Biographical Sketch of Cyrus H. Frost, Phelps County, Missouri >From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1889. ********************************************************************** Hon. Cyrus H. Frost, president of the National Bank of Rolla, was born February 11, 1816. His parents, Simeon and Mary (Woods) Frost, were natives of Jessamine County, Ky., born in 1789 and 1790, respectively. They were married in their native county and State, and in 1821 immi- grated to Washington County, Mo. The father was a farmer by occupation and also carried on the blacksmith trade. About 1835 he removed to Steelville Valley, Crawford County, Mo., the county seat being located on a portion of his farm. The mother died in 1839, and the father ten years later. Of their eight children all lived to be grown and married. They are named as follows: Hamilton J., James M., Cyrus H., Edmund F., Christopher E., George H., Martha J. and Mary A. Cyrus H. was reared in Jessamine County, Ky., until five years of age, and then his parents moved to Missouri, where he completed his growth on a farm, giving the proceeds of his labor to his parents until twenty-one years of age. In 1837 he was appointed as assessor of Crawford County, and in 1838 he was appointed sheriff, being elected to that position, and was re-elected to the same position in 1840. He then engaged in merchandi- sing for a short time at Steelville, when he sold out, went to Texas County, Mo., and was there elected sheriff, serving three years. About 1843 he commenced the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in Steelville. In August, 1845, he married Miss Hannah Leek, who was born in East Tennessee in 1820, and who bore him six children, only one now living, Sarah J., wife of Hon. A. A. Flett, of Salem, Mo. In 1848 Mr. Frost was elected to the State Legislature from Texas County, and served until 1855, when he resigned to accept the office of clerk of Texas County. He served in this capacity until 1862, when, owing to the unsettled condition of affairs by the late war, he became a citizen of Rolla. In the fall of 1862 he was elected State Senator for Rolla District, and served four years. After his term of office had expired he established a claim and real estate office in Rolla, also practiced law, and in 1870 he was elected to the Legislature from Phelps County as a Liberal Republican, and served one term. He then returned to his former work, in which he remained engaged until 1884, when he was so unfortunate as to lose his eyesight by cataract. In 1870 Mr. Frost was one of the leading spirits of the organization of the Bank of Rolla, was a charter stockholder, was elected a director and also its presi- dent. The following year the bank was reorganized into the National Bank of Rolla, and Mr. Frost was again elected president, a position he has held from the time mentioned until the present, being elected each succeeding year. Mr. Frost also assisted in the erection of Rolla Flour Mills and Grant Hotel. He is one of the old and highly esteemed citizens of Phelps County, and is a man who has always been one of the prominent factors in all public enterprises, and his acts of charity and benevolence are numerous and commendable. He is now in the evening of life, but it is an honor and credit to Rolla and Phelps county that such a man has lived within its borders. For many years he held public offices of trust and honor, and never can it be said that he betrayed a trust or deceived a friend. He is a Republican in politics, is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Royal Arch, and he and Mrs. Frost are members of the Presbyterian Church. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joe Miller Penny (Eisenbarger) Harrell ====================================================================