An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893

ANDREW J. FROST, a Washington pioneer and a prosperous farmer, of Pierce county,
near Hillhurst, was born in Andrew county, Missouri, in 1833. In 1844, when he
was eleven years of age, his parents left Andrew county for Oregon, but the
mother never reached their destination, her death taking place at a point called
Ash Hollow, where she was buried, far from human habitation and from all that
was dear. The bereaved father was thus left with five children, the oldest of
whom was thirteen years and the youngest but six weeks. They arrived at Oregon
City, in January, 1845, where they remained until the Whitman massacre and the
outbreak of the indian war. Andrew, then a lad of about thirteen, enlisted with
the volunteers under Colonel Gillman, and witnessed in Oregon City the hanging
of five Indians for the massacre of the Whitman colony. In 1851, Andrew moved
with his father to Lewis county, Washington, and thence to the Chehalis river,
near the present site of Chehalis. From there they later removed to Frost's
prairie, in Thurston county, where Andrew remained with his father until the
outbreak of the Indian war in 1855, when he again took up arms, enlisting under
Captain Hays. His company was ordered to Steilacoom and mustered into regular
service under Captain Malony. After the close of the war, Andrew settled on a
farm in Pierce county, where he has ever since resided, with the exception of
four years spent with his family in Mendocino county, California. His industry
has been rewarded by large crops of the best quality, and he now enjoys the
fruits of his many years of hardships and toil. May 8, 1859, Mr. Frost was
married to Mary Perry, also a pioneer of Pierce county, Washington, who is a
native of Appanoose county, Iowa. In April, 1854, when she was nine years of
age, her parents left Garden Grove, Decatur county, Iowa, for the far West;
being accompanied by four children. Her father, however, was destined never to
reach his anticipated home, for he was shot by Indians in Idaho. After
experiencing this distressing bereavement the heart-broken mother and sorrowing
children proceeded on their way, and after many hardships reached, in October,
1854, a place then known as Bushelier Lake (now Spanaway), where they made their
first rest after six months' weary travel, beset by grief and suffering. Here
they lived for a time in a log cabin which had neither windows, doors nor a
floor, and but half roofed over. This, however, was a grateful retreat after
their former hard experience. From here they removed to the donation claim which
their mother took on the south side of American lake, and which is now owned by
John and J.G. Murry. Mary Perry and her brother were compelled to herd sheep for
the Hudson's Bay Company in order to obtain provisions with which to sustain
life. During the Indian war of 1855 and 1856, they spent about two months in
Fort Nisqually for safety; on other occasions they went to Steilacoom. After the
close of the war, Mrs. Frost lived on the farm until her marriage to the subject
of this sketch, and since then has lived continuously in Washington except
during the four years, previously mentioned, which the family passed in
Mendocino county, California. Mr. and Mrs. Frost have six children living, three
sons and as many daughters. The oldest daughter is married to Forrest J. Hunt,
who keeps a general store at Hillhurst; the oldest son and next younger living
daughter are also married and reside in Cowlitz county, Washington.

Thus after many hardships endured, they have at least come into peace and
prosperity, which is the reward of honest, persistent and intelligent effort.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.