Milo Freeman's biography, Constantina, St Joesph County, Michigan

Copyright © 1999 by Denise Frederick. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb 
Archives.  

 

USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the 
Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message 
remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any
format for profit or presentation by other organizations.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

MILO FREEMAN
Was born in Lapeer county, Mich., Jan. 10, 1841, and was a son of Amon
and Sophia (Kelsey) Freeman.  He was married first Dec. 25, 1865, in
Constantine, Mich., to Catherine VanGilder, who was born in New York
state April 9, 1850.  She was a daughter of Barnabas and Hannah
(Parker) VanGilder, the former only is living.  His wife passed away
Jan. 26, 1889, leaving five children, born in the following order:
Mary Jane, Sophia, Charles A., dec., Barney A., dec., and Grace G.  He
was married secondly March 8, 1891, to Elizabeth Martin, who was born
May 30, 1837, in Erie county, Pa.  She was previously married to Wm.
Miller, who died in 1858, leaving one child, Charlotte, who is now
deceased.  Comrade Freeman was in Texas when the war broke out.  He
left home the spring of 1858 with a married sister, moving to
Missouri, staying there two years, then got a chance to go to Texas
with some families that were moving there, and having a desire to see
the country went, not thinking that we were on the eve of a five
years' war.  But there was a regiment recruited called the 3d Texas
Cav. Rangers, not knowing what to do and not wishing to enlist, it was
useless to try to get home.  The colonel of the regiment, who was one
of his former employers, offered him good wages to drive his wagon,
and as they were going northeast towards his home he concluded to
improve the opportunity and get pay at the same time.  He was at the
battle of Wilson Creek, where Gen. Lewis was killed; he stayed with
the regiment until some time in December, when they went into winter
quarters, and he had to either enlist or leave. He then made his way
down into Arkansas and stayed till some time in April, 1862, when he
was forced into the 19th Arkansas (Reb.). This regiment was sent
through the state with orders to take all over the age of 18 and under
50 years, and if they wouldn't go hang them to a limb--it was a rope
or gun.  He served in that capacity about ten months and finally
finished up at Arkansas Post, on the Arkansas river, under Gen. Price.
General Grant sent some of his troops up there before going to
Vicksburg and took them in, and then our subject was sent to Camp
Douglas, Chicago.  As soon as he got there he began to look around for
a chance to go home, which was in Lagrange county, Ind.; he was
informed that he could get out if he would take the oath of
allegiance, which, of course, he was willing to do, and he arrived
home the last of February, 1863.  Having a desire to go back and pay
Uncle Sam the debt he owed him and to help defend the flag he loved.
In answer to Pres. Lincoln's call for three hundred thousand troops
that summer, he enrolled his name and donned the blue;  he was
assigned to Co. C, 128th Ind. V.I., 1st Brig., 1st Div., 23d A.C.; he
enlisted Oct. 24, 1863, and was discharged May 16, 1865, on account of
gunshot wound received in action.  He served in Sherman's army and
took part in the following engagements:  Buzzard Roost, Resacca, Rome
City, Dallas, Kenesaw Mt., Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek and
Siege of Atlanta;  He was then sent back with Gen. Thomas to meet Gen.
Hood in Tenn., and was at Marietta and the battle of Franklin, where
he was wounded;  he was sent to hospital at Nashville, and sixteen
days later was transferred to Jeffersonville, Ind., and from there
sent to Washington as a convalescent. He saw A. Lincoln after he was
shot, and received his honorable discharge May 16, 1865.  His oldest
brother, S.K. Freeman, served nearly five years in 44th Ind. Vols.;
another brother, Lewis, was in the Regular army fifteen years.  His
first wife's father served in the late war and his present wife's
maternal grandfather fought in the Revolutionary war.  Comrade Freeman
is a member of Elmer Post, No. 36; he is a laborer and his address is
Constantine, Mich.


dz