Claude U. Prost, one of the post enterprising farmers and stock raisers in Cinque Homme Township, Perry Co., Mo., is a son of John A. and Genersure (Rousaillion) Prost, natives of France, born in 1804 and 1803, respectively. John A. Prost was educated in his native country, and learned the stone mason�s trade, at which he worked for twelve years before coming to America. He landed at Rozier Landing, Perry Co., Mo., in 1841, soon after which he purchased land and engaged in farming in Perry County, and also worked some at his trade. In 1854 he removed to Ste. Genevieve County, where he passed the remainder of his life.

His first wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch died in Perry County in 1858. She was the mother of four children Claude U., Alban, Eulalie (Mrs. Louis Besand) and one that died in infancy. John A. Prost became a large land owner of Perry County. After the death of his first wife he married Mrs. Matilda Cladet, a widow, who had one daughter by her first marriage.

Claude U. was born in France in 1830, and came to Perry County, Mo., with his parents. His education which was begun in his native country, was finished in America. When a boy he began farming, and also learned the carpenter�s trade. In 1851 he was united in marriage with Mary Besand, a daughter of Cyrill and Claudine (Combe) Besand. She was born in France in 1832 and came with her parents to Missouri in 1840.

After his marriage, Mr. Prost engaged in farming and a few years later purchased his farm. He is a successful farmer, and takes much interest in raising fine blooded horses. In 1861 he enlisted in the Federal army, joining the Fourth Missouri State Militia, and is now a member of the G. A. R. He was township clerk, and is school director, and for the past five years has been crop reporter for the county.

He and wife have had ten children: Narcia, Francis, Lawrence, Antonia (Mrs. Thomas Burgee), Teodule (deceased), Vincent, Corine, Urbain (deceased), Cyrill, and Leopold. The family are Catholics, and in politics Mr. Prost is a Republican. He was elected county judge of the Western District in the fall of 1886 but for some defect in his father�s naturalization papers did not get to fill the office to which he was elected. He is also the manager of the Perry County Agricultural and Live Stock Association, a corporation duly incorporated under the laws of the State of Missouri.

The Goodspeed Publishing Company compiled a series of histories of various counties in the U.S. in the late 19th century. The information in the History of Southeast Missouri, published in 1888, was provided by the contemporary residents of Perry County and her neighboring counties. The biographies are a valuable source of genealogical information, despite a few minor inaccuracies. We are glad to present the transcribed biographies here for anyone researching Perry County's history.