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Below is a family biography included in The History of Bedford County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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WILLIAM A. FROST, editor and proprietor of the Shelbyville Gazette, was born September 30, 1855, in Troy, Obion Co., Tenn., being the eldest of five children of William D. and Martha L. (Brown) Frost. The father is a physician and resides at Flat Creek in this county. The mother died September 24, 1874. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm in Moore County, Tenn., and in Mississippi. He remained with his parents to the age of nineteen, when he entered Mulberry Institute, Lincoln County, Tenn., in which he took a two years’ course. He then was appointed deputy clerk of the Circuit Court of Moore County. After one year as deputy he was appointed clerk of the same court and held the office three years. In December, 1878, he bought the Lynchburg Sentinel, and published that paper till December 4, 1884, at which time he was burned out. In 1880, June 30, he was appointed clerk and master of the Chancery Court of Moore County, and served four years. January 1, 1884, he took charge of his present enterprise. He has refitted the office with an entirely new outfit and made his the leading paper of the country, and he is regarded as the most successful county newspaper man in the State. He was elected alderman of the Second Ward of Shelbyville in October, 1885, and is chairman of the finance committee. He is justly regarded as a prominent and enterprising citizen. He was married, May, 4, 1880, to Miss Katie Whitaker, of Lincoln County. This union has been blessed in the birth of one son, William W. Politically Mr. Frost is a firm Democrat.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in The History of Bedford County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Bedford County was included within The History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Beford and Marshall Counties of Tennessee

View additional Bedford County, Tennessee family biographies here

View a historic 1888 map of Bedford County, Tennessee

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