FROST, John W.

FROST, VARNER, EVANS, FERRY, GITTINGER, BRACEWELL, SNOW

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/28/2014 at 06:43:32

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith
Supervising Editors

The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 258-59. Chicago. 1915.

JOHN W. FROST

John W. Frost, a well known stock-raiser and farmer of Eden township, is a native of this county, his birth having occurred in Center township. He was born on the 21st of January, 1872, of the marriage of W. H. and Jane (Varner) Frost, both natives of Licking county, Ohio, the former born near Fallsburg. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, came to this county in 1864, locating in Center township, near Leon, where he purchased land, which he continued to operate until 1907. In that year he removed to Leon, where he is still residing, and he owns one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land in Eden township. His wife also survives. They were married in their native county and to them have been born the following children: Anna Bell, now the wife of E. S. Evans, a farmer residing near Garden Grove; Jennie, who gave her hand in marriage to James Perry who is farming in Nebraska; Ella, the wife of William P. Gittinger, an agriculturist living west of Leon; John W.; W. M., who is following agricultural pursuits in Eden township; Alice, who married John Evans, an agriculturist of Eden township; and May, the wife of Wallace Patton, a farmer of Nebraska.

John W. Frost attended school in Center township and continued to reside upon the home farm until some years after his marriage. He then began his independent career, purchasing eighty acres of land, which he cultivated until 1912. In 1910 he purchased the one hundred and twenty acres on section 14, Eden township, which is still his home farm, and now cultivates two hundred acres in all, from which he derives a gratifying annual income. He carries on both general farming and stock-raising, finding that the two occupations coordinate well. He also has other interests, as he is sending as president of the Mutual Telephone Company of Decatur county.

Everything which he does is done to the best of his ability and his energy and progressiveness are indicated by the excellent improvements on his farm and the good condition in which everything is kept.

On the 6th of December, 1905, Mr. Frost was married to Miss Cecil Bracewell, a daughter of Edward and lantha (Snow) Bracewell. The father was born in Ohio and after his removal to this county he operated a farm near Lineville for two years and then conducted and owned a hardware store in that town for thirteen years, after which he again devoted his attention to farming, following that occupation until his demise on the 8th of January, 1904. He was a son of John Bracewell, a native of England. The mother of Mrs. Frost was of American descent and was born in Red Wing, Minnesota, but her marriage was celebrated at Blakesburg, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Frost have two children: Julian Bracewell, who was born June 21, 1908, and is attending district school No. 1 of Eden township; and Miles William, who was born August 6, 1911.

Mr. Frost is a republican in politics and has served for two years as clerk and for four years as assessor of Eden township, while he is now serving his second term as director of his school district. Both he and his wife are members of the Church of Christ of Eden township and take an influential part in its work. The gratifying measure of success which he has achieved is due solely to his well directed industry and his careful management of his affairs, and he is generally respected and esteemed throughout the county.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014