RUFUS H. FROST
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In 1879, R. H. Frost, was elected superintendent of the county schools, and has been re-elected his own successor twice since, and is the present incumbent of the office.
Rufus H. Frost, who is now holding the responsible position of superintendent of schools of Cass county, is a native of the town of Charleston, Sullivan county, New Hampshire. His grandfather was a native of the State of Maine, but removed to New Hampshire when a young man. In that State he made his permanent home, and there our subject's father, Thomas Frost was born. His mother, Juliana L. (Shurtleff) Frost, was also a native of New Hampshire. Rufus H. was reared in Charleston, New Hampshire, and received his education there, and at New London and Meriden. He graduated at Kimball Union academy in 1865, but had taught one term of school previously. After graduation, he started west, and located in Madison county, Illinois. Here he readily obtained employment as teacher, which engagement continued one year. He then determined to commence the study of law, and went to Charleston for that purpose. While earning his support by teaching in the country, he spent his spare time in preparing himself for the legal profession in Charleston. While there he was appointed to the principalship of the public schools at Whitehall, which position he gave up to take charge of Hamilton seminary. He remained in control there one year, and then went to Springfield to accept the position of principal of the second ward school. The next year he went to Atlanta, Illinois, and re-organized the public schools of that place. But Mr. Frost had by no means laid aside his design of becoming identified with the legal profession, and after one year spent in Atlanta, he returned to Springfield, and resumed his reading, and was admitted to the bar in 1873. He practiced his profession up to 1875, when the temptation to resume his old profession of teaching became so strong that he, in 1876, came to Atlantic, and accepted the position of principal of the west side school. This position he filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to all, for three years, when he was appointed to the office of superintendent of schools of Cass county. His efforts toward the improvement of the schools of the county were justly appreciated, and he has held the office ever since, being repeatedly re-elected to the office by the suffrages of the citizens of the county. There can be no doubt that to Mr. Frost's unceasing efforts the high position which the schools of the county have attained, is largely due. He was united in marriage in July, 1867, to Miss Julia E. Stanard. She is a graduate of the State Normal University, at Normal, Illinois, and is herself an accomplished teacher. Since coming to Atlantic, her services have been given almost constantly to the public schools here. Two children have blessed their union--Edwin R. W., and Kathrina J. E. Mr. Frost offered his services to his country during the civil war, but he was not accepted on account of disability. He, however, had charge of government teams connected with the bureau of yards and docks in South Carolina for eight months. Mr. Frost is a member of the Masonic order.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass county, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 473-474.
