Tenth of eleven children, youngest of five sons of Elijah Frost and Elizabeth Brown. Husband of Alice W Whitcomb 1856 – 1926 married April 10, 1878 in Mendocino County. Father of:
*Jean Evans Frost 1879-1954
* Fred Whitcomb Frost 1881-1962
Martin was with his two brothers, Ishom and Elisha Frost, who was the lone member of his family killed in the Frost-Coates street duel in Willits against the Coates clan on October 16, 1867. The fight was started by Elisha and his brother in law, Frank Duncan. Record has it that he was killed by Abner C Coates who shot his double barreled shotgun at Elisha. It is also said that Elisha was able to kill three of the Coates after he fell.
The Sacramento Pacific Bee, 29 Jan 1886 has an article that states after the 1867 shootout, another war of sorts started between brothers Isom and Martin and the four sons of Elisha. They were constantly exchanging heated words. "The outcome of a quarrel between Mart and his nephew Ben resulted in the former riding into town one day, horseback, with Ben lying in front of him on the saddle, dead. He explained the death f his nephew by saying he had fallen off his horse and in the fall his pistol had exploded and killed him. It was the general belief that he was murdered as Mary had frequently quarreled with Ben about his intimacy with his (Mart's) sister.
Mendocino Dispatch. 17 Mar 1882, p3
Benj F Frost, and old and well known resident of this place and latterly of Little Lake Valley, met with a violent death at about 11 o'clock am on Monday last in the most singular manner. He had been to Navarro with a band of hogs, and was on his way home accompanied by Mart [Martin Van Buren] Frost, Ben's cousin, and John Robinson and son. Ben's hat had fallen to the ground, his mule kicked him off as he tried to retrieve it. Mr Robinson helped him back on his horse as his should had been injured, Mr Robinson's horse shook himself violently, charging a gun in a pouch on the horse, killing Ben instantly. The ball went through Ben's left arm and entered his chest above the nipple and through the heart, lodging itself below the eighth rib where it was extracted.
Prior to 1884, Martin went to James' cabin to settle an old dispute. They had a few words when James grabbed his Winchester rifle, standing near, and blew his uncle's head off. James was arrested but was acquitted on the grounds of self-defense, although it was the general belief that is was cold blooded murder. This led to Isom who, with the help of a George Gibson and a Mr Jewell, went to James' ranch (belonging to A Humberg) in Scotts Valley where James was separating sheep, and shot James. The San Francisco examiner on 24 Jan 1886 reports Isom was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment at Folsom.
San Francisco Examiner, 30 Dec 1883, pg 8
Killed By His Nephew
Ukiah, December 29 - Yesterday, Mart Frost, a desperate character, went into the town of Willits, twenty-two miles north of here, and with threats and a drawn revolver, attempted to run the place. He got into a difficulty with a nephew names James Frost, and was shot through the head and was killed instantly. Frost has surrendered himself claiming that the killing was done in self defense.
*Jean Evans Frost 1879-1954
* Fred Whitcomb Frost 1881-1962
Martin was with his two brothers, Ishom and Elisha Frost, who was the lone member of his family killed in the Frost-Coates street duel in Willits against the Coates clan on October 16, 1867. The fight was started by Elisha and his brother in law, Frank Duncan. Record has it that he was killed by Abner C Coates who shot his double barreled shotgun at Elisha. It is also said that Elisha was able to kill three of the Coates after he fell.
The Sacramento Pacific Bee, 29 Jan 1886 has an article that states after the 1867 shootout, another war of sorts started between brothers Isom and Martin and the four sons of Elisha. They were constantly exchanging heated words. "The outcome of a quarrel between Mart and his nephew Ben resulted in the former riding into town one day, horseback, with Ben lying in front of him on the saddle, dead. He explained the death f his nephew by saying he had fallen off his horse and in the fall his pistol had exploded and killed him. It was the general belief that he was murdered as Mary had frequently quarreled with Ben about his intimacy with his (Mart's) sister.
Mendocino Dispatch. 17 Mar 1882, p3
Benj F Frost, and old and well known resident of this place and latterly of Little Lake Valley, met with a violent death at about 11 o'clock am on Monday last in the most singular manner. He had been to Navarro with a band of hogs, and was on his way home accompanied by Mart [Martin Van Buren] Frost, Ben's cousin, and John Robinson and son. Ben's hat had fallen to the ground, his mule kicked him off as he tried to retrieve it. Mr Robinson helped him back on his horse as his should had been injured, Mr Robinson's horse shook himself violently, charging a gun in a pouch on the horse, killing Ben instantly. The ball went through Ben's left arm and entered his chest above the nipple and through the heart, lodging itself below the eighth rib where it was extracted.
Prior to 1884, Martin went to James' cabin to settle an old dispute. They had a few words when James grabbed his Winchester rifle, standing near, and blew his uncle's head off. James was arrested but was acquitted on the grounds of self-defense, although it was the general belief that is was cold blooded murder. This led to Isom who, with the help of a George Gibson and a Mr Jewell, went to James' ranch (belonging to A Humberg) in Scotts Valley where James was separating sheep, and shot James. The San Francisco examiner on 24 Jan 1886 reports Isom was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment at Folsom.
San Francisco Examiner, 30 Dec 1883, pg 8
Killed By His Nephew
Ukiah, December 29 - Yesterday, Mart Frost, a desperate character, went into the town of Willits, twenty-two miles north of here, and with threats and a drawn revolver, attempted to run the place. He got into a difficulty with a nephew names James Frost, and was shot through the head and was killed instantly. Frost has surrendered himself claiming that the killing was done in self defense.
Tenth of eleven children, youngest of five sons of Elijah Frost and Elizabeth Brown. Husband of Alice W Whitcomb 1856 – 1926 married April 10, 1878 in Mendocino County. Father of:
*Jean Evans Frost 1879-1954
* Fred Whitcomb Frost 1881-1962
Martin was with his two brothers, Ishom and Elisha Frost, who was the lone member of his family killed in the Frost-Coates street duel in Willits against the Coates clan on October 16, 1867. The fight was started by Elisha and his brother in law, Frank Duncan. Record has it that he was killed by Abner C Coates who shot his double barreled shotgun at Elisha. It is also said that Elisha was able to kill three of the Coates after he fell.
The Sacramento Pacific Bee, 29 Jan 1886 has an article that states after the 1867 shootout, another war of sorts started between brothers Isom and Martin and the four sons of Elisha. They were constantly exchanging heated words. "The outcome of a quarrel between Mart and his nephew Ben resulted in the former riding into town one day, horseback, with Ben lying in front of him on the saddle, dead. He explained the death f his nephew by saying he had fallen off his horse and in the fall his pistol had exploded and killed him. It was the general belief that he was murdered as Mary had frequently quarreled with Ben about his intimacy with his (Mart's) sister.
Mendocino Dispatch. 17 Mar 1882, p3
Benj F Frost, and old and well known resident of this place and latterly of Little Lake Valley, met with a violent death at about 11 o'clock am on Monday last in the most singular manner. He had been to Navarro with a band of hogs, and was on his way home accompanied by Mart [Martin Van Buren] Frost, Ben's cousin, and John Robinson and son. Ben's hat had fallen to the ground, his mule kicked him off as he tried to retrieve it. Mr Robinson helped him back on his horse as his should had been injured, Mr Robinson's horse shook himself violently, charging a gun in a pouch on the horse, killing Ben instantly. The ball went through Ben's left arm and entered his chest above the nipple and through the heart, lodging itself below the eighth rib where it was extracted.
Prior to 1884, Martin went to James' cabin to settle an old dispute. They had a few words when James grabbed his Winchester rifle, standing near, and blew his uncle's head off. James was arrested but was acquitted on the grounds of self-defense, although it was the general belief that is was cold blooded murder. This led to Isom who, with the help of a George Gibson and a Mr Jewell, went to James' ranch (belonging to A Humberg) in Scotts Valley where James was separating sheep, and shot James. The San Francisco examiner on 24 Jan 1886 reports Isom was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment at Folsom.
San Francisco Examiner, 30 Dec 1883, pg 8
Killed By His Nephew
Ukiah, December 29 - Yesterday, Mart Frost, a desperate character, went into the town of Willits, twenty-two miles north of here, and with threats and a drawn revolver, attempted to run the place. He got into a difficulty with a nephew names James Frost, and was shot through the head and was killed instantly. Frost has surrendered himself claiming that the killing was done in self defense.
*Jean Evans Frost 1879-1954
* Fred Whitcomb Frost 1881-1962
Martin was with his two brothers, Ishom and Elisha Frost, who was the lone member of his family killed in the Frost-Coates street duel in Willits against the Coates clan on October 16, 1867. The fight was started by Elisha and his brother in law, Frank Duncan. Record has it that he was killed by Abner C Coates who shot his double barreled shotgun at Elisha. It is also said that Elisha was able to kill three of the Coates after he fell.
The Sacramento Pacific Bee, 29 Jan 1886 has an article that states after the 1867 shootout, another war of sorts started between brothers Isom and Martin and the four sons of Elisha. They were constantly exchanging heated words. "The outcome of a quarrel between Mart and his nephew Ben resulted in the former riding into town one day, horseback, with Ben lying in front of him on the saddle, dead. He explained the death f his nephew by saying he had fallen off his horse and in the fall his pistol had exploded and killed him. It was the general belief that he was murdered as Mary had frequently quarreled with Ben about his intimacy with his (Mart's) sister.
Mendocino Dispatch. 17 Mar 1882, p3
Benj F Frost, and old and well known resident of this place and latterly of Little Lake Valley, met with a violent death at about 11 o'clock am on Monday last in the most singular manner. He had been to Navarro with a band of hogs, and was on his way home accompanied by Mart [Martin Van Buren] Frost, Ben's cousin, and John Robinson and son. Ben's hat had fallen to the ground, his mule kicked him off as he tried to retrieve it. Mr Robinson helped him back on his horse as his should had been injured, Mr Robinson's horse shook himself violently, charging a gun in a pouch on the horse, killing Ben instantly. The ball went through Ben's left arm and entered his chest above the nipple and through the heart, lodging itself below the eighth rib where it was extracted.
Prior to 1884, Martin went to James' cabin to settle an old dispute. They had a few words when James grabbed his Winchester rifle, standing near, and blew his uncle's head off. James was arrested but was acquitted on the grounds of self-defense, although it was the general belief that is was cold blooded murder. This led to Isom who, with the help of a George Gibson and a Mr Jewell, went to James' ranch (belonging to A Humberg) in Scotts Valley where James was separating sheep, and shot James. The San Francisco examiner on 24 Jan 1886 reports Isom was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment at Folsom.
San Francisco Examiner, 30 Dec 1883, pg 8
Killed By His Nephew
Ukiah, December 29 - Yesterday, Mart Frost, a desperate character, went into the town of Willits, twenty-two miles north of here, and with threats and a drawn revolver, attempted to run the place. He got into a difficulty with a nephew names James Frost, and was shot through the head and was killed instantly. Frost has surrendered himself claiming that the killing was done in self defense.
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