John Boyer Frost

John B. Frost, retired Naperville grain dealer, passed away Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock at his home, 154 Tenth street, Naperville, aged 80 years. He was born Aug. 12, 1842. He had lived most of his life in Naperville.

Funeral services will be conducted from Grace Evangelical church Saturday at 3 p.m., the Rev. L. C. Schmidt officiating. Walter Blanchard Post, G.A.R., the Masonic and Woodmen lodges will have charge at the grave.

John Boyer Frost, son of David and Susanna Frost, was born on a farm known as "Bunker Hill", near Jonestown, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, on the 12th of August, 1842. In April, 1855, the family consisting of father, mother and thirteen children, of which John was the oldest, moved to Naperville, Illinois.

In May, 1864, while resident at Peoria, as a young man of 22 years, he enlisted for service in the Civil War as a member of Company F., 139th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The misfortune of serious illness greatly limited his ability for steady field service with his company. However, he faithfully contributed to the defense of his country the best he had to give until the day of his honorable discharge in October, 1865.

On October 10th, 1867, he was joined in marriage to Elizabeth Hughes who passed on before to the better world on the 27th of April, 1907. Six children were born to these parents, two of which died in infancy, while Cora, Nettie, Herbert and Frank, with seven grandchildren remain. Five brothers and four sisters of the deceased are living to mourn the departure of their elder brother.

After a residence of one year at Peoria, the young bridal pair moved to Naperville. In 1870 the husband became a member of the Chicago Board of Trade, in which business relation, which was sustained during thirty-two years, our departed friend diligently and conscientiously discharged the strenuous service of the prime years of his life. When it is remembered that his office effects were swept away by the memorable Chicago fire, and soon thereafter his entire money resources were lost in the wreck of a Chicago bank, his fortitude and perseverance in the face of such most trying experience are convincing evidence of the courage of his business spirit. It is deserving of mention that his experience as a commuter in thiry two years of travel between Naperville and Chicago, has, in mileage extent, most likely never been equaled by any other citizen of Naperville, it being conservatively computed as 575,000 miles.

The religious career of our departed brother dates back to the year 1870 when, during a revival meeting under Rev. Martin Stamen, in the old "Brick Church", he was converted. In the same year he became a member of the new College Chapel congregation. When, in 1890, the congregation of Grace Church was organized, he was a charter member of the Board of Trustees. His interest and service in the work of the Sunday School was the outstanding feature of his religious activities. For many years he served as Secretary of the Sunday School with an enthusiasm never excelled. For several years he faithfully performed the duties of Assistant Superintendent of the school, and when, at last, his physical infirmities ruthlessly tore him away from these posts of service, it proved to be among the severest disappointments of his life. As to the constancy of his Christian profession, the faith which he avowed at the time of his conversion was never disowned, so that when the summons came to exchange time for eternity, he confidently and fearlessly answered the call.

In his civil association with his fellow men he was useful to the community. He served the public school interests of Naperville as a member of the school board. He was for some time postmaster of our city, until failing health compelled the termination of such service. He was always practically interested in those public movements and affairs which had for their object the improvement of Naperville's civic condition.

He was a member of Naperville's Grand Army Post. How fitting it was that a kind Providence should permit it to occur that his spirit took its flight from the cares and sufferings of earth on Decoration Day, even while his comrades of the Post were strewing flowers on the graves of his comrades who had gone before.

Funeral services were conducted at Grace Evangelical Church on Saturday afternoon June 2, by Rev. L. C. Schmidt assisted by Dr. G. B. Kimmel. Comforting selections were sung by Mrs. Florence Kuehn of Aurora. The G.A.R. conducted the burial service at the cemetery.

Funeral services will be conducted from Grace Evangelical church Saturday at 3 p.m., the Rev. L. C. Schmidt officiating. Walter Blanchard post, G.A.R., the Masonic and Woodmen Lodges will have charge at the grave.