Jim Frost - Biography
Jim's great grandfather, George Frost, knew the Chaffey Brothers in Canada and moved to the Etiwanda area in 1882 to work for them. George was a horticulturist. George was born in Britain and Vanelia Utman, his wife, was born in Germany.
After the Chaffey Brothers went to Australia, George and a handful of other pioneer families put the infra-structure of the community together, building churches and a community center. George was a member of the Congregational Church. George purchased an existing general store in the mid-1890s, which he named Frost and Son. George served as the first postmaster, and then passed that job onto his nephew Chester (Chet) Frost, who served in that position for 40 years. George also served on the school board from 1886 to 1888.
Jim's grandfather, John Frost, was born in Canada in 1883. John and Vanelia joined George in Etiwanda, after the baby was born. Charlie Frost, George and Vanelia's second child, was purportedly the first boy born in Etiwanda. John Frost was in the first graduating class in 1888. John became a member of the school board in the 1930s.
From Jim's other side of his family, his grandmother was a Morris and moved to the area from Nebraska in 1904. She was the daughter of John Todd Morris, who lived in the Norton-Fisher House, which was across the street from the Chaffey-Garcia house. John Todd Morris, initially lived in Ontario, and became the first chairman of the Ontario Cemetery Association, which built Bellevue Cemetary.
Jim's mother is from a Danish family, named the Hansens. Her grandparents lived in San Bernadino prior to the turn of the century. Grandfather Hansen became the manager of the First National Bank of Cucamonga, and then became the manager of the Bank of America in Cucamonga. Later he moved to Ontario to become the manager of the Bank of America in Ontario.
Jim's relatives owned 40 acres in Etiwanda. George first started with raisin grapes, then he converted entirely into citrus. Jim's grandfather, John and his brother Will, bought the general store from their father in 1906, and it became the Frost Brothers Store. The store burned down in 1966.
Jim's grandparents had 3 boys and a girl. Jim's father was born in 1906. The girl died in the 1918 flu epidemic, and his brother died 2 years later in a boating accident at Big Bear Lake. A second son died in World War II. Jim's father went to Pomona College and worked for Pacific Telephone for 42 years. He served on the school board in the 1950s. Jim Frost work with the first committee to organized the incorporation of the city. After incorporation, he served as the first Mayor. Currently he is City Treasurer.
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