One of a Thousand/Frost, Rufus Smith
Frost, Rufus Smith, son of Joseph, Jr., and Lucy (Wheeler) Frost, was born in Marlborough, Cheshire county, N. H., July 18, 1826. His father, a thrifty farmer, was a native of this town, as were three successive generations of the same family. The English ancestor, Elder Edmund Frost, came to this country in the sloop "Great Hope," during the autumn of 1635, from Ipswich, England, accompanied by his wife and son. He settled in Cambridge, where he became ruling elder of the First church, which was organized soon after his arrival.
From this most excellent patriarch seven generations have lineally descended, Mr. Frost being in the seventh. On his maternal side he derives his origin from Thomas Wheeler, who was established in Townsend as early as 1640. His grandfather was David Wheeler, who married Rebecca Hoar of Concord, and was the first town clerk of Marlborough, N. H., in 1776.
Mr. Frost, the eighth child of his parents, left his native town at the age of seven years, together with his widowed mother and family, and removed to Boston. There he attended the public schools, and supplemented his public school education by a course of academic training in Newton.
Thus fitted for a commercial career, he entered a wholesale dry-goods house in Boston. By vigor, aptitude, and ability displayed in this service, he rapidly rose to the highest position, and at the age of twenty-one was admitted to partnership in the firm which adopted the title of Osgood & Frost, and continued in business for several years. In 1866 the present firm of Rufus S. Frost & Co. was organized for the transaction of a general commission business in American goods. Mr. Frost soon became extensively engaged in the manufacture of woolens. The National Association of Woolen Manufacturers was founded November 20, 1864. Of that association Mr. Frost was president for seven years. He is also chairman of the executive committee.
To the astonishingly rapid development of American manufacture during the last twenty years Mr. Frost has conspicuously and effectively contributed. His administrative ability has been recognized by his fellow-citizens, and he has been called repeatedly to positions of public honor and responsibility.
He was mayor of Chelsea (his present residence) in 1867, and in '68 he received a practically unanimous re-election. In 1871 and '72 he was a member of the state Senate, serving on the committees on harbors and mercantile affairs, and was chairman of the same committees during the latter session.
In 1873 and '74 he was a member of Governor Washburn's council. In 1874 he was elected to the 44th Congress from the
Rufus S. Frost.
4th congressional district, and served with marked ability on the committee on railroads, and the committee on freedmen's affairs.
Mr. Frost has long been actively connected with numerous benevolent and religious societies, and the educational institutions of the State have found in him a liberal patron and a wise counselor. He remembered his native town by a generous gift in the shape of an elegant granite library building, furnished with two thousand volumes, the deed of the whole being presented to the citizens of Marlborough, N. H., August 26, 1867. To this was added also a fund of five thousand dollars, the interest annually accruing from which to be used for the purchase of additional books. In honor of the donor, it was named by the town the "Frost Free Library."
Mr. Frost has been twice married. His first wife was Ellen M., daughter of Hon. Charles and Amelia (Ripley) Hubbard. His second marriage occurred in Corning, N. Y., June 18, 1879, with Catherine Emily, daughter of Benjamin C. and Catherine (Matthews) Wickham. He has had six children: Charles Hubbard, Ellen Amelia, John Osgood (deceased), Emma Wheeler, Rufus Haskell, and Albert Plumb Frost.