Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

unassuming and modest nature, he sought
no credit for his kind acts and enjoyed
a most happy life without ostentation or
display. Through his own perseverance
and unflinching courage he conquered
many obstacles. In 1876 Mr. Frisbie was
elected on the Republican ticket to the
State Legislature, receiving a majority
of fifty-two votes. This was his only connection
with political activities, though
he was a man of firmly established prin-
ciples, every ready to sustain his opin-
ions. The operation of his business
required close personal attention, and he
left practical politics to those whose taste
led in that direction. He was the president
of the Cromwell Plate Company
a director in the Cromwell Savings Bank
a director in the Middletown Bank; director
of the Power Hardware Company
and a director of the Meriden & Crom-
well Railroad Company. For many years
he was an active member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, having
membership with Central Lodge, No. 12,
of Middletown. In 1844, Mr. Frisbie married
Mary Ann Brown, daughter of Sam-
uel C. Brown, and they were the parents
of four children : Henry R., resides in
Belleville, New Jersey; Agnes Melville,
married, in 1870, I. B. Pryor ; Charles B.,
receives further mention ; Carrie Eliza-
beth, born 1854, died in 1861.
Charles Brown Frisbie, second son of
Russell and Mary Ann (Brown) Frisbie,
was born July 17, 1849, in Middletown.
Connecticut, where he spent his boyhood,
and acquired his elementary education in
private schools. Subsequently, he com-
pleted the course in the City High School,
and was later a student at the Green
Mountain Institute, South Woodstock,
Vermont. After leaving the high school,
he served three years as clerk in the store
of H. B. & F. J. Chaffee, of Middle-
town. At the end of this time the family
;
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
153
removed to Cromwell, and soon after
Charles Brown Frisbie attained his ma-
jority. At the age of nineteen years, he
began the study of civil engineering, and
has had considerable experience in railroad
construction and operation. He was
employed on the survey of the Valley
Railroad, and also on government work
along the Connecticut river. For one and
one-half years he was employed on the
foundation of the piers and railroad
bridge of Middletown. In March, 1877, ^ r -
Frisbie entered the employ of the J. & E.
Stevens Company, manufacturers of toys
and other hardware specialities, at North
Cromwell, Connecticut, and continued
with this establishment until 1908, when
it went out of business, having joined a
combination of hardware and metal toy
manufacturers. For the last ten years
Mr. Frisbie had held the position of su-
perintendent of the company. In 1912
Mr. Frisbie purchased the plant as it
then stood, and incorporated the business
under the title of The J. and E. Stevens
Company, and continued the manufacture
of light hardware, toys, pistols and
hatchets. In the incorporation, Mr. Fris-
bie was made president and treasurer.
The business was established in 1843, an d
is the oldest iron toy factory in the world.
Wherever commerce makes its way about
the globe, the wares of this establishment
find market. About ninety people are
employed. Like his honored father, Mr.
Frisbie has been active in promoting the
varied interests of his home town, and
enjoys the esteem and appreciation of his
fellow-citizens. Having espoused the
principles of the Republican party, he has
long acted in its interests, although he
never allows partisanship to bias his
judgment or principles. For twenty
years he has been chairman of the
Republican Town Committee of Crom-
well, and fourteen years chairman of