Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-12-21
MANY PAY RESPECTS
TO ROBERT FROST
WELL-KNOWN PIONEER PASSES
AWAY SUNDAY-FCNERA
WEDNESDAY,.

Olympia lost one of it's best
known citizens and the Northwest a
pioneer whose residence runs back
81 years, when Judge Robert Frost,
80 years old, passed away at st.
Peters hospital Sunday evening. The
funeral took place at the Masonic
Temple Wednesday afternoon, being
conducted by Olympia Lodge No. l,
of which Mr.. Frost was a past mas
ter, and was attended by pioneers
from all sections of the Northwest,
as we'll as many Olympians.
Nearly everybody in Olympia and
many throughout the Northwest,
particularly the older residents,
knew Bob" Frost, as he was famil-
iarly known. For more than 80
years, beginning in 1870, he was en-
gagged in the hardware business in
this city and during all that time
was prominently identified with diff
ferent enterprises and movements
for the advancement of the city.
Upon retiring from business he was
twice elected county treasurer and
was later justice of the peace in
Olympia precinct for a number of
years.
Native of England.
Mr.. Frost was born in Tunbridge
Wells, England, October 25, 1885.
In his youth he was apprenticed to
the plasterer's trade, but "the call
of the sea" became too strong and he
answered it in 1853, and couple of
years later landed in San Francisco,
where he re-shipped on the brig
"Susan Abigail" for Portland. cross
ing the bar on New Years day, 1856.
The Northwest so appealed to him
then that he quit the seafaring life
and when the Fraser river gold dis
covery was reported, he went to the
new Eldors DO with party of 100.
who encountered various exciting ex-
periences. The find" did not pan
out, however. and he came to Olym-
pia and for three years worked as a
printer in the Office OF The Washing
ton Standard, established November
II, 1860, by John Miller Murphy.
One of his associates at that time
was George H. Hines. who for years
has been secretary of the Oregon
society.
Giving up the printing business he
went back to his trade as plasterer,
until he opened up his hardware
store in 1870. While so engaged he.
helped to finance and construct
Olympia's first gas works and cleo
.ric plant, and became vice president
If the consolidation which resulted
n the Olympia Light & Power COM
)any.
Three Daughters Survive.
Mr.. Frost was married in 1852 to
Miss Louisa Holmes, the daughter /
If an early Olympian, and built the /
house on East Bay avenue which has
been the family home ever since.
Mrs. Frost died 20 years to the day
before Mr.. Frost. Four daughters
we're born to them, Nell. Caroline,
Florence and Anna. Miss Nell Frost |
s living at the family home, Miss
Caroline passed away few years ago,
Miss Florence is Mrs. Chas. D. Gar
1eld of Juneau, Alaska, and Miss
Anna is Mrs. John Aldrich of Spo-
ZANE. Mrs. Anna Macleay of this
,ity is sister of Mr.. Frost.
Mr.. Frost was one of the promi-
lent old-time Masons of the North
vest having been an honorary men,
Der of the 33rd degree Scottish Rite
Masonry and grand deacon of the
grand lodge of Free and Accepted |
Masons of this state.
Following the funeral services, in
erment was made in the family plot
1t the Masonic cemetery, under the