medicine from Queen's University in 1914 with a bachelor of arts, well as his medical degree, He practised in Cochrane until 1933, gaining prominence there for his successful fight against the typhold epidemic which swept that community. He practised in Kitchener from 1925 to 1925 when he opened a practice at Chesley, remaining there until 1927. Shortly after assuming his duties as medical officer here, Dr. Fraser organized the school nursing system under the Board of Health. He was one of the first medical officers in the province to adopt toxoid as a diphtheria preventative. In his first year he organized a voluntary vaccination campaign in the schools and industries, eliminating smallpox incidence in the city. SCHOOL DENTAL WORK He further widened the local health services to include a full- time school dental department. Shortly after the Board of Health, on his recommendation, established a T.B., branch with an experienced nurse in charge for the control of tuberculosis in the community. Early in his career he initiated system of free medical examination of children about to enter school. He was the first medical officer in the province to establish this work as a branch of municipal public health service. In his first year as medical officer he was appointed director of the venereal disease clinic for this district. He continued in this post to the time of his death. During the war Dr. Fraser was director of the nursing division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. He was a member of the Red Cross blood donors committee and the Civilian Defence Committee. He was also chairman of the K-W Nutrition Committee Active in the Waterloo North Medical Association, he was elected president of the organization at the last annual meeting. HEAD HEALTH OFFICERS He was a past president of the Ontario Health Officers Association, an executive of the Dominion Health Officers Association and the Canadian Public Health Association. Deceased was a member of St John's Anglican Church. In August, 1917. he married Mabel E. Stewart who survives him with three sons, William F., Owen Sound: Robert R. and John M., city, and two daughters, Mrs. J. R. (Eleanor) Thomson, city, and Frances, at home. Two brothers. A. B. Fraser, Mimico, and D. J. Fraser, Ottawa. and four sisters, Mrs. J. H. McDougall, Mt. Forest; Mrs. W. L Clark, Kimberley, B.C: Mrs. J. H Stewart, Davidson, Sask, and Mrs. T. D. Finn. Ottawa, and three grandchildren also survive. The funeral will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at St. John's Anglican Church. Canon J. N..H. Mills will be in charge of the services. Burial will take place at Woodland Cemetery. The body is resting at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home until 11 a.m. Friday. CITY HALL SHOCKED Word of Dr. Fraser's death cast a gloom over City Council last night "It was more or less expected but the news of his death an hour ago came as a distinct shock to all of said Mayor Brown. The City has been hard hit this year. This is the fourth civic official or member of the city staff who has passed on this year. Dr. Fraser will be greatly missed in this community. He was an outstanding civic servant and a good citizen. Mayor Brown said all doctors who knew Dr. Fraser and his work agreed that he was without a peer as a medical health officer in Ontario. A motion expressing regret at the doctor's death and expressing sympathy and condolence to the bereaved family received a silent standing vote. Kitchener Daily Record Wed, Sep 10, 1947 Page 3

  
  

• Sources

  [S87] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Woodland CC#4510 Internet Link . [Large Stone] Fraser [A] Mable E. Stewart/ 1896-1960/ Wife Of/ Dr. J. W. Fraser And Rev. H. D. McCulloch [B] Jonathan William/ Fraser M.D./ 1885-1947 [C] Daub/ Ann Frances/ June 11, 1957 Lived 7 Days/ Frances Fraser/ 1928-1999/ Donald Walter/ 1926- / -Mizpah- [D] Marjorie Fraser/ 1925-1961/ Beloved Wife Of/ John Fraser [2020 update] Donald Daub died 2008

  
  

• Event Map

  Died - 9 Sep 1947 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth