Freeman, George F. 'Captain' 1856 - 1940

FREEMAN, BRADFORD, ALLEN, WIDMAN, HARDIN, BINNS

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 10/6/2023 at 10:25:52

Clayton County Register, 03 Apr. 1940.

MCGREGOR: Funeral services for George F. Freeman, 83, who died at his home Friday, March 29, 1940, were held at the Congregational church Sunday afternoon, Rev. J. F. Parsons officiating, with Masonic services also. Burial was in Pleasant Grove cemetery. Mr. Freeman, or 'Captain Freeman' as he was known, spent many years in the Ferry business at McGregor running his ferry the 'Rob Roy' between here and Prairie du Chien. He was born June 04th, 1856 at Syracuse, N.Y., the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Bradford Freeman, and moved with his parents when a boy to a farm near Ossian. As a young man he was employed by the Milwaukee railroad. Later he ran a restaurant at North McGregor. About 40 years ago he moved to McGregor to begin his ferry business which he followed until his retirement about five years ago. His first boats were the Rob Roy and the pleasure yacht, the Allert. When automobile traffic began he used barges attached to the Rob Roy, later in 1920 building the Rob Roy II, with its innovation, a turntable on it for placing cars more easily. This was his own design and was the first one used on a ferry boat. Mr. Freeman was married to Miss Kate Allen of North McGregor on August 02nd, 1875, at Decorah. They often celebrated their wedding anniversaries by spending the day on a trip to Decorah. Not many couples live to celebrate 64 anniversaries as the Freeman's did. Mr. Freeman is survived by his wife, one son, Rob Freeman of Cascade; seven grandchildren, Mrs. Laura Widman Freeman, Percy Freeman and Merle Freeman of McGregor, Robert Freeman of Lisbon, Portugal; Mrs. Dylon Hardin of Monmouth, Mrs. Fred Binns and Marguerite Freeman of Maquoketa; four great-grandchildren; one brother and one sister.