Broward County FlArchives Biographies.....Frost, Martin C. 1886 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Rayburn http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006128 October 23, 2015, 1:25 am Source: Vol. II pg.108-109 The Lewis Publishing Co. 1923 Author: History of Florida, Past and Present MARTIN C. FROST, of a pioneer family in the Dania District of Broward County, is a young business man, and his splendid energy and initiative have put him into a class where he is regarded as one of the largest tomato growers in the United States. He is also a banker, large property owner, and has taken a prominent part in the official affairs of his home community and county. Mr. Frost was born at Maple Valley, Oconto County, Wisconsin, in 1886, and three weeks after his birth his mother died. His father, A. C. FROST, was for many years a prominent figure in the lumber industry of Wisconsin, represented his county in the State Legislature there, and was founder of the Town of Mountain. In 1900 he came to Florida, following his oldest son, G. A. FROST, and for a time lived at Titusville in Brevard County. In 1901 he removed to Dania, in what was then Dade, now Broward County, and was one of the pioneers in that district, where he is still living. For a number of years he conducted a mercantile business at Dania, and in the meantime acquired valuable property and surrounding agricultural lands. In this section he became agent for the lands of the Florida East Coast Railway. The land business of this railroad is conducted under the name of the Model Land Company. For several years, up to 1921, he also served as county commissioner of Broward County. MARTIN C. FROST was about fifteen years old when his father came to Dania, and he grew up in this locality. There were less than half a dozen houses in the community when the family located at Dania, and scarcely a beginning had been made of cultivating the surrounding lands, lands that have since grown into rich productiveness and have made Dania one of the famous winter vegetable producing regions of Florida. Substantial fortunes have been made in the tomato and other crops. After leaving school MARTIN C. FROST was associated with his father in the mercantile business for several years, but since 1908 has concentrated his energies on farming, specializing more and more in the growing of tomatoes, one of the choicest crops of winter vegetables used in Florida. Through the skill and efficiency and business-like management he has shown he has set some new standards in the cultivation, management and handling of this crop. Most of his tomato growing interests are in association with Capt. M. C. HARDEE of Miami, a widely known citizen whose career is sketched elsewhere. Under the firm name of Hardee & Frost they are not only producers of tomatoes, but conduct a shipping and marketing business that probably exceeds that of any other individual firm in Florida. One of the largest tomato plantations in the state is operated by Hardee & Frost, known as the East Marsh. During 1922 this firm developed a 200-acre tract for tomato production. The clearing of the land, which had never before been in cultivation, was begun in 1921. They took special care to provide an adequate system of drainage, running ditches, both large and small, throughout the tract, and in order to facilitate the prompt discharge of surplus water, they installed a system of propeller pumps, which were used with splendid results during one of the heavy rainy seasons in the spring of 1922. The Hardee & Frost crop was entirely saved from any injury at this time, and when it was harvested there were upwards of 500 crates to the acre. The crops are being handled in a large packing house at Hallandale. Mr. Frost is also vice president of the Bank of Dania, and he succeeded his father several years ago as representative for this territory of the Model Land Company. He owns and handles a large amount of land and town property of his own. Mr. Frost is the present mayor of Dania, and has served in that capacity for several terms. In 1921 he was appointed by the governor to the office of county commissioner of Broward County for the unexpired term of his father, who had resigned. In the democratic primaries of June, 1922, he was regularly nominated and was elected in November. Mr. Frost married a Wisconsin girl, Miss MAY LAWLER. They have six children, HOWARD, ILA, MARTIN, JACK, KATHERINE and JEANETTE. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/broward/photos/bios/frost213bs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/broward/bios/frost213bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/flfiles/ File size: 5.0 Kb