John V. Brost, Marble Worker

John V. Brost was born in Germany in 1811, to Jacob and Sophy Brost. His wife was the former Christina Meck. By 1860 John and Christina Brost and several children were residing in Sandusky, Erie County, Ohio, where John was employed as a marble cutter. Their five children ranged in age from one to seventeen. When Sandusky resident Henry Walter died in 1863, John V. Brost created this monument for him. Mr. Walter’s tombstone can be seen at Oakland Cemetery.

He signed the tombstone as J.V. Brost.

In the 1880 U.S. Census, he listed his occupation as wine dealer, but the J.V. Brost and Son Marble Works was still in business, as recorded in the 1882 city directory.

According to Erie County Probate Court death records, John V. Brost died on September 21, 1889 due to "old age."

Ironically, although he worked as a marble cutter most of his life, the monument for John and Christina Brost at Oakland Cemetery is metal, made of zinc, most likely manufactured at a foundry outside of Sandusky and shipped to the cemetery.