Freeman, Pembroke E. 1839-1906

FREEMAN, FOSTER, ELMORE, HOLMES

Posted By: Barbara Hug (email)
Date: 1/30/2005 at 10:27:35

On a farm five miles from Kalamazoo, Mich., Aug. 10, 1839, Pembroke E. Freeman was born in a log cabin on a large tract of timber that belonged to Judge Eldridge. When he was three months old, his parents left Michigan, traveling overland with three yoke of oxen. Reaching Chicago, Ill., the father was offered a piece of land free, which is now Wabash Avenue. But he started for the territory that was then know as Iowa and Wisconsin, and so pushed on until they reached Davenport, Ia., then but a small village, and landed Dec. 3, 1839, near Fort Armstrong, where Gen. Scott made the treaty with the Indians, in the county that was afterward called Scott County, a part of Iowa very familiar to many in this section.

Here the family remained for the rest of the winter at a place called Rockingham. In the spring they went to Autley’s Ferry, across the Wapsipinicon River, where they lived until this son was ten years of age. Then they moved to Slopertown, near which they took a claim, which a few years after they sold for $2,200, and went to live in Hickory Grove near Davenport. Here Mr. Freeman was married to Miss Nancy A. Foster, September 8, 1859. To this union was born six children, Harry, a son, died when eight years old, and a daughter, Mattie, at the age of eighteen. The children who survive the father are Mrs. Fred Elmore of Grinnell, Merlin A., of Laredo, Mo., Mrs. W. A. Holmes of Newton, and William S. of Bloomfield, Ia.

Mr. and Mrs. P. E. Freeman with their family moved from near Davenport to Rock Creek Township in 1872. In 1880, after eight years spent on the farm, they removed to Grinnell and resided in that city until the children completed their education. Since that time they have made their home with the son at Bloomfield, Ia., and in this city with Mrs. Holmes, who has helped care for the father during his long illness, that was the result of an injury received in April.

When twenty-one years old Mr. Freeman became a member of the Baptist Church, was a member of Camp McClellan at Davenport and was an Odd Fellow and Knight of Pythias and had been a member of the Oriental Commandery K. T., No. 22, of Newton.

The funeral was held from the Liberty Baptist Church in Rock Creek Township Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Elder J. M. Arledge officiating. The interment was in the cemetery at Grinnell. The wife and two daughters, Mrs. Fred Elmore and Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Holmes, accompanied the body to Grinnell were they expected to be joined by the brother, William S. of Bloomfield, Ia. ~ The Newton Daily News, Monday, January 8, 1906, Page 4, Column 2