Isaac Frost, Transcription of Will

Isaac Frost Will
Recorded in Book D
Page 143
Journal K 156

Proved and append (?) in
Open Court May 2 1839

Est. A, No. 621

Isaac Frost of the township of Olmsted, county of Cuyahoga, and the state of Ohio, being sick in body but of sound and disposeing mind, memory, and understanding do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following. That is to say

First: it is my will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be paid.

Second: I give devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Annise Frost in heir of her dowry one third of all the movable property to be her owne and the use of the other tow thirds for two years use of all my farm on which I now reside situated in the township of Olmsted on the road runing west from Elias C. Frost containing about 30 acres for as long as she lives; she however first disposeing of a sufficensy there of to pay my just debts as afforesaid & when she has done with it all the property bequeathed to her as aforesaid except the one third of moveable property to be her owne to my grandchildren that I shall here after disignate and to their heirs and assigns forever in the following manner, vis.

Third: I give and divise to the children of Sally my eldest daughter one hundred and seventy five dollars and to their heirs and assigns forever.

Forth: I give and divise to the children of Easter my second daughter one hundred and seventy five dollars and to their heirs and assigns forever.

Fifth: I give and divise to the children of Lyman my second son one hundred and seventy five dollars and to their heirs and assigns forever.

Sixth: What remains is to be divided into four equal parts to the children of the aforesaid Sally one part, the children of the aforesaid Easter one part, and the children of the aforesaid Lyman one part, to the children of Elias one part to their heirs and assigns forever.

Seventhly: It is my will that Elias C. Frost ____ inheritance in my estate.

And lastly: I hereby constitute and appoint Annice Frost, wife, and William Wood to be my executors for this my last will and testament revoking and annulling all former wills by me made and satisfying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.
Signed Isaac Frost

In testimony whereof I hereby set my hand and seal this thirty first day of December, AD one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.

Sined published and delivered by the above named Isaac Frost and from his last will and testament in presence of us who at his request singed as witness of the same.
John Kennedy
Hiram B. Gleason
William Wood


_______________
My notes:
I believe Isaac Frost died early 1839. His first wife, Anna, had died about 1812. The second wife, Annise, was much younger than her husband, but I don't find any children by the union. She is still living in Olmstead Twp. Ohio in 1840, age 40 - 50.

One of his daughters was Sarah "Sally" Frost who married Mr. Hosmer Merry. Both Sally and Hosmer had died by the date of this will. They had six children.

Daughter, Esther Frost, married Mr. Abijah Comstock. I don't have her children listed at this time. She was still living at the time of this will.

Older son, Elias C. Frost was a physician. He married Phoebe McIlrath, and had 6 children. In 1840, two or three of his sons migrated to Johnson County Iowa. I believed he traveled there soon afterward, leaving his wife and other children in Olmstead OH. An Iowa record says he was buried in Johnson County, Iowa, as were 2 or 3 of his sons, Jarvis, Jackson, and possibly a son named Lyman.

Second son, J. Lyman Frost is my ancestor. He was a Dr. although I believe self-proclaimed. He married Oriana Paine. They had 4 children born in Ohio. In 1830, the family migrated to Michigan, then in 1836 to Peoria, Illinois, where his wife died. By 1841, Lyman and his family had moved to Johnson County Iowa, about the same time as did his nephews above.

Although there is a missing word (torn corner) in the will concerning son, Elias C. Frost, it is possible that being the oldest son, he inherited the balance of estate. Or the missing word(s) could say that he "has no" inheritance in the estate. Note that none of Isaac's other children received anything, just grandchildren. In 1840, Isaac's widow still lives on the estate, near Elias and family. She may have remarried after that... no record found yet.

Will of Isaac Frost, 1759 - 1838

Isaac Frost, b. Waterbury CT, 1759. Lived in Cuyahoga County OH from early 1800s to his death. This will was written and signed by him Dec. 31, 1838. Probate was in early 1839. We do not know the exact date of his death. The scan is hard to read, but I will follow up with a transcription.

James Rodgers Biography from History of Pocahontas County

Among the worthy industrious persons whose arduous toils and severe privations helped to make our county what it is, deserving of respectful mention was the late James Rodgers, Senior. He was a native of Madison County, born February 13, 1789. His first marriage was with a Miss Jackson of Madison County. The -issue of this marriage was seven children. The sons were Robert, whose wife was a daughter of John Smith, one of the pioneers of Stoney Creek, Joseph, and Drury. The daughters were Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Tabitha. Respecting these children we have virtually no particulars in hand. James Rodgers came to Pocahontas County in 1824 and settled in the woods on Lewis Ridge, at a spot overlooking the Buckeye Cove. (A short distance north of Greenbank. Remember that Greenbank is where Samuel Given got started in the mercantile business before coming to Upper Glade.) Thus he and his family became identified with the county almost from its organization.

His second marriage was with Nellie Lewis, of the Little Levels, a granddaughter of Alexander Waddell, whose descendants are so numerously represented by prosperous and influential citizens in our county at this time. By the second marriage there were six children: Margaret, who became Henry Adhinson's first wife. Rebecca, who became Mrs. Fillren. William Rodgers married Polly Fleming, daughter of the late James Fleming of Swago, and settled on part of the Fleming homestead near Buckeye, where his widow and two daughters now reside. He was a Union pensioner for service in the Union Army. Chesley Rodgers married Mrs. Sally Morrison and settled near Jacox. John Rodgers married a Miss Harter. James L. Rodgers, Junior, was married twice. The first wife was Eliza Burgess. There were ten children in the first family: Justice N. R. Rodgers of Buckeye; the late Mrs. Hannah Wade; G. W. Rodgers of Beaver Dam; Davis Rodgers, deceased; John H. Rodgers, also dead; Maggie became Mrs. William Adkisson of Buckeye; Eliza became Mrs. Olie Auldridge and lives at Hillsboro, Mary and Alvin W. near Buckeye.

By the second marriage with Mrs. Mary Kellison there was a son Lewis, who is now dead, and a daughter Laura.

Thus the writer has endeavored to present the available information concerning this worthy old citizen and his family, aided by his grandson, A. W. Rodgers.

In his time James Rodgers had the reputation of being one of the most industrious of working men. He tried to train his sons and daughters to habits of industry and strict economy. Soon as they became old enough for service they went from home and found ready employment as field hands and housekeepers. This venerable man was a zealous and devoted adherent of the Methodist Protestant church. He was one of the first members in the Buckeye society, and probably one of the first in the country. His prayers and experiences talks were in good language, interspersed with allusions to the parables and quotations of the promises. All this indicates that in early, impressible youth he must have been familiar with persons of more than ordinary culture, such as Madison County was distinguished for. In his speech he had the tone and style that characterized the old Virginia gentry, as the writer learned to know in subsequent years from actual acquaintance with east Virginians.

The writer cherishes the memory of this old citizen with feeling of much respect, as the two often toiled in the meadows and harvest fields side by side in his boyhood. He remembers being often impressed by the pathos and fervency of the old man's occasional prayers in the morning worship. This was some thing which was never omitted in the old Marlington home. The belief of the old people was that "prayer and provender hinder no man" and so time was always found for prayer, as well as for breakfast and supper.

Some of his expressions still linger in memory after more than fifty years. One was an allusion to the grapes of Eschol as typical of the richness of the promised land. His idea was that God would give his humble praying people here while on the pilgrimage a cluster now and then from the heavenly vine so as to refresh and encourage them to put forth their earnest, faithful efforts to go up and receive possession of the heavenly land. This allusion was utilized as suggestive of a sermon prepared and preached by the writer thirty years ago. May we meet and see for ourselves the blessed land in all its richness -and glorious beauty, and especially the vine from which the clusters were gathered that cheered and encouraged him.

Samuel Young Griffin and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Terry

Samuel Young Griffin
b. 23 Sept. 1840 Pocahontas Co, VA
m. 9 Oct. 1873, Sunnyside, Montgomery Co., KS
d. 2 Oct. 1891 Sycamore Twp. Montgomery Co., KS (Obituary says of typhoid fever)

Spouse: Elizabeth "Lizzie" Terry
b. 21 Jan. 1850, Milwaukee, Dane Co., WI
d. 20 Mar. 1939, Edmond, Okla. Co., OK

Samuel Young Griffin is the son of William Griffin and Elizabeth Rodgers. The family lived in Pocahontas County, VA (later West VA) farming in the area of the Greenbrier River near present day Marlinton. His grandfather, Jonathan Griffin, had migrated to VA from Connecticut and married, Rachel Sharp, daughter of pioneer William Sharp.

The following statements are abstracted from Samuel's obituary, not necessarily proven true.
Samuel "...was a drummer boy for Co. F 47th Reg. Ohio Vols. At the close of the war, he moved to Iowa with his father's family. Then moved to Jasper Co., MO. In 1869 moved to Kansas along with the late Col. Samuel Young. Lived north of Larimer, Kansas. On Oct. 9, 1873, he married Elizabeth Terry."

In Samuel Young Griffin's military pension records, registration and muster papers indicate that he enlisted Sept. 18, 1861 at Weston VA (became W. VA) at age 20, 5 days before his 21st birthday. We find no evidence that he was a drummer boy, although he was a provost guard (guarding officers' headquarters). His description was: blue eyes, dark hair, fair complexion, height 5 ft. 9 in.

Throughout his 3 years of service, he was taken ill at different times as were many soldiers of that war. He was hospitalized at Louisville, KY. He contracted measles in Feb. 1862, near Camp Tompkins, WVA, which resulted in chronic bronchitis. He was present in muster rolls during most of 1862. Spent most of 1863 at Louisville Hospital; had duty as provost guard there. During 1864, he was a member of the Veteran Reserve Corps, and was discharged in September at the end of his third year, at Chicago, IL. One major under whom he served was Major McCook, one of 15 of Ohio's "Fighting McCooks", who were involved in major battles at Chickamauga and Kennesaw Mt., GA, among others. A Col. Daniel McCook was killed at Kennesaw Mt., GA, fighting under General Sherman, June 1864. I do not know if Samuel Griffin's company was involved in this battle, although I do believe they were in Georgia, as one muster roll is dated Atlanta, Aug. 1864, which included his name. Follow this link to letters written by Samuel to his parents during the Civil War.

Lizzie Terry, daughter of William and Charlotte Terry, moved with her family from her birthplace in Milwaukee, WI, to Macon County, IL. During the Civil War, her brothers were naturalized and served in the Union Army. Her father died during the 1860s and the family moved to the Southeastern part of Kansas soon afterwards. Lizzie and Sam met in Montgomery County, Kansas, where they were married when Sam was 33 and Lizzie was 23 years of age. Their marriage certificate says the wedding took place "at the home of the bride's mother at Sunnyside."

Sam and Lizzie had seven children, six of whom grew to adulthood. Samuel's veteran pension papers verify the birthdates and places of the children, and who was present at the births.

Harry L. "Jack" Griffin, born Sept. 1874
Charles Walter "Charley" Griffin, a twin, born on March 15, 1877
Mata or Mattie Griffin, a twin, born on March 15, 1877
(Died at 6 months; buried at Crone's Cemetery)
Ira D. Griffin, born on Nov. 26, 1878
Clara M. Griffin, born on Dec. 17, 1881
Elmer E. Griffin, born on April 23, 1885
Floyd F. Griffin, born on Oct. 3, 1889

Samuel died in 1891. The funeral was at Krone's School Methodist Episcopal, where he was a member. He is buried at the Krone's Cemetery, Montgomery County, Kansas. His obituary states:
"Brothers still living at the time of his death: Andrew, Adam, Adonijah, John, William, and Peter. Sister: Mrs. Hugh McNutt."

A few months after Samuel's death, Lizzie and her children moved to Edmond, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, where her mother-in-law, Elizabeth Rodgers Griffin, and brother-in-law, Peter C. Griffin had settled as 89ers.

We have posted a page which includes obituary and a tribute to Lizzie Terry Griffin, who passed away March 30, 1939 at 89 years. She is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery in Edmond.

William Griffin, son of Jonathan

William Griffin, my great great grandfather, was the third child of Jonathan and Rachael Sharp Griffin. He was born March 27, 1812, in Bath County Virginia (later to become Pocahontas Co. West Virginia). An old family letter states that William was called “Billy”, and also that he was educated in Connecticut. I have seen no evidence of the latter. Although his father was born in CT, we find no information that family members returned to CT from West Virginia for education.

We do know that the family valued education, and William was a school teacher and Sunday School teacher. According to his obituary, he was an active member and later an officer, of the Methodist Episcopal Church from age 22. He may well have met his wife, Elizabeth M. Rodgers, at church, as her father, James Rodgers, was a devout man of the area. Of course, the churches met in homes in those days, or outdoors under the trees.

This quote is from “Moccasin Tracks and other Imprints” by William C. Dodrill, 1915.

“It is not known that any schools were taught in this county [Webster] before 1835. The first school of which I have any knowledge was erected by two brothers, William and Benjamin Hamrick, and James Dodrill, on the Elk [River] nearly opposite the mouth of Wolf Pen Run, six miles above Webster Springs. [My note: At that time this would have been in Nicholas or Braxton County, later Webster.] These three men employed William Griffin to teach three months, for which he was to receive 30 dollars and board. Spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic were the branches taught. The Bible was the text used in the reading classes. …”

Note: William would have been about 23 at this time. Another source says that William’s brother, Benoni Griffin, taught at the school. Benoni later married William Hamrick’s daughter, Nancy.

Elizabeth Rodgers, daughter of James and Elizabeth Jackson Rodgers, was born Aug. 4, 1818, in what she called “East” Virginia, probably Culpeper or Madison County, VA. Her mother died when Elizabeth was a child. Her father brought seven children over the mountains to the Buckeye area of Pocahontas County, where he married for a second time, and had six more children. They lived on Rodgers Mountain, south of the Stony Creek area where the Griffins lived.

After the time that William was a teacher, we next find a record of William as an adult, recipient of 62 acres (possibly more) of land transferred or sold to him by his father, Jonathan Griffin, Sept 4, 1838, just a few weeks before William and Elizabeth's marriage. The land was originally granted to Benoni Griffin of Connecticut, on the Greenbrier River (now site of the Green Bank Telescope.) Jonathan was somehow related to this Benoni; I hope to discover a father/son relationship.

We have a copy of the marriage certificate for William and Elizabeth, which is found on pg. 25, Pocahontas Co. Marriage Book as follows:

22 Oct 1838 Bond: William Griffin and Elizabeth M. Rogers. Surety, William Griffin and James Rogers.

25 Oct 1838 Return: William GRIFFIN and Elizabeth M. Rogers by Joseph G. McKeehan.

There is no indication that William and Elizabeth ever lived on the Green Bank land. Their first son, Joseph was born in 1839, in Pocahontas, where the rest of the Jonathan Griffin family lived. Then in 1840, William, Elizabeth, and son, under 5, are found in Nicholas County. This county was the home of Elizabeth’s two sisters, Tabitha Rodgers, wife of James McAvoy, and Sarah Ann Rodgers, wife of Adonijah Harris, and brother, Robert Rodgers. Harris and Robert Rodgers were both blacksmiths by trade. In later years, at least three of William’s children/grandchildren list their occupations as blacksmith.

William and his wife Elizabeth farmed in Pocahontas County near the family farm in 1850, as father, Jonathan, was aged. After Jonathan’s death around 1852, most of his sons and families, as well as their mother, Rachael, moved to Braxton (later Webster County west of the mountains near the Elk River. Brother, Abraham, stayed on the family farm on Swago and Stony Creek in Pocahontas County.

William was on the petition for the formation of Webster County West VA, in 1860. It has been stated in a family letter that he farmed 400 acres in Webster County. He was blinded in one eye by a corn stalk when walking through his field.

Military Service: Two sons, James M., and Levi J., died of illness, in service to the Union during the Civil War. James served in the 47th Regiment of the Ohio Voluntary Infantry - probably mustered in 1861. He died June 22, 1862. He was first buried in the military cemetery at Charleston West VA, then later re-interred at the military cemetery at West Virginia.

Levi J. was a Private in the 10th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, mustered at Sutton May 3, 1862, at age 18. He died Oct. 13, 1864, at Winchester, of fever. Another son, Samuel Young Griffin, also served the Union in the Ohio Vols 47th Regiment. Although he was stricken with illness, he did return from the war and accompanied the family as they headed west. Our Griffin line descends through Samuel. Letters to father, William, from Samuel during the Civil War.

During the latter part of the war, the families were forced to leave their farms in Webster County and relocate to the military base in Clarksburg, Harrison County. At the close of the Civil War, William and Elizabeth along with their remaining children, and several related families, decided to leave the new state of West Virginia to head for western states. Their sympathies for the Union brought persecution from their neighbors...to the extent that at one time they had to hide in a water filled ditch. The story of this exodus is recorded by a descendant of the Miller family, who traveled with Griffin and Harris families (all related). Click Here for John J. Miller's Civil War Story.

Family letters state that in 1865, William and Elizabeth and ten children, along with several other related families boarded a steamboat on the Ohio River (probably at Marietta OH), and sailed down the Ohio to the Mississippi, then to the Missouri River and up to Council Bluffs, Iowa. As John Miller had land in Exira, Audubon County Iowa, the family must have traveled there by wagon. Elizabeth’s aunts, Julia and Elizabeth Rodgers, in their 80s, (Julia was blind) traveled with them and then on to their brother Chesley’s home in Indianola, Iowa.

As stated in Miller’s story, the Griffins and Millers farmed for a short time in Iowa, then in Carthage, Missouri, and finally in Montgomery County, in southeastern Kansas. Sycamore Township became the home of this family and descendants for many years.

In 1889, William and Elizabeth’s youngest son, Peter Griffin, unmarried, age 28, made the Oklahoma Land Run, staking claims for himself and his parents, west of Edmond in Deer Creek. Soon after they moved to Edmond, Oklahoma Territory, William died. He is now buried at Gracelawn Cemetery. Elizabeth died in 1903, after her daughter in law, Lizzie Griffin, widow of Samuel, and children moved to Oklahoma.

This obituary comes from a Kansas Newspaper, although Wm.'s death occurred in Oklahoma. Jan Griffin Leaf has provided this.

GRIFFIN - William Griffin was born in Pocahontas County, VA., March 27, 1812, and died near Edmond, I. T., [should be Okla. Terr..] Nov. 4, 1889. He married Elizabeth M. Rogers, Oct. 25, 1838. There were born to them twelve sons and two daughters; seven sons and one daughter survive their father, and also his aged wife. He was a devoted member of the M.E. Church for 55 years, during which time he filled various offices in the Church. Father Griffin was a true type of a man and Christian. He was one of the few that opposed secession in his township at the breaking out of the Rebellion. He moved and settled for a time in Montgomery County, Kans., during which time the writer was his pastor and always found him in his place at church when it was possible for him to be there. He died as the good man dieth, and leaves behind him the savor of a good name, more to be desired than gold. J. ALBERT HYDEN. Cherry Vale, Kans.

More information on the children of William and Elizabeth:

Three children did not survive to adulthood and we do not know their dates of death or burial place. They are Rachel J., Robert O., and Alpheus. The oldest son, Joseph, is said to have died of fever about 1861, at age 22.

Samuel Young Griffin married Elizabeth “Lizzie” Terry, in Montgomery Co., Kansas. When he died in 1891, Lizzie brought the children to live in Oklahoma on the land claimed by her brother-in-law, Pete. The story of Sam and Lizzie, their life and family will be found on a separate blog page.

Adam Bland Griffin. We have a biography of Adam, contributed by a descendant, Elisha Dawn Barnett. Adam met Sarah Wiggins in Iowa, where they eloped. They then came to Kansas, farmed and raised a large family. Adam made the Oklahoma Land Run of 1893.

Sarah Ann “Sally” Griffin, the only surviving daughter of Wm. and Elizabeth, married Hugh McNutt when the Griffin family lived in Iowa. She was widowed in her 40s, and after living in Edmond, OK, with sister-in-law, Lizzie for a while, followed her children to Burbank, California, where she died in 1937.

Andrew W. Griffin married Zara Mayfield. He farmed in Montgomery Co., Kansas. Andrew was listed as a blacksmith in the 1870s, as was his brother Adonijah Harris Griffin. We have made contact with a descendant of Andrew and Zara, who lives in Colorado. Link to Andrew’s obituary.

John L. Griffin, with wife Clara O. Piersol & family, migrated from Kansas to Colorado around 1892. John was a mathematician and held positions as teacher, principal & Supt. of Schools, in Boulder and Everett, WA. We also have a biography of John L. and family, contributed by Jan Griffin Leaf of the Seattle, WA area.

Adonijah "Nije" Griffin went to Colorado at about the same time as John, and then to Texas. His first wife was Mattie Hinton, and second was Ida Groseclose. In Baylor County, TX, Nije was a blacksmith and served as postmaster. His descendants are found in New Mexico, Arizona and California.

William F. Griffin married Ellen Davis in Montgomery County, KS, in 1880. He was a farmer and settled in Sparks, Lincoln County, OK. Later he listed his occupation as house painter, was divorced, and lived for a time in Oklahoma City, OK. He died in Sparks, OK, in 1922. His children stayed in Oklahoma.

Peter Charles Griffin was the youngest son of William and Elizabeth. "Uncle Pete" never married. He worked the farm with his father. In 1889, he made the Oklahoma Land Run, staking a claim at Edmond, for himself and his parents. At his death in 1934, he willed his accumulated wealth to his many nieces and nephews. His will provided for a stone for his parents, Elizabeth and William Griffin, in Gracelawn Cemetery, Edmond, Oklahoma. Link to Uncle Pete's story.

Children of Jonathan and Rachel Griffin

Each family of Rachel and Jonathan's married children will be touched on here, although we do not have complete descendancy lists.

1. ABRAHAM GRIFFIN, B. 1808, D. AFTER 1880. Married at about age 21.
Records show - Abraham Griffin and Nancy Waugh, married 29 Oct 1829, Pocahontas, Virginia. Nancy was the daughter of James Waugh, jr., and Rebecca McGuire.

Children:
1. Jonathan James Griffin, sometimes called James, b: 1829 in Pocahontas, VA, married Lucinda Fleming at age 30, d. unknown after age 50.
2. Malinda Griffin b: 1831 in Pocahontas, VA, never married, d. 1922, Buckeye WV. Some glimpses of her life are recorded in the works of West Virginia Poet Laureate, Louise McNeill, in whose family "Aunt Malindy" spent her last years.
3. Dianna Rachel Griffin b: 22 Dec 1836 in Pocahontas, VA; At age 19, married 1) Jacob L. Buzzard, 2) Mr. Moorten ; d. 1912, WA.
4. Eliza B. Griffin, b. about 1839 , in Pocahontas, VA, married William Pritt at age 28; died after 1920, leaving many descendants in the Little Levels area.
5. Matthias "Potts" Griffin b: 1842 in Pocahontas, VA, d. 1862 in Confederate service at Sharpsburg (Antietam).
6. Sarah Griffin b: 1844 in Pocahontas, VA, died at about age 16.
7. Margaret Griffin b: 1847 in Pocahontas, VA, married Claiborne McNeel; d. 1926. She was step mother to Nathan C. McNeel, State Senator of West Virginia.

Abraham and Nancy and most of their family lived in Pocahontas County all their lives, farming near Edray P. O. probably on the Jonathan Griffin farm on Stony Creek and land he purchased in the 1830s on Swago Creek. Nancy died before 1880, possibly in Buckeye, and Abraham may have lived even longer, as the last time we find him in census [1880], he is 72 years old.

2. MARGARET GRIFFIN, B. ABOUT 1810, D. ABOUT 1903. Married at about age 29.
Marriage Record:
7 Dec 1839 Bond: Isaac Hamrick, of Nicholas County, & Margaret Griffin. Surety, Isaac (x) Hamrick & William Griffin. Jonathan Griffin consents for daughter. Teste, Abraham Griffin & William Griffin. William Hamrick makes oath his son, Isaac, is 21 years of age. Teste, William Griffin & Benomi [sic] Griffin. 10 Dec 1839 Return: Isaac Hamrick & Margaret Griffin by John W. Osborne.

The family lived on Point Mountain, four miles above Webster Springs, in Webster County (formed in 1860 from Nicholas, Braxton, Randolph Co.)
Children:
1. Jonathan Griffin Hamrick, b. 1846, Nicholas Co., VA, married Rebecca Jane Hamrick, daughter of Peter Hamrick. Jonathan lived on Point Mountain where his father lived, then moved to St. Petersburg, FL.
2. Mildred J. Hamrick, b. 1852, Nicholas Co., VA, married Robert A. Lilly of Randolph Co.
3. Nathan Hamrick, b. 1855, Nicholas Co., VA, married Isabel Harrah.
4. Levi Hamrick, b. 1848, Nicholas Co, VA, married Almarinda Cogar, a daughter of George Cogar. He also raised his family and lived for a number of years near the home of his father.
5. Rachel Ellen Hamrick, b. 1843, Nicholas Co., VA, married Alfred R. Miller. They raised their family on the Back Fork of Elk River in Webster County.
6. Andrew Hamrick, died when young.

Isaac Hamrick died 11 February 1893, and is buried in a private cemetery near the Pleasant Grove Church. His wife, Margaret, who died about 1903, at the age of 93 years, is buried beside him.

3. WILLIAM GRIFFIN, B. 1812, D. 1889, EDMOND OKLAHOMA. Married at about age 26,
Pocahontas County, Virginia. We have a copy of the certificate, October 22, 1838, William Griffin m. Elizabeth M. Rodgers.

Children: Information comes from family Bible and census records.
1. Joseph N. Griffin b. 2 Aug. 1839, VA; d. 1861-62 Braxton Co, WV.
2. Samuel Young Griffin , b. 23 Sept 1840, VA; Union Soldier, Ohio Vols.; d. 1891, Sycamore, Montgomery Co., KS; married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Terry
3. James M. Griffin b. 7 Jan. 1842, VA; Union Soldier, Died in Service, 1862
4. Levi J. Griffin, b. 8 Aug. 1843, VA; Union Soldier, Died in Service, 1864
5. Adam Bland Griffin , b. 1844-1845, Sutton, Braxton Co., VA; d. 1925, Caldwell, KS; married Sarah Ann Wiggins
6. Andrew W. Griffin, b. 3 Oct. 1846, VA; married Zarah E. Mayfield; d. 1917, Montgomery Co., KS
7. Sarah A. Griffin, b. 22 Feb. 1848, VA; married Hugh McNutt; died Sept. 1937, Burbank, California.
8. Robert O. Griffin, b. 23 Oct. 1849, VA; died between 1860-70, unknown location.
9. Adonijah Harris "Nije" Griffin, b. 6 Aug. 1851, VA; married 1) Mattie 2) Ida Groseclose; died between 1928-30, Texas.
10. William F. Griffin, b. Jan 1853, Ohio; married Ellen Davis; d. 1922, Lincoln Co., OK
11. John Luther Griffin, b. 24 April 1855, VA; married Clara Odessa Piersol; d. Jan 25, 1925, Everett, WA
12. Rachel J. Griffin, b. 22 Oct. 1856 , VA; d. about 1868, location unknown.
13. Alpheus Griffin, b. 1 Jan 1859, VA; d. before 1870 location unknown.
14. Peter Charles Griffin, b. 20 Aug. 1860; never married; d. April 25 1934, Edmond, OK



4. BENONI GRIFFIN, B. 1814, D. 1888. Married at about age 20. His wife was Nancy Hamrick.
"Descendants of William Hamrick" says of William's daughter, Nancy:
"Nancy Hamrick, born March 17, 1815, married Benoni Griffin in 1834. [They] lived in Pocahontas County until 1852, when [they] moved to Wainville [near Laurel Creek] in Webster County. In 1862, [they] moved to Salem, Harrison County, where she was living at the time of her death." Benoni died Nov. 29, in 1888 and Nancy died Mar. 13, 1891. They are buried at the 7th Day Baptist Cemetery, Salem, Harrison Co., WVA.

The date of the family's move to Webster County (1852) coincides with the death of Benoni's father, Jonathan Griffin. Then the move in 1862 was probably because of the fact that they were Union sympathizers in a county where they were not welcome. The following is from "History of Pocahontas County", "Griffin, Benoni, b. 1814 in Nicholas Co., VA, d. in Harrison Co., WV. He lived at Laurel Creek in Webster, West Virginia until 1862. He was a Unionist and fought in the Federal Army during the Civil War. On 29 December 1861 he led a unit of the Union Home Guard on raids to Laurel Creek from Sutton. Several of his neighbors were wounded and killed and farms and homes burned."

William Hamrick [father of Nancy] started the first school in Webster County, West Virginia along with his brother Benjamin and James Dodrill and built a log school house on Benjamin Hamrick's land. Benoni Griffin was the first teacher.

Full Context of West Virginia Prominent Men :
Griffin, Benoni, Pocahontas County, Beech Bottom, House of Delegates 1863-'64.
Griffin, Isaac H., Webster County, Webster C. H., House of Delegates 1871. [Son of Benoni.]

Children:
1. Jane Griffin, b. 1836; d. about 1860 at age 24. She was unmarried.
2. William Griffin, b. 1838; d. about 1856, at age 18. He was unmarried.
3. Isaac H. Griffin, b. 1839; d. in 1914. He was a Union Soldier.
4. Rachael C. Griffin, b.1842; d. at the age of 2 years, in about 1844.
5. Charles R. Griffin, b. 1844; d. at the age of 18 years, in about 1862.
6. George C. Griffin, b. 1846; killed in action Union Service, 1863, at about age 17. He was unmarried.
7. Elizabeth R. Griffin, b. 1848; was unmarried.
8. Jonathan S. Griffin, b. 1850; was unmarried.
9. Newton J. Griffin, b. 1852; married Jane Haskins.
10. Vanlinden S. Griffin, b. 1855; married Susan Haskins.
11. Mary E. Griffin, b. ; died at age 17. She was unmarried.
12. Matthew W. Griffin, b. 1857; married a Miss Elliott.

5. RACHEL S. GRIFFIN, B. 1822, D. AFTER 1880, OHIO.
Married Charles Ruckman. He was a scholar, teacher, and Methodist minister. They moved to Ohio, because he did not approve of his brothers' support of the south during the Civil War. In his later years became a rheumatic invalid. It is believed that there are no living descendants.

Children:
1. Julia Ruckman, b. about 1842; d. 1939, Noble Co. OH. She was an unmarried schoolteacher, Sharon, Ohio.
2. Leonidas T. Ruckman, b. about 1845; d. 1915, Noble Co. OH. He was an unmarried schoolteacher, Sharon, Ohio.
3. Morgan W. B. Ruckman, b. about 1855; died 1870-80.
4. Jonathan D. Ruckman, b. about 1857; died 1870-80.


6. JONATHAN GRIFFIN, B. 1826, D. AFTER 1910. Married Margaret Rader.
Quote from website: "Jonathan Griffin, another son-in-law of John Rader, first settled at the Jack Paugh place on Mill Creek, after several years, he sold to his wife's brother, Adam Rader, who married a Riddle."

Children:
1. Nancy "Nannie" R. Griffin, b. 1861; d. bet. 1920-30. Married Solomon "Low" V. Hickman.
2. Laura Griffin, b. May 1855; d. ? Married James C. Ruddell.
3. Sarah Griffin, ?

7. SAMUEL GRIFFIN, B. 1828, D. AFTER 1880. (never married)

Jonathan Griffin and Rachel Sharp

Our ancestors in the Griffin family have taken us on a journey which is far from complete. Jonathan Griffin, my 3Gt Grandfather, was born in 1777 in Connecticut, the year that the flag made by Betsy Ross was adopted by the Continental Congress. His wife was Rachel Sharp. She was born in 1787, at Huntersville, in Bath Co., Virginia. (later part of Pocahontas Co.) Rachel's maternal and paternal grandparents had each been killed by Indians, leaving her father, William Sharp, and mother, Mary Meeks, and their siblings, as orphans. William Sharp and Mary Meeks married, and William became a pioneer of the Bath County area. Another descendant has written an account of William Sharp and wife, Mary Meeks, where he is described as "a scout, spy, and soldier against the Indians and the British."

We have much circumstantial evidence to show that Jonathan Griffin, is son of Benoni Griffin Jr. of Simsbury. This Benoni was married several times and migrated to Virginia near the Green Bank area. This Griffin line has been said to trace to England, and back to Wales. The repeating names of Benoni, Abraham, Levi, Samuel are among Jonathan's descendants seem to refer to the Benoni and Abrahams of the Connecticut Griffin families. We are discovering land records which give further evidence of Benoni as Jonathan's father.

In 1800, Jonathan is found as a taxpayer in the personal property tax rolls of Bath County VA. I do not see his name as a land owner, but he was an adult and probably owned a horse and other property which was taxed. He married Rachel Sharp in 1806.

The Bath County Marriage Bonds book lists the following:
Aug 12, 1806: Bond for Jonathan Griffin and Rachel Sharp.
Surety, Robert Gay. Return filed Sept. 1 by Jeremiah Burns. Robert Gay was a justice of the peace. Jeremiah Burns was a Methodist Episcopal minister. I believe that Jonathan's father, whoever it may be, was no longer living, or not living in the area, otherwise, he would probably have signed the marriage bond.

Jonathan and Rachel must have lived with family after marriage as they are not found in 1810 Census records. Jonathan made purchases at the Bath County estate sale, of John Drennan, in 1815. This is recorded in Abstracts of Wills and Inventories of Bath Co. VA 1791-1842 - Bruns. Possibly he and Rachel were ready to set up housekeeping with their young family.

"Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County West Virginia," by Price, [written about 1900] states:
"Rachel Sharp, daughter of William Sharp, was married to Jonathan Griffin, and lived near the head of Stony Creek, on the farm now owned by Levi Gay . Her children were Abraham, Benoni, Jonathan, and Mrs. Charles Ruckman [Rachel]." [We know there were more children: Margaret, William, and Samuel.]

In 1813, we find Jonathan making a large purchase of land on Stony Creek (near present day Edray, WVA.) He also owned land on the eastern side of the Greenbrier River in the Green Bank area where we now find the National Radio Telescope, not far from the area where the first Griffins (from CT) are found in this county. Maybe these land records will give us clues as to Jonathan's ancestry. We find through census and other records that there are other children: sons, William, our ancestor, and Samuel, and another daughter, Margaret, who married Isaac Hamrick.

An article from "Moccasin Tracks & Other Imprints" by W. Dodrill:
"Pioneer School Teachers"…
"In 1850, Robert Gregory built a school house near the present site of the St. Mary's school house. The school building was of the most primitive kind. Among the early pioneer school teachers were the following: William Kain, William and Samuel Given, Israel Clifton, Jonathan Griffin, Joseph Woods and Timothy Holcomb." [ The Holcombs also came from CT with marriages to Griffins.] The Jonathan mentioned may have been the son of Jonathan and Rachel Griffin. He lived in Webster County in 1850s.

Residents of Webster County have related that the St. Mary's school house (and thus the Gregory school) were located "on the road going over Point Mountain from Webster Springs towards Elkins, between the Barton (Curtin) Road and Bergoo Rd."

The last census record where we find the elder Jonathan Griffin is the 1850 Census, Pocahontas VA. Jonathan is shown as age 72, born in Pennsylvania. [This is the only time that Pennsylvania is mentioned. See other notes that say b. CT. I believe the latter is correct.] Also in 1850 census in the same county, we find members of the Sharp, Waugh, Duffield families, and sons Abraham, William, and Benoni Griffin and their families.

By 1860, all the children of Jonathan and Rachel were married, except for Samuel, who never married.
Abraham, b. 1808 in Bath County, VA, married Nancy Waugh, daughter of James Waugh, Jr.
Margaret b. 1810 in Bath County, VA, married Isaac Hamrick, son of William F. Hamrick
William b. 1812 in Bath County, VA, married Elizabeth M. Rodgers, daughter of James Rodgers.
Benoni b. 1814 in Bath County, VA, married Nancy Hamrick, daughter of William F. Hamrick.
Rachel b. 1820 in Bath County, VA, married Charles Ruckman, son of D. L. Ruckman.
Jonathan b. 1826 in Bath County, VA, married Margaret Rader, daughter of John H. Rader.
Samuel b. 1828, in Bath County, VA, never married.

We believe that Jonathan, Sr. died sometime in the early 1850s possibly in Braxton Co. [from note on a land record.] We find that his son, Jonathan, bought property in 1852, possibly using his inheritance [no will has been found.] Benoni Griffin and his wife, Nancy Hamrick, also moved away from Pocahontas in 1852. Abraham and his family probably stayed on or near the home place. By 1860, Rachel Sharp Griffin, and son, Samuel, are living in Webster County, West Virginia with close family friends, William and Caroline Tracy. In 1870, she is about 84 years old, living with daughter, Margaret Hamrick, and her husband, Isaac, in Fork Lick, Webster County, West Virginia. We believe that Rachel died between 1870 and 1880. Her grave is found in the Isaac Hamrick Cemetery, marked "Rachael Sharp Griffin", with no dates.

Griffin Family from Mayme Hamrick's Book

There are a few updates to the information above. First of all, Benoni Griffin, father of Jonathan, was born in Connecticut, although he was of Welsh descent. This article does not mention Benoni's first marriage in Connecticut which ended in divorce (to Martha Viets). In listing the children of Benoni, the youngest, Levi, is missing. Also, there is a definite possibility that there were 3 or maybe even 4 wives, since Abraham, Mary, and Levi were born in Virginia.

Sixteen Great Great Grandparents

Paternal Gt Gt Grandparents:
1. William Griffin. b. 27 Mar 1812, Bath County, VA (later Pocahontas, WV). m. 25 Oct 1838, Pocahontas Co., VA. d. 4 Nov 1889, Edmond OK OK. Nationality - Wales, England

2. Elizabeth M. Rodgers. b. 4 Aug 1818, probably Madison Co, VA. d. 16 June 1903, Edmond OK, OK. Nationality - probably English, some Dutch

3. William J. Terry. b. 11 Apr. 1812, England. m. 12 Sept 1836, St. Luke's, Old Charlton, Canterbury, Kent, England. May 14 1863, Macon Co., IL. Nationality - English

4. Charlotte Clarke. b. 5 Oct 1806, England. d. 8 Nov 1890, Clackamas Co., OR. Nationality - English, possibly Irish.

5. Patrick McGill. b. bet. 1782-1790 Ireland. m. before 1835 probably Carleton, Ontario, Canada. d. Between 1852 - 56 Ontario, Canada. Nationality - Irish.

6. Mary _____ . b. About 1814, Ireland. d. About Apr 1856, Johnson Co., IA. Nationality - Irish.

7. Elias Carlos Frost. b. 19 Dec 1826, Berea, Cuyahoga Co., OH. m. 5 Oct 1850, Johnson Co., IA. d. 3 Jan 1907, Perry, Noble Co., OK Territory. Nationality - English

8. Lucinda Harrington. b. 26 Jan 1828, New York. d. 11 Feb 1900, Perry, Noble Co., OK Territory. Nationality - English

Maternal Gt Gt Grandparents:
9. Hardy Richard Avera. b. 5 May 1825, Mississippi. m. about 1845 in Wayne Co., Mississippi. d. Sept. 1907, Texas. Nationality - Scotch-Irish

10. Martha Caroline McLeod. b. June 1829, Mississippi. d. Jan 1910, Texas. Nationality - Scottish

11. John C. Easter. b. 1841 in Athens, Limestone Co., AL. m. 19 Nov. 1860 , Grant's Prairie, Robertson Co., TX. d. 4 June 1862, Grant's Prairie, Robertson Co., TX. Nationality - English.

12. Nancy Levenia Grant. b. 21 Mar. 1845, Pontotoc Co., Mississippi. d. 1862, Grant's Prairie, Robertson Co., TX. Nationality - Scottish

13. Francis Asbury Cochran. b.15 Jun 1817, South Carolina. m. 1849, Tennessee. d. before 1880, Arkansas. Nationality - Scottish

14. Sarah Ann Lowry. b. 24 Mar 1833, Union Co., South Carolina. d. 21 Sept. 1878, Fairview, Hopkins Co., TX. Nationality - Scotch-Irish

15. Robert Dillard. b. 1807 Henry Co., VA. m. 15 Sep 1840, Ralls Co., MO. d. 18 Feb. 1868, Jefferson, Marion Co., TX. Nationality - English

16. Elvira Elizabeth Chitwood. b. 1821, Spencer Twp., Ralls Co., MO. d. after 1883, Cooke Co., TX. Nationality - English

My nationality would be from the British Isles. Over 50%, English, with a dash of Welsh. 31% Scotch or Scotch-Irish. And 12.5% Irish. 12 of the 16 born in the United States. 2 Ireland, 2 England. I hope to publish DNA percentages soon.

Frost Family in Oklahoma and California

My gt grandmother, Eva Ida Frost McGill, (center with square neck dress) with siblings and descendants. I believe this picture was taken in Edmond Oklahoma, around early 1920s. Eva's two sisters are on the right, Kitty Frost and husband Dr. Levi Reichard, and Eliza Frost Morgan. The occasion must have been the Reichards' visit, as they lived in Stuart, NE, and such a long trip would be rare. My father, Dan Griffin, is a teenager, on back row left, behind his mother, Hattie and beside his father Charley Griffin. I love the joy in this family gathering.


A day at the beach, near Alhambra, California, during the 1930s. Two Oklahoma cousins, Mamie McGill, 2nd from left, and Evana Bunstine, far right, visit their Frost relatives near their home in California. The older man and woman would be Lew and Alice Frost. Others are children and grandchildren of Lew and Alice. Lew was the brother of my gt grandmother, Eva Frost McGill. We love to see this fully dressed family, gathering at the beach for their photo.

From Iowa, to Nebraska, to Oklahoma Territory

After leaving Iowa, the Frost families lived in Stuart, Holt County, Nebraska, from early 1883 to 1886. The town was only four years old at this time, and the country was described as "almost a dead level, without a tree or bush in sight". In October of 1881, the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad had reached Stuart and with it, an increased number of possible settlers. I believe our family probably moved by wagons, with so many people and furnishings, supplies, etc. Johnson Lyman Frost died there in Stuart on Oct. 18, 1883, according to the family Bible. An outstanding first person account of a railroad trip in these early years is on Google Books: To and Through Nebraska," by Frances I. Sims Fulton. The book mentions that Stuart was a town with an opera house, two doctors, and a dentist. This dentist, Levi Reichard, married Elias Frost's daughter, Katherine /Kittie. Dr. Reichard's dental chair and drill are on display at Stuart's White Horse Museum. The house he built in 1883 has been moved to the grounds of the museum (photo above.)

Several of the Frost families (except for Dr. Reichard and wife Kittie) moved on west to Chadron, Dawes County, Nebraska about 1886. The railroad had just reached this county and with it, the settlers seeking land. By this time, the town boasted over 1,500 residents. Numerous businesses included five saloons, two hardware stores, four groceries, three general stores, a dance hall, a physician, a liquor store, a bakery, a furniture store, jewelry store, and a bank. Possibly Elias Frost, who had previously been proprietor of a general store, found a niche in this new town. Within a year, there were churches, two opera houses, and electricity!

After the Oklahoma Territory opened, Elias Carlos and Lucinda Frost, also came to Oklahoma and lived near Perry, OK. The extended family who came from Nebraska included Celina Frost and her son, Earl, Eliza Frost and her husband, Elmer E. Morgan, and Carrie Frost and her husband, Ed Mossman, who married in Nebraska. Carrie and Ed had a son, Harry, born in Nebraska. All these lived in Perry, OK. by 1894.

Elias Carlos Frost and Lucinda Harrington

The Biography of Audubon County lists Carlos E. Frost as Clerk of the first election of Exira Township in April 1855. He is listed as an early settler of that county. In 1860 census, their family matches the family Bible:
Carlos E. Frost , age 33, farmer b. Iowa
Lucinda age 31, housework, born NY
Luther C. Age 8 b. Iowa
Celina E. Age 7 b Iowa
Amelia age 6 b. Iowa
Eva Ida age 4 b. Audubon Co. Iowa (the first mention of our gt grandmother)
Omar age 2 b. Audubon Co. Iowa
Lyman J. 7 mo. b. Iowa
Lyman J. Frost age 66 Carpenter [Johnson Lyman Frost, b. CT]
(another child, Vesper, is listed in the family Bible born after Omar. He died as an infant.)

We know very little of the background of Lucinda Harrington. She is found as a single young lady living with a family in Iowa probably serving as a nanny. Her parents were from New York and Rhode Island. I think of her as the true pioneer woman because of her long journeys and strength as she raised her family in frontier homes. Several children of Elias and Lucinda died very young in Audubon County, Iowa between 1860 – 65. Three died in less than 30 days of one another. Amelia,6, Omar,3, and Vesper,1, are buried in the Bowen Cemetery near Exira.

Eva Ida Frost married Daniel Patrick McGill. These are our gt grandparents, and their story is found at this website. http://www.dgranna.com/McGill.html
From Audubon Co. History Book
“Carlos E. Frost came here with his father from Iowa City in 1853, and was a farmer. He lived in the Northwest quarter of section 35, Exira Township. He was a Republican and a popular gentleman. He was clerk at the first county election, April 2, 1855, county treasurer, 1864-65, and during that period lived in Exira, in the Charles Chapin house, which was on the site of the John Mertis residence, Block 16, Exira.”

A report on the county board of Audubon County 1863:
“The board of 1863 consisted of C. E. Frost, Chairman, and J.A. Halleck, Clerk. Among the acts of this board is found in records, “W. S. Carter (pauper) was to be ‘let’ to Wm. Carpenter at $1.40 a week , with $3 appropriation with which to purchase said Carter a hickory shirt and a pair of blue drilling pants.” The further work of the June session of 1863 was to make the following classification for the use of tax assessors:
Prime, wild land per acre, $2.25 tax
Improved land per acre, $4 - $10
Timber land per acre, $ 5 - $15
Town lots in Exira $5
Work cattle per head $40 – 50
Cows per head $6 - $12
Steers (3 yrs. old) per head $6 - $12
Bulls (all ages) $10 - $15
Work horses $10 - $15
Mules $40 - $70
Sheep $3 - $5
Swine (per lb.) 1 ½ cents

In 1883, Elias Carlos Frost was a merchant in Brayton, where his store was burglarized by the “Crooked Creek” gang. His son, Lew C. Frost, and son in law, Dan P. McGill, held the office of county surveyor. A narrative about this era in and near Brayton and Oakfield Iowa is found here http://www.auduboncounty.net/oakfield/OakfieldHistory.html Lucinda and Carlos moved to Stuart, NE about 1884, leaving three children buried in the Bowen Cemetery near Exira. Surviving children who traveled with the family to Nebraska were Lew C., who married Alice Hartman, Salina [Celina], Eva, who married Dan. P. McGill, Edward, Eliza, and Kittie.

"A Noted Character" Johnson Lyman Frost

The following description of our ancestor, Johnson Lyman Frost, is found in the "Biography and History of Audubon County, Iowa", H. F. Andrews, Editor... Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915. I almost hate to reprint it here, but one seldom finds such a personal description of an ancestor... for good or bad. I do believe this section of the book, written in early 1900s, was written by an author who may have been of opposing political leanings. But I don't doubt that Frost was quite a character.

“J. Lyman Frost, with his son, Carlos, and Peoria I. Whitted [friend of Frost’s son-in-law D. Shafer], came from Iowa City to Audubon County in 1853. Frost was an old man, a widower, and lived alone in a shanty made of poles near his son, Carlos, in the Northwest part of section 35, Exira township. He was a contentious man and had a special faculty for stirring up the animals. He was an ardent Republican, a strong Union man, and had no use for anyone not strictly up to the highest pitch of party requirements, and he practically demonstrated his opinions on all possible occasions. He became postmaster at Hamlin’s Grove during war times. He was heartily despised by the Democrats and was not in unison with many of his own party. He was a discordant element at best. One of the patrons of his post office was one Martin Shults, whom Frost took occasion publicly to call a “copperhead”. Shults was a mild, inoffensive man, religiously inclined, and although the imputation was not wholly mis-applied from the standpoint of the times, the insult rankled in his bosom. Later, at a public gathering in Oakfield, Shults spied his quarry, removed his coat and handed it to his good old wife, “Aunt Julie”, remarking that he had a duty to perform, and then waded in and proceeded to “tan Frost’s dog skin.” That exercise performed, he proceeded to ride in haste to Exira in search of a justice to whom he might “plead guilty”. But he was pursued by the constable, John Crane, and arrested for assault and battery. It is said that Crane was so desirous of gaining popularity that he overrode and injured a fine horse in making the arrest. And it is also said that his promptness in the matter afterwards cost him an election to office.

Mr. Frost was easily a party leader locally. He held the ear of governor Kirkwood, with whom he was personally acquainted at Iowa City, and stood in with the administration in Washington. He made the weather and crop reports, etc. and received his contingent of government documents, seeds, etc. which he conscientiously distributed among the faithful. He was one of the first to raise an apple orchard and other tame fruit in the county. He was prompt and zealous in attending to party affairs and in managing the Republican party machinery in the county, being sometimes chairman of the county central committee. But after a disagreeable faction contest with the Ballards and others in a county convention at Green’s schoolhouse, in 1868, he soured on party work and never afterwards took an active part in politics.

In preparation for war, militias were organized in the county. "The names of one roll show that all the officers of Capt. Thomas’s company, except one, and fifty of the privates were Democrats, some of them emphatic anti-war men. It appears that the commissions of the officers were sent by the adjutant general to J. Lyman Frost, the then postmaster of Hamlin’s Grove, a rigid Republican, to act as mustering officer, and to deliver them to the company officers-elect upon taking the proper oaths of office; but that he declined to muster them or to deliver the commissions presumably because he knew many members of the company to be anti-war men, and of questionable loyalty or patriotism to the country.

Captain Thomas said that his commission was not delivered to him, but was found on the prairie, having evidently been thrown away. And he further says that arms were not issued to his men, as it was considered dangerous to do so, fearing that the men would fight among themselves, as the excitement was intense between the Union and anti-war men."

Johnson Lyman Frost and son Elias Carlos Frost were officers of another militia formed in the county... the Audubon Mounted Infantry. That company saw no service and became obsolete at the close of the war, the following year.

1840s and 50s in Iowa City, Iowa

The Frosts, Shafers, and Hustons were active in civic affairs wherever they lived. Since the town and county organizations were new, these men got in on the ground floor. Lyman Frost was a Petit Juror, Johnson County Iowa, July 1841.

In 1846, the Board of Commissioners of Iowa County prepared to layout the county seat of Marengo. This was the next county west of Johnson Co. It was said that “Dr. J. Lyman Frost was the first man to attempt to make a survey of the town. He had no compass but thought that he could arrange the squares, blocks and alleys with stakes; he succeeded in making two range but not three. So Cyrus Sanders was called up from Iowa City to complete the job.”

The 1854 Census Iowa City Iowa shows: Luther Paine Frost (L. P.) one adult male, two females, one in militia, one voter. Total 3 in household.

1858 Men in Johnson County eligible for military service. Carlos Frost, and Luther Frost.

By 1850 Johnson Lyman Frost and son Elias Carlos are found living with Daniel and Amelia Shafer in Johnson Co., Iowa. Lyman is a widower, 56 years old and a farmer. Later that year, Carlos married Lucinda Harrington (Oct. 5, 1850). She had come to Iowa from New York. She lived in the Montgomery household of Johnson County before marriage, possibly serving as a nanny to the children. Either her father or mother were born in Rhode Island, but we have not yet found their names.

According to an Audubon County website, Carlos, Lucinda and family moved west to Exira, Audubon Co., IA in 1853, along with Johnson Lyman Frost. Coincidentally, our Griffin and Miller families of West Virginia passed through this same area, living in Exira for a short time following the Civil War. Adonijah Harris (brother in law of William Griffin) and his son, James, are listed in the history of Audubon Co. Iowa as early settlers in Louisville, near Exira.

We learn from the History of Audubon County something about Lyman and his life in Iowa. It is said that J. L. may have been a preacher, doctor, carpenter, postmaster, first to plant an apple orchard in the county, that he was first a Democrat and later a Republican activist. His personality is described in the Biography of Audubon County, Iowa as "contentious" and "mean". He was a staunch Union supporter, and is at least an interesting character. The author of the Audubon County history did not agree with Frost politically…. which could account for part of the negative description that follows tomorrow.

Samuel Huston and Celina Calista Frost

The story of Samuel Huston (or Hueston) is an interesting one. At age 18, in 1843, Celina Calista Frost was the local school teacher in Penn township's first school, in Johnson Co. Iowa. She met and married a 30 year old prominent man in the community, Samuel Huston. “John N. Headley and Samuel Huston came in March 1839 and settled one mile east of the present site of Tiffin, in Clear Creek Twp. They were from Ohio.”… p. 737 Johnson Co. Iowa History. Huston was actually born in Pennsylvania.

From p. 748, Johnson Co. History. “In 1843, a pretty good log schoolhouse was erected in section 7. Miss Frost taught the first school in this house, at a salary of eight dollars per month, boarding among the scholars and receiving her pay in wheat, etc. This house was used for all religious and business meetings for a number of years.”

“The first Justice of the Peace in the township {Town of Tiffin in Clear Creek Twp.} was John Hartwell who married Samuel Huston to his second wife, Miss Frost – a sister of his first wife. …. These were among the first marriages in the township.” [The Frost ladies were not sisters, but possibly cousins.]

Samuel and Celina had a daughter, Elizabeth, b. 1844, in Clear Creek, and a baby son, Phillip, b. 1847. But Celina and the baby boy died in 1847. Sam married again, Mary or Margaret _____ . She had children George and Emma. That is where our family connection ends, but his story goes on.

Samuel Huston was first cousin of Daniel A. Shafer, mentioned above as the guardian of our gt. grandfather Daniel McGill. Shafer's wife was Harriett "Hattie" Frost, sister of Celina mentioned above. Hattie helped raise Celina's daughter, Eliza, while her father went to the gold fields.

Around 1851, Samuel Huston got together about 100 men and 50+ wagons and went to the California gold rush at Susanville. He came back with more wealth and bought up real estate and stores. The daughter of Sam and Celina, Elizabeth, only lived to age 21.

In 1876 when he was about 65, Huston donated $9000 to build a school for black students in Austin Texas. Mr. Huston belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church in Iowa, and I read that the local (or mission "board") had already planned for the school in Texas. Then they persuaded this well-to-do man to donate, promising that the college would bear his name. It took several years for it to come to fruition, but was named for Samuel Huston. It is still in existence after merging with another school, but still bears his name and is said to have a portrait and biography of Sam. The merger mentioned apparently produced what has now become Huston-Tillotson University.

It is a shame that young Celina and her children didn't live to join in his success.

The Johnson County History written in 1882 says on p. 599: “Mr. Hueston now lives at Koszta, Iowa County."

Daniel Shafer and Harriett Amelia Frost

Harriett “Hattie” Amelia Frost, older daughter of Johnson Lyman Frost, married Daniel Adam Shafer on April 8, 1843, Johnson Co., Iowa. By 1850, we find J. Lyman and son, Carlos, 24, living with the Shafer family in Johnson County. J. Lyman is listed as a farmer, age 56. (We will note later that the Shafers are the family that took in our great grandfather, Daniel Patrick McGill, as a foster child and raised him when his mother died.)

Biography of Daniel Shafer:
Daniel Adam Shafer was born in NorthHampton County, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 23, 1818, son of Adam Shafer and Mary Buskirk, the oldest of eight siblings. The father, Adam, was a school teacher and soldier, having served as First Lieutenant, 176th Regt. Pennsylvania Militia, Company F.

Daniel Shafer is said to have been educated as an attorney and a civil engineer. He migrated to Iowa Territory as one of its earliest settlers about 1840, at about age 22, and lived in Iowa City, Johnson County. A first cousin, Samuel Huston, came from Pennsylvania at about the same time. According to the Shafer - Huston family history, he ran the Nebraska State Line for the U.S. Government and laid out the city of Omaha, Nebraska.

Daniel Shafer and Harriett Amelia Frost were married April 8, 1843, in Johnson County, Iowa. Miss Frost, also called "Hattie", was the daughter of Johnson Lyman Frost and Oriana Paine. She was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, May 19, 1820. Harriett's sister, Celina Calista Frost, married Shafer's cousin, Samuel Huston.

To show how primitive the state was at this time, D.A. Shafer received a bounty [probably $1.00] for one wolf scalp, in the Wolf Harvest of 1845. Ninety-five wolves were killed in that year's county harvest. This from an early history book of Johnson County.

In the 1850 Census of Johnson County, Iowa, Penn Township, the Shafers are farming north of Iowa City. The value of their Real Estate was $1,450. (Average for farmers of the community.) Harriett's father, Lyman J., and brother, Elias Carlos, live with them, as well as a young man, Levi Freeze, and Eliza Huston, the daughter of Harriett's late sister Celina Frost Huston, above. Eliza's father Samuel Huston, had gone to the gold fields of California at that time.

Daniel Shafer is the attorney of record for the will of Mary McGill in April 1856. He was appointed one of the guardians of her three children, along with her older son John S. McGill. The younger children were Bridget Jane, and Patrick D. McGill. The latter is our great grandfather, known as Daniel Patrick McGill. He was raised by Daniel Shafer and wife, Harriett. We do not know the relationship of Mary McGill and the Shafers. She had arrived in Iowa from Canada between 1852 and 1856, with her three children.

In August of 1862, Daniel A. Shafer enlisted in the service as a Lieutenant 1st Class, at the age of 43. He was commissioned in Company E, 28th Iowa Infantry, 10 October 1862, and promoted to Full Captain on February 1, 1863. Resigned 16 Mar 1864. He received a pension as an invalid in 1886, and his second wife, Mary, received pension after his death.

Shafer is listed as a Republican in 1865, and a Democrat in 1872 - History of Johnson Co. Iowa. The family identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The census of 1870, North Liberty Township, Johnson County, Iowa, lists Daniel A. Shafer and wife Harriett, farmers with $12,000 Real Estate and $3,000 Personal Property. Daniel P. McGill, 19, is living with them and attending school, as well as working on the farm. We know he was enrolled at the University of Iowa at about that time. Others in the household are: Daniel S. Wise, Farm Laborer, age 14, Catherine Hack, domestic, age 22, and Catherine Wise, age 2, born Nebraska. The Wise or Weiss family of Johnson county consisted of Daniel Shafer's sister, Julia Shafer Wise, and her husband, Jesse, and children.

Harriett Amelia Frost died April 1, 1871. She is buried in the Oakland Cemetery, Iowa City, Iowa. About nine months later, Daniel married Mary E. Frost, niece of Harriett. Her father was Luther Paine Frost, brother of Harriett; mother was Caroline White. Mary was only 23, at the time of the marriage, while Daniel Shafer was 54. There were no children of this union or that of Harriett and Daniel.

In 1881 Shafer was nominated by Democrats in the election for County Surveyor of Johnson County, Iowa, but he was defeated by Mr. Worden, Republican candidate. Also in that year, D.A. Shafer was an officer of the organization of "Old Settlers" who held dinners and meetings to recall and record the early days of the territory.

He died July 19, 1888 and is buried in Oakland Cemetery, Iowa City, Iowa.

As Daniel A. Shafer was a father figure, who acted as guardian, and mentor who saw to the education of our Gt. grandfather, Daniel Patrick McGill, our family owes a debt of gratitude to this man and his wife, Harriett.
He was mentioned in Daniel McGill's obituary with pride:

"Mr. McGill's parents died when he was quite young. He was reared to manhood by Captain Shafer in Johnson County, Iowa. He received his higher education at a college in Liberty, Iowa. He spent a number of years surveying and teaching school, both in Iowa and after coming to Oklahoma."

Frosts Migrate to the New State of Iowa, 1841

The Johnson Lyman Frost family moved west to Johnson County, Iowa, in 1841. This was still at the time of "settling the frontier". Mention is made of forts and Indian confrontations, as well as the "last moose sighted" in the “History of Johnson County, Iowa” published in 1883. [found in Google Books online.]

“Furniture was rare, even of the most common sorts. A few settlers brought a little of the most necessary but many coming a long way in ox teams could not be cumbered with anything but the actual necessities of life, using the most primitive and rudest articles. Tables were made of boards attached to the cabins by leather hinges. They were fastened to the wall, and hung down when not in use so as to save room. Three legged stools and rough benches made of slabs furnished seats, while wooden pins fastened in the wall of a corner and an outside piece from one pin to the other, the pins being wound with a cord, furnished couches for the hardy pioneers that afforded as peaceful a slumber as the luxurious springs of the present time…..” "History of Johnson County, Iowa" p. 609

Johnson Lyman Frost, now a widower, his two daughters, Harriett Amelia and Celina Calista, and younger son, Carlos E., came to the frontier town of Iowa City, in Johnson County, Iowa. His older son Luther Paine Frost, and his wife, Caroline, also came to Iowa City, where Luther was listed as a merchant. We find L. P. Frost listed in the local militia. During the years between 1849 and 1858, Luther and Caroline had three daughters, Mary, Belle, and Adelia. Mary was adopted, but may have been a cousin. She is the one who became the second wife of Daniel Shafer, whose story follows.

Oriana Paine Frost Dies in Lacon, Marshall Co., Illinois

The Frosts migrated from Michigan to Illinois in 1836, where they "took a section" of land in Marshall County, IL. According to the family Bible, Oriana P. Frost died in Illinois, March 23, 1837. Malaria was prevalent during this time, but we do not know the cause of her death. She was buried in Lacon, Marshall County IL.

The oldest son, Luther P. Frost, age 21, was married in 1838 to Caroline White.

There is much information about early years of pioneers in Marshall County at this website, with some fascinating stories. Marshall County History.

”On May 4, 1837, an act was passed at the last session of legislature, changing the name of the town Columbia, in Putnam County, to Lacon. As there is an older post [office] town in the state by the name of Columbia, this change is necessary and proper. Lacon is handsomely situated on the east bank of the Illinois River, about twenty miles below Hennepin. It has a large stream flowing and saw-mill and several stores, and like most other towns on the river, business in it is brisk and flourishing. The inhabitants in the town and country adjoining are principally emigrants from Ohio and North Carolina.” Formerly part of Putnam, now Lacon is the county seat of Marshall County. Alton Observer (Alton, Illinois) on History of Lacon, IL

Neighbors of the Frost family in the earliest years of their stay in Illinois would have been the Graves Family who later made the journey toward California, attaching themselves to the Donner Party, with many meeting their deaths in the frozen passage. There were nine Graves children on the trip. Two children and the parents did not survive. A story of the Graves Family during their years in Sparland, Illinois, when they would have lived about a mile across the river from the Frosts, is recounted here.

Graves Family of Donner Party

Johnson Lyman Frost... A Doctor?

In 1830, we find our 3 gt. grandfather, Johnson Lyman Frost, wife Oriana, and family in Clay’s Landing, St. Clair County, Michigan. St. Clair County is across Lake Erie from the Cleveland OH area. Frost is listed next to Joel Carrington, who was in Brecksville, Cuyahoga Co., OH in previous census. They may have chosen to travel to Michigan together. In later census records, we find that Joel Carrington migrated to Illinois and Wisconsin. We do not find if he was related to the Frost family, however, Johnson Lyman Frost’s brother was Dr. Elias Carrington Frost.

Lyman is listed in a history book of St. Clair County, Michigan, as a physician, in the early 1830s. Another doctor in this county at the time, was Amasa Hemenger, b. CT. It is not too much of a stretch to believe that he asked Johnson L. Frost to come to Michigan and help him. Johnson may have practiced medicine in Ohio with his brother Dr. Elias C. Frost. Hemenger was involved in local politics in Michigan, and we do know that later on, Johnson L. Frost was very involved in politics in Iowa. “Dr. Hemenger used about an acre of ground to grow poppies, from which he made opium, and lettuce, an acrid variety (Lactuca virosa), from which he extracted lactucarium for its hypnotic and anti-spasmodic properties. An old lady friend relates that "he believed in bleeding for most ills." As a physician and as a man, it is said he was well liked.” [St. Clair County, Michigan, Its History and Its People , By William Lee Jenks Published 1912.]

Note, in later years, in Johnson County Iowa, J. L. Frost proclaimed himself a Doctor of “Botanical Medicine”. Once or twice he is referred to as Dr. Frost, but was never an acting physician of record. “J.L. Frost was a member and officer of the “Medical Botanic Society of Johnson County, Iowa Territory” in 1843. The society was formed for “Friends of Botanic Medical Practice”. p. 417 History of Johnson Co.

Elias Carrington Frost, brother of our Ancestor Johnson Lyman Frost

Isaac C. Frost, and sons, Lyman and Elias Carrington Frost, lived in Olmstead, Middleburg District, where Isaac was the town’s first treasurer, during the late 1820s. This was not far from the Cedar Trail Valley and Rocky River. Elias C. Frost was a doctor, and lived near Kennedy Ridge and Columbia Drive. [I believe this is now the location of a mall.] He is said to have been a classmate of Dr. Jared Potter Kirtland, back in CT. Kirtland’s father was one of the first members of the Connecticut Land Company and in that capacity made some of the earliest trips of exploration. And the grandfather, Jared Potter, was one of the first doctors of the area. Perhaps Elias and Lyman studied under him, as both are listed as doctors in census records. Dr. Jared Potter Kirtland is still known in Ohio as a renowned physician, botanist, and legislator.

In 1829, Elias Carrington Frost opened one of the first post offices in Olmstead, OH. He applied for the town name of Lennox, but it was already in use, so he used his own name and home and called the Post Office “Frostville”. There has never been such a town, but this name remained in use long after the town adopted the Olmstead name, and is now the name of the well known Historical Museum of Olmstead Falls, Ohio. Frostville Museum is located in the Rocky River Reservation not far from Frost’s original home near the corner of Columbia and Kennedy Ridge Road. The Cedar Valley Settlers’ Celebration is held every year in September at the Frostville Historical Center.

FIRST TEACHER IN BRECKSVILLE, OH

About 1814, Oriana PAYNE (sp.), the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Seth PAYNE, taught the first school in the township at the center in a log house, near where the town hall now stands, with the HOADLEY, ADAMS, BRADFORD and WAIT children attending the school. The nearest schoolhouse at that time was in Newburgh. Oriana PAYNE married Lyman FROST and settled at the center of Brecksville in 1815, the year her father died. This information from "A Memorial to the Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve" by Mrs. Gertrude Van Rensselaer Wickham published in 1896.

Our 3Gt Grandparents, Johnson Lyman Frost and Oriana Payne Frost were members of a Congregational Church. From History of Cuyahoga County on Ancestry.com.

“In the summer of 1816, the Rev. Wm. Handford, in the employ of the Connecticut Missionary Society, began preaching in Brecksville. And on the 13 of July organized the First Congregational Church of Brecksville, with 16 members, namely : John Adams, Lemuel Hoadley, Chloe Hoadley, John Wait, Bolter Colson, Harriett Colson, Hannah Paine, Lyman J. Frost, Oriana Frost, Zelpha Wait, Lucy Wilcox, James Dixon, Mary Dixon, Joseph Rice, Orrin Wilcox, and Abigail Wilcox. These elected Lyman J. Frost as the first clerk. The church had no regular pastor until 1840…..” A later text mentions that J. Lyman Frost was a “self styled” minister.

Between 1816 and 1820, the Frost families moved to Cuyahoga, Middleburg District, in the area of Berea. Lyman J. and Oriana had 4 children (dates from family Bible):
Luther Paine Frost b. 1817,Berea,OH
Harriett Amelia Frost b. 1820, Berea,OH
Celina Calista Frost b. 1825,Berea,OH
Elias Carlos Frost b. 1826, Berea, OH

In Brecksville, OH, today, there are streets named for Seth Payne and his daughter, Orianna Paine/ Payne. There is also a shelter or treatment center named Oriana House in the area. I do not know if it is named for our ancestor.

Seth Paine and Hannah Nash from Massachusetts to Ohio

PAINE, SETH , of Williamsburg, Massachusetts, was a land surveyor who surveyed what is now Brecksville, and the first permanent white settler in the Township. [Seth and wife Hannah were our 4th gt grandparents, their daughter Oriana having married Johnson Lyman Frost, mentioned previously.]
From "The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History" - "Paine came to the Western Reserve in 1810 as an assistant to Alfred Wolcott, a surveyor from Boston, employed by John Breck, the person for whom Brecksville was named. Paine and Wolcott surveyed Brecksville Township and returned to Northampton, Massachusetts, with their report. Paine liked the area so well that he returned in June, 1811, from Williamsburg, Massachusetts with his wife, and children, Oliver, Spencer, Almira and Lorina [Oriana], and a young unmarried man named Melzer Clark. Seth and Hannah Paine settled in the southwest corner of Brecksville Township on lot 64, at what became known as Carter's Corners. Soon afterwards Melzer Clark and Almira Paine were married, this being the first marriage in Brecksville.

As land agent for John Breck, Paine had power of attorney to grant title to land sold. Paine's compensation for services rendered was to choose 200 acres anywhere in the township, with the exception that it should not be bottom land and should not include a mill site. Paine chose the southwest part. He left his family at a settlement in Newburgh, near the corner of Walker and Broadway in Cleveland, during the winter of 1810-1811, while he proceeded to Brecksville to build a log house."

As the first settler, something of his family is of historical interest. He was of the sixth generation from Stephen Paine, who came from Great Ellington, Norfolk County, England, to America in 1638 on the ship “Diligent” and first settled in Hingham, Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts. In 1661 Stephen and his two sons, with others, purchased a large tract of land near Rehoboth, Massachusetts from Wamsitta, son of Massasoit. …. [much more about Stephen Paine and his descendants can be found in online searches.]
"At the breaking out of the war of 1812 the few inhabitants of Brecksville, OH, for a time, kept up a little garrison at the house of Seth Paine, but as rumors of Indian hostilities became more alarming most of the people fled to Hudson, where they remained until the danger was over. After the war only a few straggling Indians were seen, and these soon abandoned the country, leaving the settlers in undisturbed possession of their homes. Seth Paine and son in law Melzer Clark both died in 1815, four years after their arrival. And their unfinished work was turned over to other agents of the land company. Their families, left without their care, remained in the almost unbroken forest. The oldest son of Paine, Spencer, had to take his father’s place in supporting the family when he was only fourteen years of age. ” [From “A History of Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland” by William Coates]

Death of Anne Frost, Wife of Isaac

The gravestone shown here is that of Anne Frost, our 4th Gt. Grandmother. This is the earliest gravestone photographed for any of our family. According to the inscription, she would have been born in about 1762, probably in Connecticut. Her maiden name is unknown.

FROST , Anne, wife of Isaac, d June 9, 1812, 50y

The grave is one of the earliest in Columbia Center Cemetery. Located on the east side of Columbia West River Road, a short distance north of Route 82, this oldest Lorain County Cemetery was laid out in 1811 to accommodate nine deaths from the ague [fever/chills, possibly malaria]. The site is the cabin clearing of Bela Bronson overlooking Rocky River Valley. Bela Bronson was first cousin of our Johnson Lyman Frost. Many pioneers from Waterbury, Connecticut, five Revolutionary War veterans, and many members of the militia for the War of 1812 are buried here. Map.

After the war, several families from Columbia Township moved into the area south of Cleveland called Brecksville. Isaac, and sons, Elias C., and Johnson Lyman Frost came to Brecksville when it was still a forested area. Johnson L., my ancestor, married Oriana Paine, daughter of Seth and Hannah Paine, who were the first white settlers in Brecksville, Ohio. Their story is chronicled in “A History of Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland,” by William R. Coates, found on Ancestry.com.

Isaac Frost, 4gt Grandfather, b. 1759 CT

The first record I find of Isaac Frost is in the 1800 census of New Haven, CT. Family members are not named, but the ages of his sons correspond to our ancestor Johnson Lyman Frost, b. 1794, and brother, Elias Carrington Frost, b. 1780-90. There are females listed in Isaac’s family, who would be wife, Ann, and daughters, names unknown. Among other families in the Waterbury Township, CT, are the Hoadleys and Bronsons. Both of these families are related to our Frost ancestors, which leads us to believe this is the Isaac Frost who migrated to Columbia Station, near Cleveland, Ohio, along with Hoadleys and Bronsons.

As a background, I would like to share something about the history of the Western Reserve area, which includes Cleveland, Ohio. This information about Columbia Township will explain the migration of our family, and is found online at Wikipedia:

“Columbia Station is part of the Connecticut Western Reserve, lands ceded in 1786 by Connecticut after the American Revolution. In 1805, two years after Ohio became a U.S. State, the federal government finalized treaties with local American Indians. The reserve was surveyed and parceled into rough 5-mile-square blocks (smaller than the typical 6-mile-square townships in the U.S.). The Bronson and Hoadley families of Waterbury, Connecticut, pooled together $20,087 to purchase a township. On April 4, 1807, they drew Township 5 N, Range 15 W from a random selection of townships in the reserve, purchasing the land ‘site’-unseen.
Columbia Station has been continuously inhabited since 1807, the longest settlement in the Western Reserve west of the Cuyahoga River. Columbia has other firsts in the Western Reserve west of the Cuyahoga: the first classroom (Bronson cabin, summer of 1808), first teacher (Sally Bronson, 1808… probably sister of our Isaac Frost), first white child born (Sally Hoadley…distant cousin of Frosts), first gristmill, (1809), first cemetery (1811), first doctor (Zephaniah Potter, 1809), and organized church society (Episcopalian, 1809). Columbia celebrated its bicentennial in 2007.” Wikipedia
One of Isaac’s sons, Elias C. Frost, of Euclid, Ohio, is mentioned as one of the first surveyors in 1807. These first men came from Waterbury, CT to Buffalo, NY, then spent 21 days on the rough waters of Lake Erie to reach Cleveland. Euclid was the new “hometown” of Elias’ wife, Phoebe McElrath.

“In the summer of 1807 the township was surveyed. A surveyor by the name of LACEY was first employed, but his chain was found to be of an incorrect length and he was discharged. In August of the same year Robert WORDEN, a surveyor from Columbiana county, was engaged, who, with Levi BRONSON, Daniel BRONSON, Benoni ADAMS, and Elias FROST of Euclid, as ax and chain men, set out from Cleveland taking a southwest course until the northeast corner of the town was reached. From this point they proceeded west two and a half miles, thence south a like distance to the center of the township. The party made their encampment here, on the west bank of the Rocky River. A daughter of Levi BRONSON, Mrs. Oliver TERRELL, accompanied the party to do their cooking, to whom must be accorded the honor of being the first white woman that ever set foot on the soil of Columbia.” History of Lorain County, Columbia Township (Part 1).

Father, Isaac, and sons, Elias C. and Lyman J. Frost, are shown to settle on lot #28 of the Columbia Township in 1808.

We do not know if there were any of Isaac’s daughters who traveled west with the Frost family, but his wife, Anne, made the trip. A narrative about another family, the Hickox’s, who traveled from Waterbury CT at the same time, gives us an idea of those early beginnings:

“Mrs. HICKOX ‘kept house’ in their wagon while her husband and sons felled trees and built their log cabin, which, though small, was large enough for its furnishings, the most important being the children, four sons and as many daughters. " Cuyahoga Cities

There are many more accounts of the earliest settlement of the townships in Lorain and Cuyahoga County at http://www.columbiahistoricalsociety.org/history1.html
In reading these narratives which have been posted, we find many mentions of the Frost family.

New Series on Frost Family Heritage

The Frost family seems to have left clues for us all across the country, from Connecticut to Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska, then to Oklahoma. Along the way, we find the names of spouses which we will attempt to trace… Paine/Payne, Nash, Cooper, Sanford, Fenn, Towner, Harrington, and more.

Eva Ida Frost McGill, pictured, was our gt. grandmother. Her father was Elias Carlos Frost, the son of Johnson Lyman Frost. Johnson’s father was Isaac Frost. Isaac (our 4gt grandfather) was born in the New Haven area of CT in the 1750s. His family tree, which I am still verifying, will take us back into the 1600s, still in CT.