Freel, James M. (1846-1937)

FREEL

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 14:54:29

JAMES Marion FREEL
(December 31, 1846 - December 24, 1937)

J. M. Freel, one of the honored veterans of the late war and a worthy representative of one of the pioneer families of Warren county, Iowa, was born in Madison county, Indiana on the 31st of December, 1846, and is the youngest son of James and Mary Freel, whose family numbered six children, namely: Phoebe, who became the wife of Jackson Barge, of Warren county, died and was laid to rest in the cemetery of Hartford, where a monument has been erected to her memory; Nancy Paulina, is the wife of James Parks, an agriculturist of Camp township, Polk county, Iowa; Hester is the wife of Isaiah Parker, a farmer of Madison county, Iowa; William resides in the town of Swan, Warren county; J. M. and Melinda McClintock are twins, and the latter now resides in the county of her nativity. The mother died at the birth of her youngest child. She was a devout Christian lady and had the love and esteem of all who knew her. James Freel was afterward married again, his second union being with Miss Louise Moore, by whom he had nine children: Samuel, a resident of Polk county, Iowa; Benona, the popular editor of the Dispatch, published at Pleasantville, Iowa; Albert, who resides in Richland, Warren county; Reason, also of Richland; Corsilla, who died in childhood; Emma, wife of John Parks, a resident of Polk county, Iowa; Adeline, wife of Samuel Hooper; Maggie, wife of James Brown, of Richland; and Eli, who follows farming in that locality. In 1849 James Freel left his Indiana home and came to Iowa locating in Richland townshi, Warren county, where he has since made his home He is numbered among the early settlers of this community and is a well known and highly esteemed citizen. His second wife is also living. The subject of this review was only three years of age when his father came to the Hawkeye State. His boyhood days were spent on the old home farm in Warren county and a few days previous to his seventeenth birthday, in December, 1863, he offered his services to the Government and enlisted in Company B, Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry. He continued in the service until after the close of the war, and was mustered out at Davenport, September 16, 1865. He participated in many important engagements and was ever found at his post of duty as a valiant defender of the Union cause and the starry banner. Returning to his home, Mr. Freel resumed farming, which he has made his life work. On March 29, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha Jane Sherman, daughter of Warren Sherman and a native of Clinton county, Ohio. Their marriage has been blessed with four children: C. O., who wedded Miss Mae Sterman, a native of Madison county, Iowa, is now studying in the Keokuk Medical College and will graduate in the class of 1897; Mary Margaret, is the wife of Edson Frush, a farmer of Belmont township, Warren county; James, aids in the cultivation of the home farm; Isa Joanna completes the family. Mr. Freel is one of the most progressive and enterprising agriculturists of Warren county. In 1875 he purchased his present fine farm, comprising 160 acres of beautiful undulating land. The fields are highly cultivated, there is a fine grove of his own planting and the improvements are such as are found upon a model farm of the nineteenth century. His life has been a busy one, and industry and enterprise have been the important factors in his success. His political support has been unswervingly given to the men and measures of the Republican party since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.486

History of Warren County, Iowa; Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns & Etc., by Union Historical Company, 1879, p.702
FREEL, JAMES, farmer, Richland Township, Sec. 15; P. O. Hartford; was born in Clermont county, Ohio, January 11, 1810; in 1814, his parents removed to Fayette county, Indiana, and afterwards to Hamilton county, where he was raised; he came to this county, in 1848, and located where he now lives; he has been twice married, first, to Miss Mary Guisen, a native of Virginia, who died and left six children, five of whom are now living: Paulina, Hester, Wm., James and Malinda, and two deceased; he was married a second time, March 30, 1849, to Miss Louisa Moore, a native of Pennsylvania; they have eight children living: Samuel, Benoni, Albert, Reason, Emma, Adaline, Margaret and Eli, and one deceased: Clara J.; he owns eighty acres of land; his father, Benoni Freel, was in the war of 1812, and his grand fathers on both sides, were in the Revolutionary war.