CHARLES FROST, a retired citizen of Winchester, is a native of Derbyshire, England, and was born March 14, 1825. His father was Charles Frost, and his mother's maiden name was Mary Bagby. The latter died in England at the advanced age of eighty-one years; the former, miner, and manufacturer's agent, died at Winchester, while here on a visit to his son, in 1868.
Charles, Jr., the one of whom this is written, is the youngest of three sons, and the only one now living. In 1842 the desire to see the New World seized him, and accordingly he took passage for America, and landing at New York he made his way to Winchester, at which place he has since made his home. He was married in England when but little past sixteen years of age, to Charlotte Dale, and their first child was born before they left the mother country. He now has four children living, and has buried three. The living are: Elizabeth, Mrs. James Edwards, St. Louis, Mo.; Mary B., Mrs. Charles Ruark, of Winchester; Ella S., Mrs. E.E. Watt, of Winchester; Charles Frost, Jr., an educated gentleman and business man, now engaged as bookkeeper in St. Louis. The balance of the children died while in infancy.
Arriving at Winchester Mr. Frost engaged first in farming and dairying, and from this he enlarged his business by becoming subsequently interested in coal mining, and carried on these several enterprises for many years. In 1856 he removed from his country place into Winchester, and in 1859 laid off the town of North Winchester. Associated with various persons, and at various times, he was for several years a prominent and successful merchant and pork packer, and for some time after, 1864 or 1865, traded extensively in live stock. In 1871 he furnished the capital to open and put into successful operation the Winchester Coal Mines, from the management and direction of which, in 1884, he retired. His last active operations were as a grain dealer, from which he finally retired to private life in 1887.
A perusal of this brief history of Mr. Frost will amply demonstrate that as a business man his capacity was almost without limit. He engaged in no business that did not prove successful, and he retires to private life with a record that may well be emulated by the younger generation. His large fund of common sense has led him on to success, and his integrity and business character are virtues to which his friends point with pride. His career has been a practical illustration that a diversity of enterprises may be carried on successfully by any man to whom are ascribed the virtues of industry, integrity and intelligence.