Yolo-El Dorado County CA Archives Biographies.....Freeman, F. S. 1832 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 18, 2007, 10:57 pm

Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891)

HON. F. S. FREEMAN.-No name has been more intimately associated with the history
of Yolo County, and especially of Woodland, than that which heads this sketch.
Major Freeman, as he is familiarly and generally known, was born in Knox County,
Kentucky, December 25, 1832, his parents being J. W. and Mary (Parman) Freeman.
The father, who was a farmer, was probably born in Kentucky, but was of
Virginian parentage. The mother was also a native of Kentucky. Our subject was
but a little over a year old when his parents removed to Missouri, locating in
Buchanan County, before the "Platte purchase," and while the country was yet
teeming with Indians. The farm, which lay along the banks of Black Snake Creek,
is now entirely within the limits of the city of St. Joseph, one of the great
Western trade centers.

  F. S. Freeman was but a little past fourteen years of age when in 1847 he
secured, through the influence of friends, an appointment in the commissary
department of the army then operating against Mexico. He went with Van Fleet,
quartermaster of Doniphan's regiment, and was stationed at Santa Fe until 1848.
He then went back North, and when the "Oregon Battalion," 500 strong, was
organized at St. Louis, he went in the Commissary Department, in the train of
Rodney Hopkins, wagon-master, which was one of the five formed to supply the
battalion. While Mr. Freeman was with them they built Forts Kearney, Childs and
Laramie, and later in 1848 they were sent back to Fort Leavenworth, were they
were discharged. Mr. Freeman then returned home, where however he remained but a
short time He determined, upon feeling assured of the genuineness of the
reported discovery of gold in California, to try his fortune in this new and
far-away land, and in April, 1849, he joined a company of some fifteen or twenty
men, which was made up at St. Joseph for the westward trip, he being interested
in one of the wagons of the outfit. He knew the route chosen as far as Fort
Hall, and hence was of much assistance to the party in many ways on that portion
of the journey. Without especially noteworthy incident they completed the trip,
coming into California by the Carson route, and landing at Placerville, August
15, 1849. He remained there, at Coloma, Georgetown and other places in that
vicinity until the following spring, when he gave up that occupation, $3,000 in
pocket. He then came down to Yolo County and located land on the north side of
Cache Creek, about sixteen miles west of Woodland, where he engaged in the stock
business, buying, selling and raising cattle and horses.

  He has ever since continued to deal more or less in cattle and sheep, and has
been exceptionally successful. In 1851 he and two partners planted 100 acres of
barley. To attend to and harvest this it required the combined efforts of the
three owners and a hired man. They cradled and threshed it in the old-fashioned
way, the grain going fifty bushels to the acre, and found a market for it in
Sacramento and Grass Valley, where it brought six cents a pound. Such an
undertaking was in those early times, before the advent of improved machinery,
considered a daring one, but their reward was commensurate with their ambition
and enterprise. They found "hungry" markets, so to speak, in Sacramento, Grass
Valley and other places, and their profits were enormous. From that year until
the present one, inclusive, Mr. Freeman has never failed to sow and reap a crop.

  He remained on that place thus employed until 1857, when he bought a place of
160 acres (then Government land) in what is now Woodland. The land is now
bounded on the east by the railroad track, and on the south by Main street, and
all now lies within the city limits. He opened a store for the sale of general
merchandise where the brick school-house mow stands, west of the railroad track,
which was the first store in what was destined to be a prosperous city. Shortly
afterward, in October, 1857, he was married to Miss Gertrude G. Swain, a native
of Michigan who came to California with her aunt, Mrs. C. W. Crocker, now of San
Francisco. The Crockers were at that time living in the vicinity and Miss Swain
had been teaching school in this county.

  The tide of immigration kept steadily flowing into the State, and Mr. Freeman
with keen foresight perceived that other industries would ere long contest with
mining for the supremacy. He foresaw that such grand soil, as for example that
of Yolo County, would one day be eagerly sought for and be thickly peopled with
busy husbandmen; and he felt certain that here was an opportunity to implant a
town which would be the center of trade for a large and a rich region of
country. He accordingly determined to build one. He put up a building where
Lindner's store is now located, and removed his business into it in 1860. During
the same year he laid out the town, which, at the suggestion of his wife, he
named "Woodland." He next set about securing a postoffice, and, having
accomplished this object, he was appointed Postmaster, and he also secured the
agency for Wells, Fargo & Company's Express. Thus he had established the nucleus
of a town, and the next move was to bring people and business here; but this was
found to be a more difficult task. People were not eager to invest money in
establishing a business where there was nothing but a store and a postoffice,
so, taking the initiative; he began to establish new enterprises himself,
opening a blacksmith shop where the Exchange Hotel now stands, also harness and
butcher shops, which he disposed of when a suitable buyer came along. Soon the
town boasted a grist-mill, which he started, and sold after running it two
years. He also started and conducted for two years a stove store and tinware
manufactory. Dry goods, clothing, shoe and grocery stores followed in order,
Major Freeman sometimes owning several stores in different parts of the town,
but never losing an opportunity to sell, thus bringing to Woodland additional
capital, more business men and a larger population. He found people ever ready
to purchase a business after it had been established and its success assured,
but the enterprise and energy necessary to bring about such an end had to be
furnished by Major Freeman. The pushing tactics alluded to proved successful,
and the town was yet in its first year when its prosperity induced its friends
to seek for the location of the county-seat at their place, then established at
Washington. Major Freeman of course led the movement, and with that object in
view a petition was circulated throughout the county. Intense opposition was
naturally encountered from the friends of Washington, but the State Legislature
passed an act under which the transfer was made.

  With the advancement of the town Mr. Freeman's business advanced rapidly, and
about 1864, the postoffice business being in his way, he resigned the
postmastership and had the office moved out of his store. In the same way, and
for the same reason he gave up the express agency, after he had held it eight or
nine years.

  Such is the early history of Woodland. There is scarcely a line of trade here
of which Mr. Freeman was not the originator.

  In 1868 the need of a solid banking institution was much felt, and
negotiations were entered into with D. O. Mills, of Sacramento, to start a
branch in this town. Before a final arrangement had been consummated, John D.
Stephens, who had been living in Virginia City* came to Woodland and proposed to
help start a bank here, and to take half the stock himself, and his proposition
was at once accepted. Major Freeman WBS principally instrumental in placing the
other half among the citizens and was elected vice-president, which office he
has ever since held. In 1872 he built a brick block on the south side of Main
street, where Diggs is now located, and established there a hardware store, that
department of his business having grown too large to be longer kept with the
others. He carried on both establishments until 1884, when he sold them and
withdrew from mercantile life. Besides his merchandising business he has carried
on and yet conducts stock-raising, farming, banking, etc. He has watched with
pride the growth and prosperity of the town and enjoyed the fruition of his
early aim and ambition. He has never allowed his interest in Woodland or the
surrounding country to wane; he has not purchased large tracts of land to hold
vacant for purposes of speculation and thus thwart his own highest ambition, the
prosperity of the county, as many shortsighted, unphilanthropic, grasping men
would do; on the contrary, he has done all in his power to induce immigration,
dealing in real estate. At present his principal land possession is a 1,000-acre
tract on Cache Creek.

  Major Freeman has had a public career which will ever redound to his credit in
the history of this county and State. He cast his first presidential vote for
James Buchanan in 1856, that being his first and last Democratic vote. Though
born a Southerner and reared in the semi-Southern State of Missouri, he cast his
lot with the Republican party and was a supporter of Abraham Lincoln in his
first race for the presidency, and he has ever since been active in the party's
councils. In 1870 he was elected to the State Legislature of California, and in
that body served on the Swamp Lands and Ways and Means Committees. His
unselfish, independent course as an advocate of fair play for the people
attracted the attention of his fellow members, and thus greatly delighted his
constituents, and consequently assured his re-election in 1872. During that
session he was chosen Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, and served also
as a member of the Committee on Swamp Lands. This session witnessed even greater
advancement of Major Freeman in popular esteem j and he proved a stumbling-block
in the path of monopoly. He advocated about thirty-eight measures which became
laws, and signalized his second term in the Legislature by accomplishing as much
work as was ever done by a member of that body. The "Freeman Freights and Fare
Bill," which he carried through the lower House after a long fight against
tremendous opposition and which was lost only through defeat in the Senate, on
account of the great pressure brought to bear by the railroad companies,
achieved even national notoriety for Mr. Freeman, and his efforts in this
direction were encouraged by the leading newspapers of California, including the
San Francisco Examiner, Bulletin, Chronicle and others and the Sacramento Union.
This fight created more excitement than any other contest made before or since
on any measure before the Legislature of this State. Among the many laws which
he had passed at this session was one to reorganize the Yolo County government,
making the compensation of officers payable by salary instead of fees. He also
had passed the bill providing for a form of government for Woodland, whose
citizens wished to incorporate, and the affairs of the municipality were
conducted under his system until it was reincorporated in 1890 under the general
laws. The effect of this measure was to secure for Woodland through all these
years a remarkably low rate of taxation and to turn it over to the new regime
out of debt. Major Freeman was the regular candidate of the Republicans for
Speaker of the House during the last session he was a member. His able efforts
in behalf of the people gave him a strong hold upon their esteem and affection,
and he could undoubtedly have had the nomination for Governor on either the
Republican or the Independent ticket in 1874. He would not have entered the
independent ranks, however, under any circumstances, and knowing that there were
troublous times ahead for the regular Republican ticket, he would not consent to
the use of his name before the convention. He has always remained true to the
Republican party. During the war he was one of the stanchest supporters of the
old flag to be found in California. He held a Major's commission in the State
militia from Governor Downey, and while his services were never called for he
would have been found under the banner of his country if the trouble had
occurred that many anticipated in the State. The title of "Major " which came to
him through this commission has always clung to him. He is a Knight Templar in
Freemasonry, belonging to Woodland blue lodge and chapter and being a life
member of Sacramento Commandery.

  Mr. Freeman's family consists of his estimable wife and one daughter, Miss
Lillian, who is at present pursuing a collegiate course at Mills' Seminary. His
beautiful residence was built in 1870, and is one of the many of which the town
is justly proud. It is surrounded by a magnificent lawn, beautified by
sub-tropical trees and shrubbery. South of the house is a large orange tree,
which was planted by his baby daughter some years ago. In 1889 it was found
necessary to pluck a large number of the oranges from it to prevent the branches
from breaking.

  Yet in the prime of life, a resident of the beautiful city which has grown up
from his own beginnings and under his fostering care, Major Freeman holds a
secure place in the hearts of his fellow citizens. Genial in his nature, he ever
maintains a youthful spirit that makes his company a constant pleasure to his
large circle of warm friends. Generosity has always distinguished him. It is
said by his old neighbors that when he was a merchant no one was turned away for
want of funds whenever he knew that that was the reason of their failure to ask
credit. It would be an almost endless task and now an impossible one to collect
all the testimonials of this nature that have been occasioned by the Major's
generosity.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.


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