Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

Eunice (Hill) Frisbie, was born in Waterbury,
Connecticut, August 2, 1800. He
married, in 1821, Artimesia Welton, who
was born April 15, 1798, daughter of Rich-
ard, Jr., and Sarah (Gunn) Welton; she
was a descendant of John Welton, the
founder, through Richard, Eliakim, Richard,
and Richard. Their children were
I. Sarah Mariend. born September 22,
1822. 2. Edward Laurens, of further men-
tion. 3. Felicia Ann, born July 31, 1827.
(VI) Edward Laurens Frisbie, son of
Laurens and Artimesia (Welton) Fris-
bie, was born in Waterbury, Connecticut,
August 22, 1824. He spent his childhood
on his father's farm, was educated in the
local schools, and on completing his stud-
ies returned to farming. In 1847, ^t the
age of twenty-three years, he entered the
kettle department of the Waterbury Brass
Company, where he remained until the
summer of 1848, when the old method of
manufacturing kettles by stamping was
superceded by a machine for spinning
them. In the spring of 1849 he entered
the employ of Brown & Elton, and was
engaged in casting brass and German
silver with this firm until it was dissolved
and the new firm of Brown Brothers
formed. Under the new organization he
was made foreman of the casting depart-
ment. His connection with Brown Broth-
ers covered a period of thirty years, dur-
ing which time he rose rapidly to a posi-
tion of influence in the firm, eventually
taking a leading part in its management.
In 1854 he purchased an interest in the
business, and thenceforward until his re-
tirement from active business life in 1883,
he directed the policies of the firm. During
the greater part of this period he was act-
ively and prominently identified with numerous
industrial and financial enterprises
in Waterbury. Mr. Frisbie was a member
of the board of trustees of the Waterbury
Savings Bank, and for several years was
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
57
its president. He was a prime factor in the
movement which resulted in the founding
of the Dime Savings Bank, of which he
was a trustee until his death. He was
also a director of the Manufacturers' Na-
tional Bank and was its president at the
time of his death. In 1854 Mr. Frisbie
made his entrance into public life in Wa-
terbury, as the representative of his dis-
trict in the Connecticut State Legislature.
From this time forward he took an active
and influential part in the official affairs
of Waterbury, serving in various public
offices, and lending his support continu-
ously to all movements which had for
their end the betterment of civic condi-
tions. In 1872 he was reelected to the
Legislature. Mr. Frisbie was also a mem-
ber of the Board of Selectmen before the
incorporation of Waterbury as a city.
Under the city government he served as
a member of the City Council, and as a
member of numerous boards and commit-
tees. He was a member of the Board of
Assessors and justice of the peace for
many years. Mr. Frisbie was a democrat
of the Jefifersonian school, and until his
death was a prominent leader in the coun-
cils of his party. In religious belief he
was an Episcopalian ; when St. John's
Parish was divided and Trinity Parish
formed, he became a vestryman in the
newly-established church and was later
one of its wardens. Despite the varied
and insistent nature of his public service
and his business and financial interests,
Mr. Frisbie was essentially a home-lover,
finding his greatest enjoyment at his own
fireside. His home was the center of a
wide and cultured circle of friends. A
man of deep sympathies, sincere in his
purpose and steadfast in his attachments,
Mr. Frisbie's friends were legion, and his
death caused genuine sorrow among hun-
dreds.
On February 11, 1850, Mr. Frisbie mar-