Free, Thomas S.

FREE

Posted By: Jeanie
Date: 5/18/2005 at 09:14:32

Maj. T. S. Free

Among those who have been prominently identified in the history of Tama County none deserves more honorable mention than Thomas S. Free. He was born in Ohio, where he resided with his parents until the spring of 1853, when his father and family came west and settled in this County, near Toledo. At this time Thomas was a lad of but thirteen, and coming to a new country where schools were “like angels visits” few and far between, his opportunity for education was somewhat limited. Though by hard work he managed to keep himself at school, and in 1860 entered the Iowa State University. While attending school the President issued his call for one hundred thousand men to go to the front. Mr. Free, was among the first to respond to this call and immediately left school, came home to Toledo, and in August 1861, enlisted in company C, 10th Iowa as a private, and was immediately off for war. While in the service, we can safely say that not many young men were promoted to positions of honor as was Mr. Free. He was first appointed Sergeant Major, of the 10th Iowa, afterwards, in order, to first Lieutenant Adjutant and Major of the 49th U. S. C. I. Served on staff duty, as Judge Advocate of the district of Mississippi, afterwards assigned to duty by order of the Secretary of war, as Assistant Inspector General of the State of Mississippi. Discharged March 22d, 1866, after being in the service of the United States over five years, engaging in all the battles with the 10th Iowa, up to the battle of Champion Hills, besides numerous others.

Two years after, Mr. Free, returned home he was elected to the office of County Judge which he filled with honor. And afterwards the office of County Auditor two and one half terms. For a number of years Mr. Free has been in active law practice and is now, besides doing a large business at law, acting as United States Indian Agent for the Sac and Fox Indians, which appointment dates back to 1875. Mr. Free is liberal, enterprising, and consequently successful, and stands among the leading men of the County.

From the History of Tama County, Iowa. by Samuel D. Chapman. Printed at the Toledo Times Office. 1879. Page 161 and 162.