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.