Freeman, Elza

FREEMAN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 00:13:11

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.547

ELZA FREEMAN
Elza Freeman, extensively and successfully engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock in New Virginia, was born in Taylor County, West Virginia, January 29, 1847. His father, Benjamin Freeman, a native of West Virginia, was a blacksmith and carpenter by trade, and his demise occurred in that state. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Minerva Ann Yates, also a native of West Virginia, likewise passed away in that state. Their family numbered eleven children, all of whom grew to maturity and were married, but only two sons and three daughters still survive.
Elza Freeman, who was the only one of the children to come west of the Ohio river, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the state of his na­tivity, acquiring his education in the common or subscription schools. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted as a private in Company G, Sixth Virginia Volun­teer Infantry, serving until the close of hostilities. He participated in no engagements, however, being assigned to do guard duty. At the age of twenty-one years he came to Iowa, without capital, and purchased forty acres of unimproved land on five year’s time. After bringing the property under a high state of cultivation he sold it at a good profit, and subsequently bought another forty-acre tract of raw land, which he also disposed of after improving it. He then purchased land in Virginia Township and is today the owner of two hundred and seven acres of rich and productive farming property, his prosperity having come to him entirely as the result of his own well directed labor and capable management. For the past eleven years he has been extensively and profitably engaged in buying and shipping cattle and hogs, and with the exception of possibly two or three weeks in all this time he has never failed to ship at least one carload of hogs each week, and very often he has shipped several loads a week. He has had many competi­tors in this business but has outlived them all, for he possesses excellent judg­ment, perseverance and energy that enables him to overcome obstacles and dif­ficulties which others have found insurmountable. For the past six years he has lived in New Virginia and is widely known as a progressive, enter­prising and successful business man.
In West Virginia, on the 30th of January 1868, Mr. Freeman was united in marriage to Miss Hannah McIntosh, a native of that state and a sister of A. B. McIntosh, who is mentioned on another page of this volume. She presides with gracious dignity over her household and has carefully reared her family of five children, the record of whom is as follows: Dora, the wife of C. E. Stiles, an agriculturist of Squaw township; Sina Effie, the wife of Ed Stickell, of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Ida, the wife of Frank Farr, residing in Virginia township; Evan, who married Serena Proudfoot and lives on his father's farm; and Chester E., who wedded Meta Pousch and also resides on his father's farm. Two children of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman died in infancy.
A staunch Republican in his political views, Mr. Freeman has taken an active interest in the local work of the party, serving as trustee for six years, as road supervisor for four years and as school director for several years. He has ever discharged his public duties promptly and faithfully and in a manner highly satisfactory to his fellow townsmen. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and both he and wife are highly esteemed residents of the community, having gained an extensive circle of warm friends during the years of their residence here.