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Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

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the Board <strong>of</strong> Relief <strong>of</strong> the town. In<br />

1897 he represented the town in the<br />

Lower House <strong>of</strong> the General Assembly,<br />

and in 1912 represented his district in<br />

the State Senate. He is a member <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Congregational church <strong>of</strong> Cromwell, in<br />

which he has filled several positions, and<br />

is a member <strong>of</strong> Central Lodge, No. 12,<br />

Independent Order <strong>of</strong> Odd Fellows, <strong>of</strong><br />

Middletown. He is a member <strong>of</strong> the Mid-<br />

dletown Yacht Club ;<br />

iXCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY<br />

succeeded his father<br />

as trustee <strong>of</strong> the Middlesex County Bank;<br />

one <strong>of</strong> the corporators and a director <strong>of</strong><br />

the Cromwell Savings Bank ; a trustee <strong>of</strong><br />

the <strong>Connecticut</strong> School for Boys at Meri-<br />

den. Mr. Frisbee's home is one <strong>of</strong> the<br />

most handsome and substantial in Crom-<br />

well, and there the spirit <strong>of</strong> hospitality<br />

finds permanent abode.<br />

He married, May 21, 1873, Emma M.<br />

Roberts, born September 21, 1852, a daughter<br />

<strong>of</strong> Abner and Mary Stocking (Hub-<br />

bard) Roberts, the last named a twin sister<br />

<strong>of</strong> George S. Hubbard, <strong>of</strong> Middletown. Mr.<br />

and Mrs. Frisbie are the parents <strong>of</strong> three<br />

children :<br />

mention ;<br />

Mattie<br />

Russell Abner, receives further<br />

May, born January 22,<br />

1882, died February 27, 1903 ; Harry<br />

Copeland, born December 7, 1885, died<br />

September 2, 1903.<br />

FRISBIE, Russell Abner,<br />

Manufacturer.<br />

Russell Abner Frisbie, eldest child <strong>of</strong><br />

Charles Brown and Emma M. (Roberts)<br />

Frisbie, was born February 21, 1874, in<br />

Middletown, <strong>Connecticut</strong>. He came to<br />

Cromwell at the age <strong>of</strong> four years, and<br />

there passed his boyhood and youth. He<br />

received his elementary education there,<br />

and subsequently was a student at the<br />

Wesleyan School at Wilbraham, Mas-<br />

sachusetts. Possessing much aptitude<br />

for drawing, immediately after leaving<br />

school, he engaged in the service <strong>of</strong> vari-<br />

154<br />

ous firms in New Jersey and <strong>Connecticut</strong><br />

as draftsman and designer. In 1902 he<br />

founded the Frisbie Motor Company <strong>of</strong><br />

Middletown, <strong>Connecticut</strong>, and engaged in<br />

the manufacture <strong>of</strong> motors and station-<br />

ary engines designed by himself. In this<br />

business thirty-five skilled mechanics are<br />

employed, and the product is distributed<br />

over the world. In 1917 the factor) -<br />

the company had increased to about double<br />

its original size in order to accommodate<br />

its ever increasing business. Mr.<br />

Frisbie seems to have inherited the mechanical<br />

genius <strong>of</strong> his grandfather, and<br />

he has achieved a remarkable success for<br />

one <strong>of</strong> his years. He makes his home in<br />

Middletown, where he participates in the<br />

social life <strong>of</strong> the community, and is<br />

esteemed as a business man. He has<br />

made no effort to share in practical poli-<br />

tics, but is a sound Republican in prin-<br />

ciple and is ever ready to support his<br />

opinions. He is an active member <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Masonic Order, affiliating with Washington<br />

Lodge, No. 81, Ancient Free and<br />

Accepted Masons, <strong>of</strong> Cromwell, Connec-<br />

ticut ; <strong>of</strong> Washington Chapter, No. 6,<br />

Royal Arch Masons, <strong>of</strong> Middletown;<br />

Cyrene Commandery, No. 8, Knights<br />

Templar; <strong>of</strong> Sphinx Temple, Ancient<br />

Arabic Order Nobles <strong>of</strong> the Mystic<br />

Shrine, <strong>of</strong> Hartford. He is also a mem-<br />

ber <strong>of</strong> the Congregational church.<br />

He married, June 4, 1895, Harriet<br />

Esther Coe, daughter <strong>of</strong> Orren and La-<br />

vinia (Bacon) Coe, and granddaughter <strong>of</strong><br />

Osborn Coe, <strong>of</strong> Middletown.<br />

FENNELL, Rev. William George, D. D.,<br />

Clergyman, Lecturer.<br />

Contemporary opinion rarely errs in its<br />

estimate <strong>of</strong> a man's character and ability,<br />

much as it may differ with him in doc-<br />

trine or belief. To have lived in the light<br />

<strong>of</strong> publicity as an eminent minister <strong>of</strong> the<br />

<strong>of</strong>

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