In the year 1619 the Virginia Company of London sent over to their colony in America more than one thousand two hundred settlers, among whom were a number of French Huguenots. Richard Frisbee or Frisbie was one of the latter. His son Edward many years later was driven out of Virginia because he was a Puritan, and July 7, 1644, he settled in the new town of Branford, on north shore of Long Island sound, colony of New Haven. For several generations the history of the Frisbies was the history of Branford. Edward and his son John were leaders in the church, town and colony during their lives. January 20, 1667, "Edward and John Frisbee" were two of the signers of the "New Plantation and Church Covenant," at Branford. (See "Colchester," p. 151.) Edward Frisbie had sons: John, Caleb, Ebenezer, and probably others; these sons married and had large families. Several of the family served in the revolutionary war and many went out from Branford to settle in other and distant parts. The branch of the family under consideration begins with Russell, a descendant of Edward Frisbie, born in Branford, Connecticut, about 1775. He married and reared a large family, among them Russell (2). His wife lived to the great age of one hundred and four years.
(II) Russell (2), son of Russell (1) Frisbie, was born in Branford, Connecticut, 1807, died 1903. He was a man of wealth and engaged in those lines of investment common to men of wealth. He was a Whig during the existence of that party and intensely antislavery in his convictions. At the formation of the Republican party he became an ardent supporter. He was a veteran of the civil war and served with General Butler at New Orleans, Louisiana. He was captain of the governor's bodyguard of Connecticut, and raised the first company of infantry in Washington, D. C., of which company he was chosen and commissioned captain. He married Jane Corbin, of Roxbury, New York, who bore him seven children, among them being Chester Corbin, see forward.
(III) Chester Corbin, son of Russell (2) and Jane (Corbin) Frisbie, was born in Branford, Connecticut. He was educated in the schools of Connecticut, and after completing his studies, moved to Pennsylvania, where he started in drilling oil wells; later became an independent operator; subsequently was superintendent of a coal mine; finally became a traveling salesman. He settled in Elmira, New York, where he engaged in business. He is now a resident of New York City, where he is engaged in the real estate business. He is a Republican politically, and an attendant of the Congregational church. He married Clara, born in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania, daughter of Miles Barnet, whose ancestors came to America about 1640. Children:
- Clara L., born in Elmira, New York, now residing in New York City.
- Helen Chester, deceased.
- Miles Russell, see forward.
(IV) Hon. Miles Russell, son of Chester Corbin and Clara (Barnet) Frisbie, was born in Elmira, New York, November 22, 1880. His early and preparatory education was obtained in the common and high schools of his native city and at Wesleyan Academy, Massachusetts. He entered Union University, where he was graduated, class of 1900. Deciding upon the profession of law, he studied in the offices of Hon. John B. Stanchfield, of Elmira, and supplemented this with a course at Albany Law School. He stood the test of an examination before the state board of examiners and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1903. He at once began the practice of law, locating in Schenectady, New York, forming a partnership with Benjamin Terk under the firm name of Frisbie & Terk. After a year the firm was dissolved and Mr. Frisbie has since continued alone the general practice of his profession. During his entire life as a voter he has been a loyal member of the Republican party and has served with distinction in several appointive and elective positions to which he has been chosen by his party. In 1903-04-05-06 he was clerk of the senate, public health committee, clerk of railroads, connected with the geological survey, and 1906 was elected to the legislature and re-elected in 1907, receiving for the office an unusually large vote on both occasions. In the two sessions he was honored with membership on important committees and proved a valuable legislator. He served on the committees on general laws, claims, soldiers' home, cities, public lands and forestry. While in the legislature he drew up the new charter for Schenectady and forced the investigation of the National Guard of the state and revision of the military code. He was an earnest and effective supporter of the policies of Governor Hughes. He served on the special committee for revising the laws of the state. In the elections of 1908 he was defeated on the local option issue which he favored. This was not agreeable to his constituents, who the previous year had elected him by a majority of two thousand six hundred. During 1908 he served one hundred days in the National Guard, a body that he has always taken a great interest in and for whose betterment he used his best efforts while in the legislature. Hon. Miles R. Frisbie retained his legal business in Schenectady, where he is now in practice. He organized and was president of the Young Men's Republican Club of Chemung county, and is a member of the executive committee of the Schenectady County Republican Club. In fraternal relations he is an Elk. His college fraternity is the Delta Chi; his social clubs the University and Mohawk. He is a member of Park Congregational Church of Elmira, but an attendant of State Street Presbyterian Church in Schenectady. He married, at Schenectady, June 19, 1906, Clara, born in that city, daughter of Charles Holtzmann, born in Alsace, Germany, 1852, came to the United States in 1867, spent two years in New York City, and is now a merchant of Schenectady. He married Anna Reaber and has children: Charles, Elsie, Clara (Mrs. Frisbie).