California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 PROF. GILES N. FREMAN. As superintendent of the schools of Fresno county Prof. G. N. Freman, of Fresno, occupies a leading position among the prominent educators of this part of the country, his superior talents and scholarly attainments eminently qualifying him for his im- portant work. Cultured and capable, possessing great fqree of character and executive ability, he has been a potent factor in bringing the school system to a high point of excellence, offering to the young, irrespective of sex, educational advantages worthy of consideration and com- mendation. A native of Missouri, he was born March 12. 1838. in Daviess county, where his father, John W. Freman, was a man of prominence and influence. His paternal grandfather was born in North Carolina, of Scotch-English ancestry. He served in the war of 1812 as a gallant soldier, and afterward settled in Kentucky as a pioneer farmer. Born on the Kentucky homestead John W. Freman obtained a superior education for the times, and for many years was an educator of some note, and a successful agriculturist. Re- moving from his native state to Missouri, he took up land in Daviess and Buchanan counties, and there cleared and improved a farm, on which he resided until 1845. at which time he removed to Iowa, where be died the same year. For a number of years after settling in Buchanan county he taught school, and for one term served as sheriff. He was active in public affairs, and was a member of the Missouri troops that assisted in driving the Mormons from the territory. He was a strong Democrat in politics, and a member of the Baptist Church. He married Mrs. Massey E. (Parman) Black, who was born in North Carolina and died in Iowa. Of their union four children were born, namely : Giles N., the subject of this sketch ; Phoebe A., de- ceased ; Eliza, the widow of George C. Grimes, of Fresno; and John W., of Woodland, Cal. After obtaining the rudiments of his education in the public schools of Missouri, G. N. Freman removed with the family to Iowa, where he continued his school life, between terms working on the farm. Subsequently he served an apprenticeship at the printer's trade in Sidney. Fremont county. Iowa. Going to Nebraska City, Neb., in 1856, he was for a year connected with the Nebraska City News, then edited by J. Sterling Morton. Returning to Iowa in 1857, Mr. Fre- man entered Mount Pleasant Seminary, at Mount Pleasant, from which he was graduated in 1862. Beginning then his career as an educator. Professor Freman taught school in Fremont county, Iowa, in the public schools of Warren and Adams counties. Ill., and was afterward prin- cipal of the preparatory department and professor of natural sciences in Abingdon College, at Abingdon, Ill. Resigning the position in 1864 he came to California, journeying across the plains with mules and being three months on the way, leaving Illinois May 16 and arriving in Woodland. Cal., August 20. At Deep creek and at Green river, the party with which he traveled had encounters with the Indians, but sustained no serious loss. The following year Professor Freman was principal of the Woodland schools, and the en- suing six years was a member of the faculty of Hesperian College. In 1871 he was elected su- perintendent of the schools of Yolo county, and in 1873 was re-elected to the same position, and served efficiently for another term of two years. Going to Arizona in 1875. he was superintendent of the Stonewall Jackson mine, in the Globe district, for two years, and then gave up the work on account of the hostility of the Indians, who killed several of his men. Returning to Cali- fornia, he was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Capay for awhile, and was afterward employed in the raising of fruit in Vacaville for two years, having a fine orchard and vineyard. Locating in Fresno in 1887, Professor Freman bought forty acres of land near Fowler, and started a vinevard and orchard. He has since purchased additional land, and is now owner of eighty acres, devoted to orchard, in which he raises peaches, figs and nectarines. He has had excel- lent success as a horticulturist, making a specialty of the culture of Calymyrna figs and peaches. In 1893 ne resumed his professional labors, serving as principal of the Washington Colony school of Fresno county. He was subsequently employed in horticultural pursuits on his ranch. He served for a year as deputy county superintendent of schools under Thomas J. Kirk. In December, 1901, Professor Freman was appointed by the board of supervisors as county superintendent of the schools of Fresno county to fill a vacancy. In 1902 he was the Republican nominee for the same office, and was elected by a good majority for a term of four years, being also ex-officio secretary of the Board of Education of Fresno county. He is an active member of the State Teachers' Association ; of the California Raisin Growers' Association ; and of the State Horticultural Society. His orchard is advantageously located about three miles north- west of Fowler, and about eight miles from Fresno. In Abingdon, Ill.. March 16, 1863, Professor Freman married Mollie T. Martin, who was born in Dade county. Mo., of which her father, John E. Martin, a native of Virginia, was a pioneer settler. She died in 1883, leaving three children. G. C, a well-known attorney of Fresno, was graduated from the Hastings Law School with the degree of LL. B. ; F. Harold, for some months a reporter for the New York Journal, of New York City, is now paying teller in the cashier's department of that paper; and Frank F. is superintendent of the home ranch. Pro- fessor Freman was married a second time, October 17, 1887, Sarah A. DeBell, a native of Gray- son, Ky., and a daughter of Alfred DeBell, becoming his wife. Mrs. Freman, the second of a family of four children, of whom two are living, is a well educated woman, and while in Illinois was engaged in educational work. In 1884 she came to California and was here similarly em- ployed until her marriage. As deputy county superintendent of the Fresno county schools, Mrs. Freman greatly assists her husband in his work, taking charge of the office, as much of his time is necessarily spent in visiting schools, his territory extending one hundred and fifty miles from east to west. Politically Professor Freman is a Republican, and fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and since 1864 has been a consistent member of the Christian Church.