FREEMAN Family Obituaries from Cameron County Press 1897-1928 PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Virginia Schenck a014206t@bc.seflin.org USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Cameron County Press-front page Thursday Nov. 11 1897- MRS. BENJ. FREEMAN, aged 79 years, died at Westport, Wednesday, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Emery. The remains will arrive in Emporium to-morrow on mail train. Interment at Rich Valley Cemetery. 1a) Cameron County Press-front page Thursday November 18 1897-funeral of Mrs. BENJAMIN W. FREEMAN- In last weeks issue of the Press we made notice of the death of this esteemable lady, who has for so years been a part of the history of Cameron county. The funeral took place on Thursday last, the remains being met at P.& E. depot and conveyed to the Rich Valley Church, where they were viewed by many of her old neighbors and friends, after which she was laid to rest beside her husband who died in 1882. Rev. J.M. Johnston officiated. REBEKAH WALL FREEMAN died in Westport, at the residence of daughter, Mrs. J.L. Emery, Nov., 10th, 1897, aged 79 years, nine months and one day. The deceased was born at Newberry, Lycoming county, Pa., Feb. 9th, 1818. She was the daughter of John Chandler, who came from New Jersey. After a short stay in Emporium- then only a wilderness- and her life of nearly 80 years has been spent in this county, except the past two and a half years residence with her daughter at Westport, where she has been a helpless invalid, but bore her affliction uncomplainingly. Deceased was married to Benjamin W. Freeman, of Shippen township, in 1844, and reared a family of ten children, seven of whom are living. She was a kind and indulgent mother and her life was full of many good deeds and sacrifices for those she loved. ------------------------------------------ 2) Cameron County Press-front page Thursday August 4 1898- Death of Former Emporiumite. Mrs. PAULINA RUSSELL, of Otsego, Mich., died on July 27, 1898. The deceased, daughter of Judge Seneca Freeman and sister of J.F. Parsons, formerly resided in Emporium and will be pleasantly remembered by our oldest citizens. She lived to the good old age of 80 years. -------------------------------------- 3) Cameron County Press-front page Thursday January 19 1899- Last Thursday evening the sad intelligence was received here of the death of Miss HULDAH C. FREEMAN, who succumbed to a complication of diseases at the home of her sister at Otsego, Mich., on the afternoon of the above date. Miss Freeman was the daughter of the late Judge Seneca Freeman and wife, who were among the pioneers of Cameron county, coming here with the Earls, Chadwicks, Sizers and others when this country was a howling wilderness. Not withstanding the limited advantages for education which the early settlers of this section were subjected to, Miss Freeman acquired many scholarly attainments, being considered a highly cultured and well read lady, and retaining to her last days a clear, sound memory of the events of her childhood. The deceased resided on the Portage, since the death of her parents, on what is known as the "old Freeman place" but removed to Otsego, with her sister, Miss Pamelia,about four months ago. The exact date of her birth could not be learned at this writing, but as near as can be ascertained she was in her seventy-second year. -------------------------------------- 4) Press- front page Thursday February 2 1899- Miss PAMELIA ALLEN FREEMAN, died in Otsego, Mich., Jan. 29, aged 71. She only survived her sister seventeen days and now they rest side by side. Miss Pamelia was one of those rare people who accomplish much in such a quiet and unassuming way, that only a few of her most intimate friends ever knew how full her life has been. No duty ever came to her hand but what it was faithfully performed, and those duties were many. Rest, friend! Yea calmly and peacefully rest; Thy last work of love all finished. Thy life's labors are all well ended; Now rest thee! Safe with thy Saviour rest. ----------------------------------------------- 5) Cameron County Press- Thursday September 5 1901- MR. JOSEPH L. EMERY, the well known lumber jobber and a former resident of this city, died Wednesday afternoon at his home in Westport, aged 53 years. He had been ill since last February, when he contracted la grippe, which culminated in Bright's disease. He is survived by his wife and seven children, four sons, R.F., S.W., and Samuel J., of Westport, and J.H. of Hughsville, and three daughters, Pearl S., Ruby H., and Luella, of Westport. The deceased had been engaged in the lumber business along Kettle Creek and Cook's Run for many years. He was born in Fairfield, Maine, on March 2, 1848, his parents moving to Pennsylvania three years later. He attended school in this city, and having received some training in the lumber business with his father, in 1872 he started out for himself, beginning operations at Benezette, Elk county. He returned to Clinton county six years later. Cook's Run was the scene of his labors for two years and in 1880 he located at Westport. His marriage with Miss Jennie C. Freeman of Cameron county occurred March 15, 1872. The funeral was held on Friday at the family home at Westport. Services were conducted by Rev. Evbert of the M.E. church, assisted by Rev. J.D. Cook, of the Presbyterian church. The remains were brought to this city for interment. The remains arrived here on Day Express and were taken directly to Highland Cemetery where interment was made. The pall bearers were A.P. Stewart, W.C. Werts, W.C. Armstrong, G.W. Corter, John Derr, and M.P. Clendening. -Clinton Republican, Aug. 28th. Deceased was well and favorably known in this county, having for many years been interested in lumbering here. The bereaved wife and children have the sympathy of our citizens. ------------------------------------ 6) Cameron County Press- Thursday February 23 1905- MRS. JENNIE L. EMERY, wife of Joseph L. Emery, deceased, died at the family home Westport, Pa., Saturday, February 18th, 1905, aged 54 years, one month and eleven days. Deceased has been in poor health for some time yet her death came unexpected. She leaves eight children, viz.; Ruel F., Boston, Mass.; Silas W., Galeton, Pa.; Jos. H., New York City; S. Pearl, Reginald A., Ruby H., Samuel J, Fuella A., at home. She is also survived by four sisters and two brothers, viz.; Mrs. J.L. Johnston, Grant, Pa.; Mrs. J.F. Derr, Renovo, Pa.; Mrs. J.C. Lewis, Emporium; Mrs. A.P. Hanscom, Lock Haven; Mr. E.B. Freeman, Emporium and H.B. Freeman, Philippines, P.I. The funeral, which was largely attended was held from the family residence, Westport, last Tuesday, the interment being made in Highland Cemetery, Lock Haven. The deceased will be pleasantly remembered by our citizens as Jennie Freeman, daughter of Benj. W. Freeman, deceased. She was greatly respected by all who knew her. Mrs. Freeman was, as a girl, exceptionally bright and as handsome as a picture, full of life and happiness. Many of her girl friends still remaining here, will be pained to learn of her death. Mrs. Freeman was a devout member of the M.E. Church. -------------------------------------- 7) Cameron County Press-front page Thursday July 14 1910- Cowardly Murder!- ARTHUR O. FREEMAN, a woodsman was fatally stabbed by Nick Perozzoli, an Italian, at Limestone, N.Y., at 11 0'clock, Friday night. Freeman was taken to the Bradford Hospital, where he died at 11 o'clock, Saturday morning. Freeman and a friend, Thomas Cunningham, drove Friday evening from Rice Brook, where they were employed on a woodcutting job, to Limestone. Perozzoli and Angelo Reco,Italians, who invited them to go to an Italian saloon and have a drink. Freeman refused and expressed his views of Italians in very forceful terms. Reco objected to the language of the woodsman and invited him to fight. Freeman was not adverse to a fistic encounter and the pair with Cunningham, Perozzoli and another Italian whose name has not been learned crossed the street to a dark spot for the purpose of settling the dispute. Freeman started to remove his coat and Reco stood directly in front of him, ready to fight. While Freeman had his coat partly off and was in a position where he was unable to defend himself, Perozzoli leaped at him like a tiger and drove a stiletto into his abdomen. One thrust was sufficient and the assassin without a word ran down the street and disappeared in the darkness. The cowardly thrust was delivered so quickly and unexpectedly that Cunningham did not know that his friend had been injured until Freeman started to run up the street, crying as he ran, "I've been stabbed!" The wounded man ran in the direction of the W.N.Y.& P. traction tracks and collapsed on the steps of Carey's candy store. P.J. Garin, the employer of Freeman was quickly notified of the stabbing and ran to the spot where the wounded man had fallen. He found him lying in a pool of blood and in a semi-conscious condition. The wounded man was given temporary relief and later was brought to Bradford and hurried to the hospital in Still's ambulance. He was accompanied by P.J. Garin and Thomas Cunningham. Dr. Hogan was summoned to attend the wounded man and found him in a precarious condition. The wound in the abdomen was a deep one and the severing of a large artery was causing internal hemorrhages. The man had lost a large quantity of blood and was in such a weakened condition that but little could be done for his relief. Saturday morning, District attorney G.W. Cole, Sheriff S.M. Wheaton, Under Sheriff G.L. Mosher and John Marsh, who is connected with the Erie railroad, arrived in Limestone. They at once placed Angelo Reco under arrest as an accessory. He was placed in the Limestone Lockup and when questioned exhibited the customary Italian reticence. He admitted hat he had seen Perozzoli wield the knife. The district attorney and sheriff accompanied by Mr. Marsh went to Bradford about 10 o'clock and went to the hospital, when they secured an anti-mortem statement from Freeman which practically substantiated the facts as stated as above. Earlierin the day the wounded man made a statement to Chief Murray, which, in detail, was similar to the one given to the Cattaraugus county officers. District Attorney Cole informed a reporter that Perozzoli had been employed in Limestone for about three years. Three weeks ago he went to Bradford and secured employment on construction work of the B.R. & P. railroad between Mt. Jewitt and Newton; very recently he was in Bradford and early in the evening, with Angelo Reco and an other Italian, went to Limestone and tried to get a job in the tannery. Perozzoli is about 25 years old. He speaks good English and had never been considered a dangerous man. The Cattaraugus county authorities are busy in efforts to locate the cowardly Italian. Arthur O. Freeman was a resident of Emporium, and an experienced woodsman. He was 24 years of age, and leaves a widow, nee Kathryn Raszman, of Shippen, and a daughter Helen, father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Freeman, four sisters, Mrs. Anna White, Lottie and Flora Freeman, of Emporium and Ethel Freeman of Cleveland, O. Freeman was foreman for Paton and Garin on a woodcutting job, and was highly regarded by his employers. The body was removed from the hospital to Still's undertaking rooms. The parents of the deceased were notified of his death Sunday morning. The father and Miss Ethel Freeman brought the body to Emporium Monday night. The funeral was held from theresidence of A.O. Swartwood, West Fifth Street, Tuesday afternoon, at one o'clock. Interment at Rich Valley cemetery, Rev. Hall officiating. -------------------------------------- 7a) Thursday July 14 1910- Press- "Personal Gossip"- Misses Lottie and Flora Freeman,of this place and Ethel Freeman of Cleveland, O., sisters of Archie Freeman, who was murdered at Limestone, N.Y., July 8th, were Press callers on Tuesday afternoon. ------------------------------------- 8) Cameron County Press-front page Thursday January 4 1912- MISS ETHEL FREEMAN, of Cleveland, Ohio, formerly of this place, died at the Eddy Road Hospital at Cleveland, Thursday morning, Dec. 21st. The remains were brought to Emporium the following Friday, arriving here on the night train and were taken to the residence of A.O. Swartwood, West Sixth Street. Misses Lottie and Flora Freeman, sisters of the deceased; and niece Miss Christina Panton, accompanied the remains to Emporium. Funeral services were conducted at the Rich Valley Church by the Rev. Mr. Hall, pastor of the W.M. Church. Miss Freeman was born at Emporium, February 25, 1888, and was therefore in her 24th year. For the past two years she has been a resident of Cleveland. Miss Freeman was ill only two weeks and was in the hospital six days. Her death was caused by peritonitis and consumption of the bowels. The casket bearers were Messrs. Harry Victory, William Mumford, Howard Dodge, Joseph LaBelle, Bruce Britton and Herkey Jones. Deceased is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Freeman, three sisters, Mrs. Anna Panton and the Misses Lottie and Flora Freeman. A brother Arthur was killed at Limestone, N.Y. July 9th, 1910. Interment was made in the Rich Valley Cemetery. The Press extends its sympathy to the family. ----------------------------------------- 9) Press/Independent-front page Thursday March 9 1922- Mrs. LYDIA C. LEWIS, widow of John C. Lewis, passed away at the Port Alleghany Hospital, Monday morning, February 27, 1922. She will be remembered as an old resident of North Creek, and lived in and about Emporium all her life. Mrs. Lewis was born in Emporium May 4, 1853, and was therefore aged 68 years, 9 mos. and 23 days. She lived for the past 49 years on what is known as the John C. Lewis farm on North Creek, three and one half miles from town. Her husband and son died a number of years ago. She leaves two brothers and three sisters as follows; Eldred B. Freeman, Sizerville; Halsey Freeman, California; Mrs. J.O. Johnson, Force; Mrs. Charlotte Hanscom, Cleveland; Mrs. John Derr, of Farwell. The remains were brought to the home of Mrs. Norman Clark on West Sixth Street and funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at the Rich Valley Church. Interment was made in the Rich Valley Cemetery beside her husband and son. Those from out of town attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. John Derr, Mrs. Charlotte Hanscom, Mrs. Henry Udell and Mr. Freeman Johnson. ----------------------------------------- 9a) From the book "Tombstone Inscriptions of Cameron County" by C.E. Koppenheffer- Rich Valley Cemetery- Cook's Run- West Shippen Township Lewis, John C.- born 1839- Civil War- Corp, Co.D. 1st Pa. Cavalry; 8-11-1861 to 9-9-1864 " w. Lydia C.- 5-2-1853/2-27-1922 (no marker) " son ? Benjamin- d. 1868 (no marker) ------------------------------------------ 10) Press/Independent Thursday June 8 1922- ELDRED BAILEY FREEMAN, one of the oldest residents of the county, passed away at his home at Sizerville, May 31, aged 77 years and 7 mos. Born in Shippen Township in 1845 he has lived his entire life in and about Emporium. A skilled mechanic, lumberman, carpenter and gunsmith, having made improvements on the Maynard and Winchester rifles. He has made many friends all over the county. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was among the firstto enlist, serving as landsman and was honorably discharged Jun. 9, 1865. An interesting family tree is traced back to Elder Brewster, who came over in the "Mayflower", and Colonel Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame, is another ancestor. In 1874 he married Martha L. Barton and to this union ten children were born, three of whom survive both parents. Some years after her death he remarried, his widow being formerly Etta Lewis, and with the daughters, Mrs. Anna Clark, Mrs. Lottie Udell, and Miss Florence Freeman, survive him. The funeral service was held from the home of his grand-daughter, Mrs. Walter Nellis,on West Fifth Street, Saturday, Rev. J.M. Brennan conducting the services. A large number of relatives and friends were in attendance to pay last respects to a departed friend. Interment was made in Rich Valley Cemetery. Mrs. Orphia Derr, of Renovo, and Mrs. Charlotte Hanscom, of Cleveland, O. attended the services. A brother, Halsey, of Sacramento, Cal., and a sister, Alvina Johnson, of Force were unable to attend. --------------------------------------- 11) Press/Independent-front page March 1 1923- Death Claims Pioneer Resident. ELLA A. PARSONS, a pioneer resident of Emporium, passed away at her home on East 4th Street Saturday afternoon after an illness that extended over a year. Death was caused by asthma and a complication of disease. Mrs. Parsons was born on April 22, 1844, just east of the Borough of Emporium, below the old Sage Farm. Later her parents moved to the corner of Allegheny Avenue and Portage Street, in Emporium, which house was built by her father and was afterwards occupied by the late S.S. Hackett. She was the daughter of Seneca Freeman and Lydia Crow Freeman. Later the family moved to the house opposite the old W.N.Y.& P. Junction station, where they continued to reside until their death in 1887. Through her father, who settled in this county as early as 1817, she was a direct descendant of (Elder) William Brewster, one of the leaders of the Pilgrim Colony at Plymouth in 1820 [wrong date but written as in newspaper- 1620]. She was also a descendant of Peregrine White, the first child born in the American Colony. Mrs. Parsons was educated at a private school in Muncy, Pa., and later taught school. She was married to the late John F. Parsons, about 1866, one of the pioneer merchants of Emporium and who died ten years ago this February. She was the only surviving member in Cameron County of the Society of Daughters of the Revolution. She is survived by one sister, Mrs. Johnson, residing in the state of Washington, and one adopted brother, Oren P. Freeman, and several nieces and a nephew residing on the Pacific coast. Mrs. Parsons was a sound business woman and by being resourceful she and her husband had accumulated considerable of the world's goods. Being liberal in her way she gave liberally to causes which she considered worthy. The friendship of Mrs. Parsons was worth much and her friendly advice and companionship were prized by many, but she had no time for a sham or a hypocrite and would not hesitate to say so. When she made up her mind on anything, especially pertaining to business deals, she never changed it, and that was the secret of her success financially. The funeral services were conducted from her late residence Wednesday afternoon at 2:30, Rev. J.M. Brennan of the Methodist Episcopal Church, officiating. Interment in the Freeman Cemetery. ----------------------------------- 12) Press/Independent-front page Thursday January 12 1928- Mrs. ORPHA FREEMAN DERR, wife of John F. Derr of Farwell,died in the private hospital, Lock Haven, at 7 o'clock January 5th, as the result of injuries sustained when she was struck by a Penna. Railroad passenger train atWestport on Tuesday evening, shortly before 5 o'clock. Her husband was with her when she passed away. Mrs. Derr was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin White Freeman. She was born in Emporium in 1849 and had she lived until the 28th day of next May would have been 79 years of age. She was for a number of years, a successful school teacher, having taught in the schools at Westport, Clinton County, and in Cameron and Elk counties. She was married to Mr. Derr at Emporium on April 11, 1872. They resided at Benezette, Elk County and later at Westport and afterwards at Renovo. About twenty years ago they moved to their own home at Farwell where five years ago they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary and no home was happier than theirs. She was a devoted member of the Presbyterian church and was active in the church work.She was preceded to the grave by one son whose death occurred in early childhood and one daughter, Mrs. Eva Derr Sommerville of Patton, Pa. Besides her husband she is survived by one sister, Mrs. Charlotte Hanscom of Cleveland, O. The funeral services were held at the residence of Dr. G.D. Mervine, 204 West Main Street, Lock Haven, at 3 o'clock Friday afternoon. The Rev. William P. Russell of the Presbyterian Church of Renovo officiated. Burial was made in Highland Cemetery, Lock Haven. -------------------------------------------