Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 123

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Beers
Number of Pages: 1502

USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 123

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Russel Frisbie had the following brothers and sister being the second child in his father's family : (1) Elnathan B. died in Chicopee. Mass. (3) Thaddeus, who was a painter by trade, died at New Haven, Conn. (4) Annie, came to Middletown to teach in the high school, and for fifty years lived in the 43

family of Benjamin Douglass, but is now de- ceased. (5) Charles H. resides near Stony Creek, in Branford, Conn. Russel Frisbie died January 24, 1898, and his wife December 27, 1893, and both were buried at the Indian Hill cemetery, Middletown.

Samuel C. Brown, father of Mary Ann (Brown) Frisbie, was at one time a manufac- turer of gold pens and spectacles. His chil- dren were: Mary Ann, who married Russel Frisbie; Henry was a government employe, and died in Philadelphia : William was a book- keeper : Samuel C. was a traveling salesman for years ; Charles was first a government em- ploye for years, and later a bookkeeper; Har- riet married Peter Brodie: and Carrie F. is living unmarried in Booklyn.

Charles B. Frisbie was born in Middle- town July 17, 1849, and acquired his elemen- tary education in private schools in Middle- town which were taught by Miss Gilbert and Miss Johnson. After completing the course in the city high school he finished his schooling at the Green Mountain Institute at South Woodstock. Vt. Previous to his attendance at the Woodstock school he was a clerk for three years in the store of E. B. & F. J. Chaffee. At the time his parents removed to Cromwell he had nearly attained his majority. Mr. Fris- bie has had considerable experience in railway construction and operation, and was for a year and a half employed on the foundation of the bridge and the piers for it at Middle- town. He was employed on the preliminary survey of the Valley Railroad, and under Gen- eral Ellis did government work along the Con- necticut river. In March, 1877. Mr. Frisbie entered the employ of J. & E. Stevens, where he has remained to the present date. Rising step by step. in March, 1898, he was made sn- perintendent of the Company, and is discharg- ing the numerous duties of that responsible position to the satisfaction of all concerned.

On May 21, 1873, Mr. Frisbie was married in Middletown, to Miss Emma Roberts, who was born September 21. 1852, a daughter of Abner and Mary Stocking ( Hubbard ) Rob- erts, the latter a twin sister of George S. Hub- bard. To this union were born the following children : ( 1) Russel A., born February 21. 1874. attended Wilbraham College, and was married June 4. 1895, to Miss Harriet E. Coc. a daughter of Orren and Lavinia ( Bacon)

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Coe, and a granddaughter of Osborne Coe. Russel A. is a mechanical genius and is a manufacturer and dealer in bicycles and motor cycles in Cromwell. (2) Mattie May, born January 22, 1882, attended Lasalle Institute at Auburndale, Mass. (3) Harry Conland, born December 7, 1885, gives promise of hav- ing inherited the mechanical genius of his grandfather, and has a promising future be- fore him. Mr. Frisbie is a Republican, and is interested in the success of the party. In 1897 he represented his town in the State Legisla- ture, and again in 1898, where he was a mem- ber of the committee on Humane Institutions. He belongs to Central Lodge, No. 12, I. O. O. F., of Middletown, and he is eligible to the order known as the Sons of the American Rev- olution.

Mr. Frisbie succeeded to the trusteeship of his father in the Middlesex County Bank, and is an incorporator and a director of the Crom- well Savings Bank ; he is also a trustee for the Connecticut School for Boys at Meriden, re- ceiving his appointment from Gov. Lounsbury. Both Mr. Frisbie and his wife are members of the Congregational Church, where he has served as a member of the Church committee. Mrs. Frisbie is an intelligent and cultured lady. She was educated in the public school and in Paynes Academy, on Broad street, Middle- town.

Mr. and Mrs. Frisbie occupy one of the more important homes of the town, and their hospitable spirit and cheerful welcome have made it one of the most popular social resorts in Cromwell. Mr. Frisbie is one of the lead- ing business men of Cromwell, and his hon- ored name will suffer no disparagement from his standing in his own community.

GEORGE IVES STEVENS. In the lad of seventeen who shipped before the mast, earning his pittance of $6 a month, may be dis- covered by the biographer the same traits of character which still make of George Ives Ste- vens the steady, energetic, cool-headed man of a hundred lines of business. The seizing of opportunity, the directness of purpose and the perseverance through adverse circumstances, combined with probity of character and hon- estv of effort, have made of him one of the most prominent and influential citizens of his part of the great State of Connecticut.

Mr. Stevens' ancestry may be traced back

prior to 1646, when John and Thomas Stevens came from the County of Kent, England. They first settled in Guilford, Conn., and thence, in 1665 or 1666, moved to what was then called Hammonasset Plantation, town of Kenilworth, afterward styled Killingworth. It was that portion of the town afterward set off, in 1838, as the town of Clinton. They were the first settlers there, and it is believed, were the first persons bearing the name of "Stevens" who came to Connecticut.

John Stevens and his wife Mary had chil- dren: Mary, born in 1624; Thomas, 1628; William, 1630; and John, 1632.

Thomas Stevens, born in 1628, in the County of Kent, England, married Mary Fletcher, and died in Killingworth, Conn., in 1685. His children were: John, born in 1651; Mary, 1653; Rebecca, 1655; Sarah, 1657; John, 1660-61 ; Thomas, 1661-62; Timothy, 1664, Joseph, 1666; Abigail, 1666; Elizabeth, 1668; Ebenezer, 1669-70; Phebe, 1671-72; and Jonathan, 1674-75.

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William Stevens, son of John, the emigrant, born in 1630, married (first) in 1652-53 Mary Meigs, and (second) Sarah Carpenter, widow of David A. Lord, and had children: John, born in 1653-54; Samuel, 1656-57; Nathaniel, 1658-59; Nathaniel (2), 1661; Judith, 1663; Josiah, 1670; and Mary, 1677.

Josiah Stevens, son of William, born in 1670, died in 1754. He was the direct ancestor of the Stevens family who settled in Norfolk, Conn. Josiah Stevens left three sons, one of these being Elnathan, whose eighth child was Hiel, the great-grandfather of our subject.

Hiel Stevens was born March 22, 1737, married Jane Kelsey, born in 1740, and died in March, 1784. Their second child, Elias, born September 22, 1764, was the grandfather of George I.

Elias Stevens was a native of the town of Clinton. He followed the trade of blacksmith and also engaged in farming. At the age of sixteen he enlisted in the Patriot army and was located at West Point throughout his three years' service, the war closing at that time. Re- turning to his home, he again took up his trade, working at same through the winters and managing his farm through the summers, his estate being located on what is now known as Prospect Hill, in Clinton, where he died June 7, 1852. On January 24, 1787, Elias Stevens married Lucella Chapman, a native of Clinton, born September 14, 1776, who died September

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

24, 1839; her father, Jedediah Chapman, lived to be over ninety years of age. The children of this marriage were as follows: Hiel, who married Maria L. Chapman, was a seafaring man, but spent his last days in Clinton, dying at the home of his daughter, in Espyville, Pa., at the age of eighty-two. Polly was twice mar- ried both times to a Miller. Charles first mar- ried Polly Wilcox, and later Mrs. Polly Carter ; he was a farmer, and served as sheriff of Mid- dlesex county, holding the office of deputy for many years. Elias R., a shoemaker, located in Georgia, and later returned to Clinton, where he died ; he married Millicent Wilcox. Samuel L. married Polly Kelsey; he was a tailor and clothier, a deacon in the Congregational Church and died in Clinton. Harvey, who married Betsey Kilbourne, was a blacksmith and farm- er, and lived in Clinton. Louisa married Stephen Wilcox. Nathaniel F. was the father of our subject. Jedadiah, who married Ada- line Wright, was a farmer and blacksmith, and lived on the homestead. Henry, born in 1810, died in 1811.

Capt. Nathaniel F. Stevens, the father of our subject was born December 4, 1803, on Cow Hill, now Prospect Hill, in the town of Clinton. At the age of fifteen hc left home to Icarn the trade of tailor from his brother Sam- uel, who owned an establishment in New Haven, three years later moving to Waynes- boro, Burke Co., Ga., and later to Washington, in the same State. For about ten years Mr. Stevens remained in Georgia, in 1830 coming to Essex, where he opened up a grocery and provision store, and also conducted a tailoring establishment. For many years he was in part- nership with John S. Chapman, who was also a tailor, in the building now standing on Main street, and at present occupied by the Frank- lin market. This connection lasted for many years, the firm being known as Stevens & Chap- man. Later Mr. Stevens disposed of his in- terest to Mr. Chapman and went to New York. where he made his home with his son and daughter, when our subject moved to Essex' .coming with him and becoming an honored resident in his home. Capt. Stevens gave his first vote to John Quincy Adams, and never voted any but the Whig and Republican tickets ; he never desired any official recognition. Long years ago he united with the Centerbrook Con- gregational Church, and at the time of his death was a member of the Essex Congrega-

tional Church, where he was highly esteemed. His death occurred August 1, 1901. He was, at his advanced age, a remarkably preserved man, possessing a wonderful memory and all his mental faculties, except that he was slightly deaf.

Capt. Stevens married Sarane T. Wilcox, who was born in Clinton in December, 1812, and died September 9, 1869, in Brooklyn, N. Y. Her parents were Edward and Sarane (Taylor) Wilcox, the former for many years postmaster at Clinton. To Capt. and Mrs. Stevens two children were born: Sarah A. and George Ives. The daughter married George H. Seeley, of New York, where they now reside, he being a retired manufacturer; they have four children William C., Harry, George and Sarane.

George Ives Stevens was born October 30, 1837. in Essex. His educational opportunities were superior, as he was sent to the district school and later became a student of the famous Hills Academy, then conducted by Lucius Lyons. This school offered opportunitics far in advance of any other in the locality, and had acquired a reputation far and wide, receiving patronage from all over the United States, from Cuba, and other adjacent countries. Still later Mr. Stevens was sent to Deer Hill Semin- ary, at Danbury, Conn., and there ended his school life, leaving that institution to follow the sea. Only seventeen years old. the lad shipped before the mast on the London packet vessel "Rhine," built by Cornelius Doane, a native of Essex, and then under command of Capt. Ilill- house Doane, his brother. This vessel was a large one, of nearly 1,Soo tous, and ran be- tween New York and English ports. Mr. Stevens' wages were at first but So a month. but so faithfully did he perform his duties that he was promoted to act in turn as boatswain. third mate, and second mate, when he received $50 a month, at that time regarded as muniti- cent wages. Hle made two voyages in this capacity, but seeing no promise of being able to gain comunand of a vessel, with a sufficient compensation for the work and responsibility. he resigned his position, although he was of- fered the situation of first mate on his boat. Four years had thus passed, when, in 1858. he located in New York City, engaging in varions enterprises until 1861, when he opened a job- bing store, in partnership with Nathan Seeley. at Burling slip, under the firm name of Seeley

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

& Stevens. They handled tar, pitch, turpen- tine, rosin, etc., later adding alcohol, which they handled in large quantities, and they also became distributers for camphine, a burning fluid, made of turpentine. While the camphine was made use of as a lighting fluid, great quan- tities of it passed through the hands of this firm. When kerosene took the place of the dan- gerous and explosive camphine, the firm was among the pioneer dealers in the city of New York, buying direct from the wells and refin- eries, sometimes finding it good policy to ad- vance the money to the producer. The oil was jobbed in large quantities all over the world, this jobbing covering the period from 1865 to 1870.

When the handling of oil was taken from the jobber, Seeley & Stevens began the exten- sive handling of liquid paint, and a stock com- pany was formed for the manufacture of patent paints. This was known as the Averill Chem- ical Paint Company, of which Mr. Stevens was treasurer for ten years, retiring from this posi- tion when he gave up active business. The firm of Seeley & Stevens felt a desire to withdraw from so active a life and to enjoy the rewards of long years of strenuous work. Disposing of his interests in the firm, Mr. Stevens came to Essex with the intention of making it his fu- ture home : purchasing a desirable place there. he has refitted it in modern style, and owns one of the most delightful as well as comfortable residences in his part of the town. His sum- mers are spent at his cottage in Fenwick, in the town of Saybrook, on Long Island Sound.

With no intention of remaining an active factor in business life, Mr. Stevens has been obliged by circumstances to oversee the Essex Paint Works. Through his years of activity he has been prominently identified with many public and private enterprises. While living in New York he was a director in the New York & Japan Trading Company, which was then and is still a successful company, but resigned when he left that city; was a director in the Lorillard Insurance Company (a reliable com- pany, which paid all obligations, which were severe after the great Chicago fire), remaining a director until the company went out of ex- istence; was for some time president of the Essex Wood Turning Company, but resigned in 1898, although he is yet a director ; and is also a director of the Essex Savings Bank, and vice-president of the Saybrook Bank. So-

cially Mr. Stevens was a member of several yacht clubs. Politically he is a stanch Repub- lican, although never consenting to hold pub- lic office, even when urged by both local parties to do so. Since locating in Essex Mr. Stevens has been a very public-spirited citizen, and every worthy project has received his hearty support. Among those objects greatly in- debted to his liberality are the Public Library and the Essex Opera House.

Mr. Stevens was married, in Brooklyn, N. Y., February 8, 1876, to Anna B. Cox, a native of Brooklyn, daughter of William H. Cox, a well known financier and president of the Me- chanics Bank, on Wall street. Four children have come to this union: May B., born No- vember 18, 1876; George I., born in 1878, who died in 1879; G. Frost, born in 1880, who died at the age of sixteen; and Paul M., born December 2, 1883. Mr. Stevens is a member of no secret organizations, nor of any religious order, although he advocates and supports every measure of religion, education or prog- ress which comes to his notice and proves worthy of his generosity. Among the people of Essex, where he has chosen to make his home, is beloved and esteemed, there probably being no more popular man in Essex town than George Ives Stevens.

DANIEL D. SILLIMAN (deceased), for many years a well known and prominent citi- zen of Chester, was identified with the best in- terests of the place where he spent his life. He was born July 10, 1816, in Chester, in the house now occupied by his son, Frederick W., son of Samuel and Anne H. (Shipman) Silliman.

Mr. Silliman's emigrant ancestor, Daniel Silliman, went from Holland to England and thence came to America, settling at Fairfield, Conn., in 1658. He was twice married, (first) to Peaceable Egleton, and (second) to Hannah Hendrickson, and had three children, Daniel, Thomas and Robert.

(II) Robert Silliman, son of Daniel, died in 17.49. He married Sarah Hull, and they had six children, Nathaniel, Sarah, Robert (2); Martha, Rebecca and Ebenezer.

(III) Robert Silliman (2), born September 26, 1716, died April 9, 1781. On November 10, 1740, he was married to Anna Cook, daughter of Rev. Samuel Cook, of Bridgeport. She died September 3, 1778, aged sixty-one. Their children were: Samuel Cook, John,

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Thomas. William, Joseph, Rhyoda, Ann, Ann (2), and Sarah. Robert Silliman (2) was a graduate of Yale, 1737, was a minister, and faithfully served the Congregational Church at New Canaan, Conn., for thirty years, from February 3, 1742. On January 29, 1772, he removed to Chester, Conn., where he was the minister for nine and one-half years. He died April 9, 1781, in Chester.

(IV) Thomas Silliman, son of Rev. Rob- ert, died May 26, 1839, aged ninety-one. He was an active member of the Congregational Church at Chester, and a deacon in the same. He married Lydia Warner, who died Decem- ber 20, 1788, and to this union came the fol- lowing children: Thomas, William, Samuel, Ann and Lydia. He married for his second wife Huldah Dunk, by whom he had children : Sarah, Jonathan, Edwin and Daniel. The mother died September 2, 1874, aged ninety- five.

(V) Samuel Silliman, son of Thomas by his first wife, Lydia ( Warner ), was born July 17, 1786, and died June 16, 1874. in Chester. He married Anne Hannah Shipman, daughter of Col. Edward Shipman, who was a Revolu- tionary soldier. Samuel Silliman was a joiner, and afterward a manufacturer: Their chil- dren were: Samuel Carlos, Joseph Edward. Sarah Ann, Lydia, Daniel D., Joseph E. (2). Joanna, Thomas, Frederick and Cordelia, all deceased, save Thomas, who lives in New Mexico, engaged in mining.

Daniel D. Silliman received his education in the district schools of his neighborhood, and at the age of sixteen, in 1832, became in- interested in a company with his father and brothers, S. C. and Joseph E., and Deacon Ezra Southworth, for the purpose of manufac- turing wooden counting-honse and school ink- stands. wooden lamp brackets, which found ready sale : wooden twine boxes ; chessmen,and other worden novelties. The glass-lined wood- en inkstands were their own patent, and sold all over the United States. During the Civil war they manufactured wooden pocket ink- stands, which were purchased by the soldiers. So numerous were their orders during the war that the factory ran night and day, and gave employment to forty n'en and girls, paying good wages. In time the name was changed to S. Silliman & Co., our subject and Joseph 1. becoming the owners, and it was continued under that style during the remainder of his

life. As changes were made in school and office furniture, the demand for the wooden inkstands declined, and of late years the fac- tory was not kept running all the time, but only to fill orders. Mr. Silliman was very ac- tive until a few weeks before his sudden death, on April 22, 1896; a few hours later. the same day, the elder brother, S. Carlos, lay cold in death, the latter dying at his home in another part of the town; he passed away in the evening while Daniel died in the morning.

In 1848 Mr. Silliman was married to Sa- rah Warner, a native of Chester, daughter of Judge Ely and Sarah H. Warner. She died March 27, 1891, the mother of four children : Frederick William married Mary E. Fargo; Sarah A. married S. S. Webb, and lived in Chester, where she died; Katie W. is the wife of R. C. Tyler, of Chester; Carrie R. is un- married.

Mr. Silliman was a stanch Republican, and was very active in local affairs: represented Chester in the State Legislature, in 1877 ; held the office of first selectman for many years, and was a member of the school board from 1872 to 1875. Being deeply interested in edu- cational matters, he did all he could to establish good schools. Fond of music, he led the choir at the Congregational Church for a number of years, taught several bands, and led them with his favorite instrument, the bugle ; lie or- ganized the Chester drum corps in 1868, and remained a member of it until failing strength necessitated his resignation. Loved and re- spected by all who knew him. in his death Chester lost a valuable citizen, and its people a good friend.

CHARLES PARKS SAGE, a prominent citizen of Cromwell, and a descendant of an old and respected family, has taken an active part in the affairs of his community.

The first of the Sage family to come to America was David Sage, who was born in 1030 in Wales, and came to Middletown. Com., in 1652. He took up thirteen acres of land. and built a home for himself. He was one of the first settlers of the town, and his name first appears in the town records of 1001. The stone marking his grave is still standing in the old Riverside cemetery, at the north end of Main street, in Middletown. He died in March, 1703. Elizabeth, daughter of John Kirby, be- came his wife in February, 1664, and this is

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the record of their children: David, born in 1665; John, born in 1668; Elizabeth, born in 1670; and Mary, born in 1672, who became the mother of Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson, known as the "Father of Episcopacy" in New England, and the first president of King's College in New York, which institution has been known since the Revolution as Columbia College. After the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Sage, David married Mary Wilcox, in 1673, and to this union were born: Jonathan, in 1674; Timothy, in 1678; and Nancy and Marcy, twins, in 1680.

Timothy Sage, son of David, died in 1725, and was buried in Cromwell. He married Mar- garet Hurlburt, and to them came the follow- ing children: Samuel, born in 1709; Mercy, in 1712; Timothy, in 1714; Mary, in 1716; David, in 1718; Solomon, in 1720; Amos, in 1722. The last named was the father of five sons and three daughters, one of whom, Na- than Sage, was the "Paul Jones" of his native village. During the Revolution he was a pri- vateer, and brought his prize into New London -a British transport loaded with gunpowder. The privateer "Ranger" was a refugee vessel and did much damage to the coast, capturing many Colonial schooners and small vessels. The brig "Middletown," and the sloops "Ra- ven" and Eagle," under Capts. Sage, Havens and Conklin, cut her out at Sag Harbor, and came back to New London with her in tri- umph. Capt. Sage was admitted to the floor of Congress as a compliment for his part in this daring adventure. Capt. Conklin is sup- posed to have been a grandfather of Roscoe Conkling. The second son of Amos Sage, Eli- sha, born in 1779, was the father of Russell Sage, the noted New York financier.

Timothy Sage, the next in line to Charles P., married Mary Warner, and had the fol- lowing family: Timothy, born in 1743; Lu- diah, in 1749; Ludiah (2), in 1754; Epaphras, in 1757; Mary, in 1759.

Capt. Epaphras Sage married Elizabeth Ranney, of Cromwell, and lived in the Nooks, in Cromwell, near the home of Charles Parks Sage, in 1800, building the home in which that gentleman is now living, and which is still in fine condition. When a young man he served in the Revolution, and was in after years a lieutenant and then a captain of the local train band. He was extensively engaged in farm- ing, and was prominent in the management of financial matters, being especially proficient in

settling estates and appraising land. To him was born the following family: (1) Eliza- beth, born in 1780, married a Mr. Beckwith. (2) Justus, born in 1782, was a captain in the West Indies trade, and married Mary Kir- by : he died in Cromwell. (3) Betsy was born in 1784. (4) Sarah, born in 1789, married Al- len Butler, lived in Cromwell, and died at a good old age. (5) Caroline, born in 1791, was never married. (6) Epaphras, born in 1793, was the father of Charles Parks Sage. (7) Ann, born in 1796, married Luther Sage, of Portland. (8) Maria, born in 1798, mar- ried Charles Parks, and lived in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Epaphras Sage was born May 8, 1793, a short distance from where his son Charles P. is now living, and received his education in the Nooks District school. When he reached adult years he devoted himself to farming, which was his lifelong occupation, and he died in 1853, on the farm where he was born. From his father he inherited a small piece of land, and later bought out the other heirs of the pa- ternal estate. A quiet and peaceful man, through habits of industry and perseverance he became successful. Mr. Sage was married to Salome Goodrich, a native of Rocky Hill, born in 1804, daughter of Alpheus Goodrich, a farm- er. Mrs. Sage died March 14, 1874. To them were born the following children : Charles Parks; Henry Lewis, born June 21, 1831, who died March 19, 1880; Mary Ann, born Febru- ary 14, 1836, who died May 16, following; and John Luther, born December 2, 1843, who married Esther Nash, and was a farmer in Cromwell.

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Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 123

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Beers Number of Pages: 1502

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Beers
Number of Pages: 1502