 ELSON S. FREEMAN, M. D., a retired physician of Pleasant Grove Township, is a
resident of Farmington, and Postmaster at
that place. He is the son of Thompson and Catherine (Kelso) Freeman, and was born Feb. 17, 1833,
in Orange County, Ind. His paternal grandparents
were natives of England, who emigrated to the
United States and settled in Virginia. The marriage of our subject’s parents took place in Virginia. Mrs. Freeman had been previously married,
and was the mother of one child, John Smith, now
a resident of Vigo County, Ind. After his marriage, Mr. Freeman removed to Orange County,
Ind., and thence to Putnam County, making the
latter place his home. He was a carpenter by trade,
but possessed considerable business talent, and was
proprietor of a hotel, and also engaged in the
mercantile business, dealing in furniture.
Mr. and Mrs. Freeman had a family of ten children born to them, all of whom attained maturity,
but only three are now living: Nelson S., the subject of this sketch; Sarah, Mrs. Simpson, a resident
of Crawford County, Kan., and Elizabeth, who is
married, and a resident of Westfield, Ill. When
the home circle was broken by the death of his
wife, Mr. Freeman desired a change of scene, and
removed to Clark County, Ill., where he passed the
closing years of his life, and died at the advanced
age of eighty-six years.
Dr. Freeman was an infant when his family
moved to Putnam County, Ind., and his early life
was passed on the homestead there. He received
a good common-school education, and studied
medicine, preparatory to entering the medical profession. His marriage to Miss Mary F. Carman
took place there in 1851. Mrs. Freeman is the
daughter of Isaac H. and Elizabeth (Beers) Carman, and was born April 2, 1832, in Pennsylvania.
In 1855 Dr. Freeman removed with his young family to Coles County, Ill., and engaged in the practice of medicine. After remaining a short time,
he changed his residence to Clark County, and remained there until August, 1857, and then, returning to Coles County, settled in Campbell.
When the Civil War broke out, Dr. Freeman was
among the first to offer his life in the defense of
his country. He enlisted in the autumn of 1861,
and was mustered into service with a company of
Western Sharpshooters, which afterward composed
Co. F., of the 66th Illinois Infantry. Within fifteen days he was promoted to the rank of Assistant
Surgeon, and served in that capacity until Feb. 20,
1862. He never possessed a vigorous physique
and the hardships of war told so severely upon his
health, that on account of physical disability, and
by the advice of Gen. Grant, he then left the regiment for home to recruit his strength. But, reluctant to leave the service when so much assistance was needed, he stopped at Mound City, near
Cairo, and engaged to do hospital duty there.
During the June freshet it became necessary to
move the hospital from that locality, and Dr. Freeman then went to Springfield, where he recruited a
company of men, who were mustered in with the
123d Illinois Infantry. During the winter of
1862-63, he was engaged in hospital duty at Corinth, Memphis and President’s Island, and in August, 1863, received the commission of Captain of
Co. I., 63d U. S. Col. Inf. His regiment was stationed
on guard duty in Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana, and was at one time encamped on the plantation belonging to Jefferson Davis. The Doctor has
a chair in his possession which was brought from
there as a memento of the war. He served until
the close of the war, and his regiment was mustered out Jan. 9, 1866, and disbanded under general order.
Dr. Freeman is the owner of his pleasant residence in Farmington, and also other town property.
He has been Postmaster for many years, and while
in the enjoyment of good health, was very active
and energetic, besides attending to a large medical
practice; he was also interested in mercantile pursuits and other enterprises. On account of his
health he has been obliged to relinquish the practice of medicine entirely.
Dr. and Mrs. Freeman had a family of six children born to them, all of whom, with one exception, are now living: Caroline, the wife of James
M. Newman; Charles E., Lizzie A., Wilbur F. and
Frank F.
Dr. and Mrs. Freeman have been for many years
active members of the Methodist Church. In politics the Doctor is a Republican, and cast his first
vote for John C. Fremont in 1856. He has been
Postmaster at Farmington for many years, and has
also held several other local offices, and in the discharge of his public duties, both civil and military,
he has won the respect of his colleagues and the
confidence of the people. He is a member of the
Masonic fraternity and of the G. A. R.
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