A pioneer of various sections, a veteran of the terrible war of the Rebellion, a capable and public minded citizen, and now one of the well to do farmers in the vicinity of Melrose, the subject of this article is granted consideration in this volume by right.
Electus M. Frost was born in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, on June 22, 1841, being the son of John O. and Jane (Wilsie) Frost, natives of Connecticut, and died in 1857 and 1859, respectively. The father was born in 1808. Electus received his education in Pennsylvania and when sixteen his father died and he and his older brother were called upon to support the family. Two years later the mother died and our subject went to do for himself.
He learned the shoemaker’s trade and wrought at it until the breaking out of the war, when he laid all aside and enlisted in Company I, Sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under General Meade. He also served under General McClellan. He participated in the battles of Gainesville and some skirmishes and in 1862, he was discharged for disability. Returning home he wrought at his trade until 1879, having taken a journey to California in the meantime, the year of that excursion being 1872.
In 1879 he bought a farm and tilled it until 1887, when he came west to Latah County and bought a farm of two hundred and eighty-five acres. He did general farming and raised horses, and did well. In 1893 he was pinched in the crash and sold one hundred and twenty-five acres of land. He made that his home until 1901, when he came to the reservation and secured a quarter where he now lives, one and one half miles south of Melrose. He also owns the quarter in Latah County.
In 1864 Mr. Frost married Miss Mary J., daughter of Joseph and Eliza A. (Bryan) Warren. The father was born in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, in 1798, being the first male white child born there. His parents were pioneers there from England in 1796 and for one year they did not see a white woman. The mother of Mrs. Frost was born in Pennsylvania, in 1808, of English extraction. Mrs. Frost was born in Pennsylvania, Sullivan County, in 1844 and in her younger years was a teacher in the schools. She had one sister and one brother, both being dead. Mr. Frost has one sister and three brothers. Mary Nichols, in South Carolina: Clayton, John O. and Henry. The brothers were all through the Civil war. To Mr. and Mrs. Frost there have been born six children: Frank, at Ithica, New York, conductor on a railroad: Cora Collins, in Latah County: John, deceased; Emma Fritz and Maud Thomas, in Nez Perces County; Fred, at home.
Mr. Frost is a member of the Masonic order and also of the G. A. R. Mrs. Frost is a devout member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Frost is a Republican and is an active participant in all questions of government and of local interest.
Back to: Nez Perce Biographies
Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903