Freeman - Nathan
NATHAN FREEMAN
Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke & Fountain counties, Indiana. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1893, pp420-421
NATHAN FREEMAN, who is engaged in farming on Section 8, Clark Township, Montgomery County, devoted the opening years of his manhood to his country's service in the late war, and won an honorable military record, his bravery and efficient soldiership gaining him promotion from the ranks to the position of an officer in his regiment. He is a native of Indiana, and was born in Randolph County July 28, 1839. His father was Joshua Freeman, who was a native of North Carolina. He in turn was a son of Nathan Freeman, whose birth occurred in the same state July 24,1793, his parents being Robert and Nancy Freeman. The family was of English origin, and it is probable that Robert Freeman was a native of England and emigrated to this country in colonial times. Nathan Freeman married Mary Buckingham, who was distantly related to the Duke of Buckingham of that day. Nathan and Mary Freeman had five children: Joshua, Mary, Rachel, Nathan and Oliver.
Joshua Freeman was born September 28, 1814, and when a young man came to this state to cast in his lot with its pioneers. He engaged in farming in Randolph County, and was there married to Mary Warrick, a daughter of a pioneer farmer of that section. In 1846 Mr. Freeman left Randolph County, and took up his residence in Howard County, where he continued to farm, owning a farm of eighty acres. He was living there when the war broke out, and notwithstanding he was considerably past the meridian of life, he offered his services to his country, and his name was enrolled as a member of the Twenty-sixth Indiana Infantry, Company C. The hardships of a soldier's life proved too much for him to bear, and he was taken sick and sent home, only to die a short time after his arrival in Howard County, in 1862. Thus was a courageous and patriotic spirit sacrificed on the altar of our country.
Joshua Freeman was a thoroughly good man and a faithful member of the United Brethren Church. After his first wife had died he married Elizabeth, daughter of Frank Lytle, a farmer of Grant County. Four children were born of the first marriage, and seven from the second union. William, Richard, Nathan and Mary were by the first wife, and Jane, Sarah, Harriett, Winnie, Lyndsey, David and Oliver are the children of the second marriage, all living but Oliver and Sarah.
The first seven years of Nathan Freeman's life were passed in Randolph County, and the intervening years, from that time until Lincoln called for three hundred thousand troops for three years´ service were spent in Howard County with his father. He was prompt to respond to the call, and the 29th of July, 1861, found his name inscribed on the roll of Company C, Twenty-sixth Indiana Infantry. He early displayed true soldierly valor and other excellent qualities, and upon his merits was promoted through the different grades of Corporal and Sergeant to be Second Lieutenant.
Mr. Freeman saw much hard service and took an active part in several important battles, notably those at Pea Ridge, Wilson Creek, Perry Grove, Pittsburg Landing, Vicksburg and Mobile. He was finally taken prisoner with others while engaged with the enemy at Morgan's Bend, on the Mississippi river, and was taken to Tyler, Tex., where lay in prison nine months. At the end of that time he, D. V. Burns and Joseph Bargett were so fortunate as to escape by running between the guards and quickly getting beyond pursuit. They skulked through the country, traveling by night and sleeping by day for fourteen long days and nights, until they reached their friends on the banks of the Mississippi. After four years and six months' experience of the terrible trials of army life in the greatest of civil wars ever recorded, Mr. Freeman was honorably discharged January 15, 1865.
Mr. Freeman resumed his residence in Howard County when he left the army, and was there married to Cynthia Mitchell, a daughter of Silas Mitchell, a farmer of Tipton County. Mr. Freeman bought his father's farm of eighty acres, and subsequently bought forty acres more land, and lived upon the old homestead from 1866 to 1884. In the latter year he removed to Hancock County, where he stayed two years. In the spring of 1886 he came to Clark Township and purchased one hundred and eighty acres of excellent farming land upon which he settled; he has besides one hundred and twenty acres of land in Missouri. The land is well drained, fenced and tilled, and the farm is supplied with a good class of buildings and everything needful for carrying on agriculture advantageously.
Mr. Freeman is prominently identified with various local social organizations. He has held the offices of Tyler and Treasurer of the Masonic fraternity, and he is also a member of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association. He has sensible political views and votes independently, regardless of party, for the man he deems best fitted for the office.
Mr. and Mrs. Freeman have had seven children, four of whom are living, as follows: Lulu, wife of Benjamin Kinder, of La Fayette; Sibey, wife of David Miller, who is a farmer, residing west of Parkersburg; Charles and Frank. The names of those that are dead are Mary, Nancy and Lewis.