Benjamin F. Freeburger (1840-1928)

FREEBURGER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/3/2023 at 12:48:50

Benjamin Franklin Freeburger
(March 4, 1840 - September 20, 1928)

B. F. Freeburger

Prominently associated with business interests in Manson, B. F. Freeburger conducts a real estate, insurance and loan office and his business operations are extensive and of an important character. He is, moreover, recognized as one of the influential citizens of his community, an honored pioneer who, from the period of early development in Calhoun County, has co-operated in many movements for the general good. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, March 4, 1840, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (McDonald) Freeburger, who were natives of Maryland. Their wedding was celebrated in Baltimore, where they spent their remaining days, the father engaging in the title and abstract business during the greater part of his life, although at an early day he learned and followed the trade of metal roofing. He filled a number of public positions of honor and trust, serving as deputy city recorder, deputy sheriff and in other local offices under Mayor Hillan. He was a member of the German Lutheran church and in his political views was a Democrat. He died about 1876, and his wife passed away about 1882. In their family were three sons and three daughters: John, who died at the age of one year: Anna, who died at the age of fifteen; Amanda, the widow of John Eany, and a resident of Baltimore, Maryland; B. F., of this review; Mary, the deceased wife of Edward Stowman, of Baltimore; and Solomon
H., who wedded Mary Haggerty and is now judge of the appeal tax court of Baltimore. In the common schools of the beautiful a southern city in which he was born and reared, B. F. Freeburger obtained his education. At the age of sixteen he put aside his text-books and began learning the machinist's trade in the shops of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, serving for four years as an apprentice. When the Civil war broke out he went to Norwalk to work for the government in a quartermaster's department and subsequently was at Fortress Monroe in the ordnance department. Later he became marine engineer and was assigned to duty on gunboat transports, doing duty on such boats as would come to the fort without an engineer. In this capacity as special export engineer he served during the greater part of the war. He was also detailed and joined Featherbridge's noted scouts, who cleared the country of rebels between Baltimore and Washington. He was present at the recapture of the Union General Franklin. Subsequently he returned to Fortress Monroe, where he remained until 1866. During the war he was with the command that saved Baltimore from the Confederate forces and he and his companions were honored by the city council who placed their names upon the wall of the council chamber, where the inscription yet remains. In 1807 the officers under whom Mr. Freeburger served were ordered to the arsenal at Rock Island, Illinois, and he followed them there. He received very flattering offers to continue in the government employ, but accepted instead a position in the Deere Plow Work. Subsequently he worked for the Moline Plow Company as an expert machinist and engineer, remaining in that service for eighteen months, when his health failed and the doctor advised him to go to the prairies of Iowa. Accordingly Mr. Freeburger made his way to Fort Dodge and for two years was employed as a salesman in the hardward store of Bissell & Turner. In the meantime he entered a homestead claim on the prairie in Sherman township, Calhoun County. He was made station agent at Manson on the Illinois Central Railroad, and also opened a store there, it being the second in the place, the Glover Brothers having previously begun business in Manson. For miles one could look abroad over the wild prairie and could frequently see a prairie schooner bringing with it the pioneer settlers to reclaim the wild land for the uses of the white man. Mr. Freeburger remained with the railroad company for about a year and a half and afterward devoted his attention to merchandising, but abandoned this and was elected to the office of county sheriff, in which he served for two years. He was also justice of the peace, a member of the city council, and mayor of Manson, and was president of the school board. In fact at different times he held many of the local and county offices and is today one of the most widely known men in Calhoun County. In later years he has devoted his attention to the real estate, loan and insurance business, and in these lines has secured a liberal patronage. In July, 1868, at Davenport, Iowa, Mr. Freeburger was united in marriage to Miss Anna Jane Gregg, who was born in Pennsylvania, November 14, 1840, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Walsh) Gregg, both of whom were natives of Ireland, in which land they were married. About 1838 they crossed the Atlantic to the new world, establishing their home in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, whence they afterward removed to Baltimore. In 1861 they took up their abode in Port Byron, Illinois, where they lived until 1867, and then came to Calhoun County, settling on a farm in Sherman Township. Later they removed to Manson, where the father died, while the mother departed this life in Rockwell City. In their family were seven children: Thomas C., who married Elizabeth Carson, now deceased, and resides in Rockwell City, Iowa: Anna Jane, the wife of Mr. Freeburger; Daniel, who has passed away, while his widow, who bore the maiden name of Emma Blain, resides in Chicago; Celina, who became Mrs. Jesse Smith, and resides in Center township; James P., a resident of Fort Dodge, Iowa, who married Eugenie Stratton; John, who married Emma Hallack. and resides in Gilmore, Iowa; and Mary, who passed away when fifteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Freeburger have become the parents of five sons and three daughters, all of whom were born in Manson: Bertha L., the first child born in Manson, opened her eyes to the light of day on the 26th of May, 1870, and is the wife of T. P. Ebersole, of Manson, who is a postal clerk on the Illinois Central Railroad, running between Sioux City and Dubuque. They have two children, Zeda and Paul. The second of the Freeburger family is Doctor Myrtle Griffin. She was born June 3. 1872, and married Dr. F. M. Griffin, a practicing dentist of Manson, while she is a homeopathic practitioner of medicine and surgery. Walter, born August 6, 1873, died at the age of four years. Grace, born August 29, 1875, is the wife of Walrode Dana, a teacher in the public schools of Manson, and they have two children, Ralph and Harry. Benjamin, born June 11, 1877, is now studying law in the State University at Iowa City. Solomon H, born July 19, 1879, is teaching school in Pocahontas County, Joseph, born June 2, 1881, is studying veterinary surgery. George W, born August 18, 1883, is now a drug clerk in Manson. Mr. Freeburger is a valued representative member of Manson Lodge, No. 642, I. O. O. F., and of Morning Light Lodge, #384, F. & A. M. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the Democracy, recognized as one of the leading and influential members of his party. He has frequently been a candidate for the state legislature and for congress, and has not only attended all the local conventions of his party, but for the past quarter of a century he has attended every state convention. He takes a deep interest in the growth of Democracy and also in measures for the general good. While he is not a church member he has a clear conception of man's duty to God and his fellow men and never fails to discharge every obligation devolving upon him. He is very widely known and has become popular with all who have met him in business or social life. [Source - Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.546]