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B.R. Frisbee

Upon the roll of representative citizens and prominent and influential business men of a past generation in Fayette county, consistently appears the name of B. R. Frisbee, who was a resident of this locality for a number of years, during which time he gradually won his way into the affections of the people, for he possessed those sterling qualities of character which commended themselves to persons of intelligence and the highest morality, so it is no cause for wonder that he achieved so high a position in the estimation of all with whom he was associated, and now that his life work is closed and he has gone to his reward his influence still pervades the lives of his old associates and they revere his memory.

Mr. Frisbee was born in Burlington County, Connecticut, December 7, 1830, and he received his education in the schools of the old Nutmeg state, growing to maturity there and remaining at home until he reached manhood. But, being imbued with the western idea, he followed the trend of emigration setting in strongly to that particular portion of the nation in the fifties, and in 1857 he came to Freeport, Illinois, where he remained until the war between the states began, when he showed his patriotism and his love of country by enlisting in Company K, Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which he served faithfully and gallantly for a period of three years, after the expiration of his term of enlistment receiving an honorable discharge.

Mr. Frisbee was married to Drusilla Clark on November 4, 1870. She was born in Manchester, Iowa, where her people were well established and prominent After their marriage they went to Freeport where they lived until 1871, when they moved to a farm in Union township, Fayette county, where the family has since resided.

Mr. Frisbee was the last survivor of a family of fourteen children. He worked in the hammer factory while living at Freeport, and also sold lightning rods. He prospered as a farmer and owned one hundred acres in one farm and one hundred and sixty acres where he first lived. He there put up a saw mill which he operated with much success for a number of years, although there were several other mills along the same stream where his mill was located, but he was most successful as a general farmer and he laid by an ample competency for his family.

To Mr. And Mrs. Frisbee the following children were born: B. O. is an engineer, now living in San Francisco, California; E. L. married Grace Randall in 1896; Aloe, Howard and Edward.

Mr. Frisbee was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Frisbee is also a member. In his youth he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and an active and influential member of the Grand Army of the Republic. No family in Fayette County is held in higher regard than the Frisbees.

~transcribed for the Fayette Co IAGenWeb Project by Doris A. Smith