Rasmus Frost (1851-1923)

FROST

Posted By: Debra Scott Hierlmeier (email)
Date: 11/11/2008 at 20:17:14

RASMUS FROST 1851-1923
Pioneer Business Man Passes Away
Came to Avoca in 1879 Organized First Creamery in Avoca Also Served on Town Council

Ramus Frost was born in Denmark, January 26, 185. He died at the Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Friday night, January 12, at 10:30 o’clock aged 82 years, 11 months, and 17 days.

The funeral services were held at his late home Monday, January 13, at 2 o’clock pm with Rev. Roland Propst of the Presbyterian church officiating. The remains were laid to rest in the family lot in the Avoca cemetery.

Rasmus Frost, was born in Denmark, his parents being Jans and Marie (Christenson) Frost, he was reared on a farm in his native country, and at the age of twenty-three years he came to the United States, coming to Avoca where he joined his father who had come to America five years before. Mr. Frost arrived in Avoca on April 19, 1874. He became attracted by the business opportunities for a young man willing to work. For a year he worked for the Rock Island Railway, after which he turned his attention to farming upon rented land, he continued farming until 1880. He then purchased 80 acres of land in Shelby county, six miles northwest of Avoca. Mr. Frost had recently married to Miss Anna Olesen, who died soon after purchasing the 80 acres. The death of his wife changed his plans and in 1882 he moved to Avoca and stared to work n a newly organized creamery of which he later became sole owner.

Mr. Frost gave his time and attentions to the managements and until 1890 when he disposed of his interest and with his family made a trip back to his native country. After spending a summer in Denmark he returned to Avoca where he spent his time at farming and the feeding of cattle and the breeding of Duroc Jersey hogs.

Mr. Frost was a man of excellent business ability; he served on the town council four terms and proved a very valuable man for the city.

He was married the second time to Miss Alice Aukerstjerne, a native of Denmark, in 1883. To this union were born three children, one son, Lambert died about seven years ago. Those left to survive him besides his wife are Mrs. Walter Davis of Avoca and Miss Anna, also of Avoca.

Mr. Frost has held a prominent place in Avoca’s business world for the past forty years. He was one of the stockholders of the Citizens Savings bank, when it was organized and became its vice president, for several years. After the death of Mr. Davis, the president, Mr. Frost became president and was a very valuable man for the well known institution. His advice and opinion was sought by many and that advice helped many a friend over the rocky road to smoother traveling in the business world.

No man ever lived in our community who did more, and loved to see our little city and the people of the community prosper and succeed than R. Frost. His death has cast a shadow over our city, where he had lived in a community he loved for over a half century.

Mr. Frost was taken sick some days ago and was taken to the Jennie Edmundson hospital hoping he would get relief but his frail body and failing health could not respond and he passed away, his good deeds and kind advice to those who knew him, all now a passing memory.

From the Scrapbooks of Bessie Gross Gustafsen
Source: Avoca Journal Herald