FRANK WADHAM FROST

San Francisco County

Biographies

FRANK WADHAM FROST

FROST, FRANK WADHAM, Secretary, United Properties Company, San Francisco, California, was born in that city April 29, 1867, the son of Horatio Frost and Mary L. (Wadham) Frost. He married Aletta Garreston at Haywards, California, February 26, 1895, and to them there were born three children, Harlan Garreston, Dudley Wadham and Phyllis Frost. His father and mother were among the pioneers of California

Mr. Frost, who has participated in the development of the street railway business of the cities on San Francisco Bay, almost from the beginning of such development, has spent practically all his life in that section. He received his education in the public schools of San Francisco and at Lincoln Grammar School of the same city, and began his business career in the employ of a large paint and oil concern of San Francisco.

He remained in his first position for about three years and for three years more was in the employ of the Overland Packing Company of San Francisco, as clerk. He next entered the service of the United States Government as teller in the Money Order department of the San Francisco Postoffice and remained in that capacity for a little over two years, leaving to enter the business field.

In 1893 Mr. Frost took a position as receiving clerk for the Oakland Consolidated Street Railway Company of Oakland, California. This company, organized by Messrs. George McNear, John W. Coleman and J. E. McElrath, owned the first electric railway system built in either Oakland or San Francisco, and formed the basis of the present railway system centering on San Francisco Bay. The F. M Smith interests purchased control of the company in the later part of 1893 and a little later acquired control of the Central Avenue Railway Company and the Alameda, Oakland & Piedmont Electric Railway Company and consolidated them all into one corporation. Following this there were six other different mergers, each taking in a separate railroad, and the cooperation is now known as the San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railways. This company, embracing the East Bay cities electric lines, connects with all the Oakland street railways and also those lines embraced in what is known as “The Key Route,” altogether, making a vast system.

Mr. Frost held office as Assistant Secretary of the company during its various changes and in 1911 was elected Secretary of the San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railways. About the same time he was elected Secretary of the United Properties Company of California, a holding corporation.

Mr. Frost’s election to the latter position, occurring on January 13, 1911, marked the eighteenth anniversary of his entry into the railroad business.

Since he first began his career in electric railways, Mr. Frost has devoted himself exclusively to his work and has been one of the important factors in their management. Incidentally he has had a prominent part in the development of the city of Oakland, for a large part of the growth of the city has been due to the street railways. Prior to the inauguration of the street railway system, Oakland, like other cities, was cramped, but with the coming of the street railways the municipal area was extended, real estate values increased and the city started towards its present position among the important municipalities of the Pacific Coast.

Mr. Frost, in the capacity of Assistant Secretary of the Oakland Railroads, took an active part in the relief work following the San Francisco disaster of 1906. His company was little affected by the earthquake, its sole damage consisting of injury to one boat, which was knocked off the ways. The ferry and railway lines were in operation a few hours after the shock occurred and the company did a great deal to alleviate the sufferings of the people of San Francisco. Refugees were carried across the bay in thousands and the company furnished hundreds of cots which were placed in the parks for the people, while the company’s offices were turned into temporary hospitals and its employes engaged in relief work. Mr. Frost had the direction of the greater part of this work and labored night and day for the sufferers until conditions were brought back to Normal.

Aside from his office in the United Properties Company, Mr. Frost is Secretary of various subsidiaries of that corporation and is a prominent figure in the business circles of San Francisco and Oakland, but has never taken any active part in politics or public affairs. His only affiliation outside of his business is with the Transportation Club of San Francisco.

Transcribed by Betty Vickroy.

Source: Press Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 413, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta. 1913.

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