Faulk County, SD Biographies.....Freeland, J. K.
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Author: C. H. Ellis


    REV. J. K. FREELAND. Among the pioneer settlers of Faulk county Mr. Freeland

and his young wife occupied an important position while holding down their

homestead claim. They always had a good and encouraging word for everyone. It

was in the summer of 1896 that I became more intimately acquainted with them,

and learned to appreciate their earnest purpose, and active work among the

pioneer settlers of our new settlement and as a well deserved tribute, and to

bring out one remarkable event with which they were connected, I incorporate

this tribute of respect, in the history of Faulk county. They have long since

removed from this state and are counted among the useful and influential

educators of California. Among the many with whom I have been acquainted and

with whom I have associated this young Free Methodist minister and his educated,

Christian wife holds no second place.



    Among the many that I located upon government land in 1884 and 1885, was Mr.

and Mrs. Westfall and their niece, upon claims adjoining Mr. Freeland's. After a

time Mrs. Westfall, who was quite advanced in years, was taken sick, and that

she might receive better care and nursing, she was removed to her niece's shanty

which was almost within speaking distance. Subsequently I was sent for to

transact some legal business for Mrs. Westfall and found her confined to the bed

and unable to move or change her position without assistance. After performing

the work for which my presence had been requested and getting ready to leave I

was requested by her niece to look at Mrs. Westfall's feet, and upon doing so

found them swollen almost beyond recognition and from the toe nails extending up

into her foot, to my unpracticed eye, the blood had settled and dissolution had

already commenced. While explaining to the niece what I thought, she heard her

aunt call and going to the bed received this, to her remarkable request, that

she "Send for Elder Freeland at once to come and pray for her recovery, and that

she would get well." Her request was promptly, granted. As soon as Mr. and Mrs.

Freeland arrived they were told for what purpose their presence was requested.

Subsequently Mr. Freeland told me that he then experienced one of the hardest

struggles of his life; that as he believed her to be in a dying condition, if

not already death struck, his first thought was that it would be sacrilegious to

pray for her recovery but while endeavoring to frame appropriate words to

explain his position, it came to him as plainly as though audibly spoken, "It is

not my faith but hers." Instantly he fell upon his knees and earnest and

persistent pleadings both by himself and Mrs. Freeland, went up to Almighty God

for the speedy recovery of the sick woman. Soon after the prayers were ended and

they regained their seats, Mrs. Westfall turned upon her side facing them and

said; "I certainly feel a great deal better," and before night, Mrs. Westfall

was out of bed and sitting in a chair. After her husband had proved up on his

homestead, she removed to Faulkton and subsequently returned to New York where

she died.



    These facts coming under my personal knowledge and observation so impressed

me that I have related them to both religious and irreligious, to the learned

and to the unlearned, and after all that has or could be said pro and con, I

believe it to be as really and truly a manifestation of the power of Almighty

God as was ever performed by the lowly Nazarene, and worthy to be classed as one

of the most remarkable incidents in the history of Faulk county.



Additional Comments:
From:



HISTORY OF

FAULK COUNTY

SOUTH DAKOTA

CAPTAIN C. H. ELLIS



TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PIONEERS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS



ILLUSTRATED

19O9

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