Merrill P. Freeman
Tucson
Arizona, The Youngest State, 1913

From pioneer times to the present day Merrill P. Freeman has 
been closely associated with the history of Tucson and of 
Arizona where he has been a potent factor in the business, 
politics and education of the state.

Dr. Freeman was born in Ohio in February 1844 but was only 
three years of age when the family removed to Iowa and only 
eight when a start was made across the plains with ox teams.   
There as hard training for him on the way, for everyone, 
however young had a part of the burden to bear and to him 
was assigned the task of assisting in driving the loose 
cattle, which he did till towards the end of the journey, 
when his pony was stolen by Indians.  Five months were 
required to complete the journey to California.  There 
only Indian boys were available as companions and 
playmates.  In 1857 he returned to the east by the Isthmus 
route and completed a four year academic course.  Then the 
plains again were crossed by ox team and this time regular 
guard duty against the Indians formed a part of his work 
for the tedious five months of travel.

He became a resident of Nevada in 1862 and in that state 
devoted about eighteen years to banking and mining.  He 
also acted as agent at various places for the Wells Fargo 
Express Company and at the time of the completion of the 
Central Pacific Railroad, in 1869 was also in charge of the 
western terminus of its overland stage line.  Again and 
again he was called upon to fill public office, acting as 
regent of the University of Nevada, receiver of the U.S. 
Land Office, postmaster, county treasurer and chairman of 
the republican central committee of his county.

During the winter of 1880-81 Dr. Freeman came to Arizona to 
look after mining interests and established his home in 
Tucson.  There he has since remained.  In 1884 he was 
appointed postmaster of Tucson.  This office he resigned 
in 1887 to become cashier of the Bank of D. Henderson.  
This institution after a number of changes is now perpetuated 
in the Consolidated National Bank of Tucson.  In 1888 he 
left the bank, later to establish the Santa Cruz Valley 
Bank, now the Arizona Bank.  Still later he become connected 
again with the Consolidated National Bank as its president 
but as a result of ill health he resigned in 1911.

Tucson's public library was started more than thirty years 
ago by Dr. Freeman's gift of one hundred volumes.  From him 
also came the start of the library of the Old Pueblo Club of 
Tucson.


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