Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/215

 FROST

FROST

FROST, John, soldier, was born in Kittery, Maiue. May 0, 1738. He was a captain in the Colonial army operating against the French in Canada in 1759, and lieutenant-colonel in the American army in the siege of Boston, 1775. He joined Washington's armj- at Cambridge in 1776 and was promoted colonel, accompanying the army in its ill-fated campaign, beginning with the defeat on Long Island, at Harlem Heights, White Plains and retreat through New Jersey to Philadelphia, and ending with Valley Forge. When Burgoyne invaded New York, Colonel Frost with his regiment joined the forces of Gen- eral Gates and after the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga he rejoined Washington's army and was present at Monmouth and the other success- ful movements in New Jersey. He then served in the southern states under General Greene and participated in the campaign in South Cai'olina, North Carolina and Virginia, terminating in the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. On his return to his native state he was made judge of the court of sessions of York county and served as a member of the governor's council. He died at Kittery, ^laiue, in July, 1810.

FROST, John, educator, was born in Kenne- buuk, Maine, Jan. 26, 1800; son of Nathaniel and Abigail (Kimball) Frost. He studied at Bow- doin one year, and was graduated from Harvard in 1823. He was master of the JIayhew scliool, Boston, Mass., 1823-27; principal of a girl's school in Philadelphia, Pa., 1827-38, and professor of Eu-^lish literature in the Central high .school of the latter city, 1838-45. He was married, May 4, 1830. to Sarah Ann, daughter of James White and Mary (Rhodes) Burditt of Boston. He then devoted himself to historical research and with the help of a corps of writers edited and pub- lished nearly 300 histories and biographies. The honorary degree of LL.D. was coufen-ed upon him by Franklin and Marshall college, Pa., in 1843. Among his publications are: History of the World (3 vols. ); Beauties of Enylish History; Wild Scenes oj a Hunter's Life; Illustrious Mechan- ics; Elements of Enylish Grammar (1829); The Youth's Bool- of the Seasons (1885); The Class Book nf Xalure (1836); Book of the Army; Book of the Xncy (1843); Indian Wars of the United States (1843); Pictorial History of the United States (2 vols., 1844; rev. ed, 18.59); Heroes and Battles of the American Serolution fl845); Life of Major-Oen- 4'rnl Zachnry Taylor (1847); Pictorial Life of Andrew Jackson (1847); Pictorial Life of George Washinrjton (1848); The American Generals (1H8); The American Speaker (1851); The Book of the Colonies (1853); Great Cities of the TTorW (1853);
 * \!id The Presidents of the United States (1855); all

in their time popular subscription books. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 38, 1859.

FROST, Rufus Smith, representative, was born in Marlborough. X U., July 18, 1836; son of Joseph and Lucy (Wheeler) Frost, and a lineal descendant from Elder Edmund Frost, who came from England in 1035 and settled in Cambridge, Mass., where he became the ruling elder of the first churcli. In 1833 he removed to Boston, Mass., with his widowed mother. He entered into mer- cantile business first as clerk and afterward on his own account, and later engaged in the manu- facture of woolens. He was mayor of Chelsea, Mass., 1867-68; a state senator, 1871-73, and a member of Governor Washburn's council. 1873- 74. He was a representative from the 4th dis- trict of Massachusetts in the 44th congress from Dec. 6, 1875, until July 28, 1876, when he was superseded, Josiah G. Abbott being given the seat by the house. In 1807 he presented a library and building to his native town and afterward added to this gift the sum of §5,000, the interest fro:n which was to be used for the pui'chase of new books. He was president of the Congrega- tional club of Boston in 1873; president of the ' American congi-egational association for several years; a trustee of Wellesley college, 1876; presi- dent of the Boston board of trade, 1879-81; presi- dent of the New England conservatory of music, Boston, in 1883; pre.sident of the North national bank, Boston, 1891-94, and president of the Massachusetts homoeopathic hospital. He estab- ■ lished a general hospital in Chelsea, Mass., which he presented to his fellow citizens upon condi- tion that no human being should ever be denied treatment because of poverty, race or color, and that every patient should choose by which school of medicine he should be treated. He was twice married, first to Ellen M., daughter of the Hon. Charles and Amelia (Ripley) Hubbard; and sec- ondly, June 18, 1879, to Catherine Emily, daugh- ter of Benjamin C. and Catherine (Slatthews) Wickham of Corning. N. Y. He died in Chicago, 111., March G, 1K94.

FROST, William Qoodell, educator, was born in Le Roy, N.Y., July 2, 1854; son of the Rev. Lewis P. and Clarissa Maria (Goodell) Fro.st. His fatlier, an independent Congregational minis- ter, a graduate of Oberliu, 1848, died in Janes- ville. Wis., Feb. 33, 1893. His mother was a daugliter of WilUam and Clarissa (Cady) Goodell, granddaughter of Frederick Goodell a Revolu- tionary soldier, and direct descendant from the emigrant, who came from Ipswich, England, to Danvers, Mass., in 1634. He attended Milton college, Beloit college and Oberlin college, and was graduated at the last named in 1876, receiv- ing his A.M. degree in 1879. He was instructor of (Jreek there, 1877-79. He pursued a post grad- uate course at Harvard and at Wooster, Ohio, studied theology at Oberlin, was graduated in