Biographical Sketch of

Herbert E. Frisbie

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 722 - 723 - 724


Herbert E. Frisbie, a representative business man of Pine River, Waushara County, is a native of Vermont.  He 
was born in the town of Georgia, Chittenden County, July 12, 1845, and is descended from one of the early New 
England families.  His paternal grandfather, Ira Frisbie, was born in Connecticut in 1789, and died in 1867.  
He served in the War of 1812, and followed the occupation of farming for a livelihood.  He married Tirza Ruggles, 
of Vermont, and in that State they made their home until death.  Hollis Jewell, the maternal grandfather of our 
subject, was also a native of Connecticut, where his entire life was passed.  He married Betsy Goddard, of that 
State, who after the death of her husband, came to Berlin, in 1850.  She died in May of the same year, in the 
sixty-sixth year of her age.  She was a member of the Christian Church.
 
Benjamin Franklin Frisbie, father of Herbert, is still an honored citizen of Waushara County.  He was born in 
Vermont, on the 17th of March, 1818, and by occupation is a carpenter and joiner.  The date of his emigration 
to the West, was December, 1849.  He landed at a small hamlet known as Strong's Landing, now the thriving little 
city of Berlin, where he remained a short time.  He then proceeded to Pine River, and opening a shop, followed 
carpentering for a number of years.  He took an active part in public affairs in earlier days, and did much for 
the upbuilding of town and county.  He was a partner in the first saw and grist mill built at Pine River, and 
built the first hotel at that place.  The dimensions of that structure was 7x9, but he afterward erected a more 
commodious hotel, and successfully engaged in that business in connection with milling until 1867.  He has lived 
a quiet and retired life since 1883, having in former years acquired a competency which now enables him to lay 
aside all care.  He is widely known throughout the community, where for more than forty years he has made his 
home, and by all is held in the highest regard.
 
Our subject was but a lad of five summers when he accompanied his parents to this county.  He was reared among 
its pioneer scenes, was a witness of its growth and advancement, and in its primitive schools received his 
education.  He remained at home until he had attained to mature years, when he started out in life for himself.  
His first efforts at earning a livelihood were in the employ of Timothy Graves, under whose instruction he did 
carpenter work.  He had previously worked to a limited extent with his father on a school-house being erected 
in Pine River, but completed his trade with the gentleman above mentioned.  Later he engaged in teaching school.  
His primary education had been supplemented by courses in Pine River and the Auroraville Normal School, and in 
the winter of 1863-64, he was employed as teacher at Soldier's Mills.  The following year he served in the same 
capacity at Pine River.  The succeeding three years of his life were spent in work at the carpenter's trade, 
and in 1869, he was engaged with a corps of engineers in surveying for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railroad in Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota.  He spent a portion of the autumn of 1870 in Duluth, 
working at the carpenter's trade, and in November of that year boarded a steamer in St. Paul, landing at 
New Orleans, on the 10th of December.  While in the South he was engaged in the construction of bridges 
for the New Orleans & Houston Railroad Company.  Mr. Frisbie returned to Pine River in June, 1871, and on 
the 3d of July purchased his father's interest in the sawmill, in which he successfully carried on operations 
until 1883, when he sold out.  The following summer he operated his father's farm, and in the fall of that year 
engaged in the furniture and undertaking business.  He now devotes the greater part of his attention to dealing 
in agricultural implements, and has built up a fine trade in that line.  He is an enterprising and sagacious 
business man, and an important factor in business circles in Pine River.
 
On the 24th of October, 1872, Mr. Frisbie was united in marriage with Libbie E. Courtney, who was born in Walworth 
County, Feb. 7, 1850, and is a daughter of George and Ann (Gale) Courtney, both of whom were natives of Devonshire, 
England.  They are now parents of three sons and a daughter, but the daughter, Birdie, who was born Aug. 4, 1886, 
died September 7, of the same year, being little more than a month old.  Charles I., the eldest son, was born May 
14, 1874; Frank G. on the 25th of October, 1875; and Fred C., June 29, 1880.
 
In politics, Mr. Frisbie is a Republican.  He has held a number of public offices, in which he proved himself capable 
to fill the position, and won the commendation of all.  He was elected Township Clerk in the spring of 1878, serving 
one year; from 1876 until 1884, filled the office of Justice of the Peace; and in 1885, was elected Chairman of Leon 
Township, which position he held four years.  He is the present W. M. of Pine River Lodge, No. 207, A. F. & A. M., 
which organization he has twice represented in the Grand Lodge.  He has long been a faithful and stance advocate 
of temperance principles, and is a member of Pine River Lodge, No. 291, I. O. G. T., in which he filled the chair 
of Chief Templar for two successive terms.  He is not a member of any church, but Mrs. Frisbie holds membership 
in the Congregational Church, and they are leading citizens of the county, whom all honor and respect for their 
sterling worth.
 






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