| WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS. | 271 cont'd |
GEORGE FREEMAN.
GEORGE FREEMAN—Among the young educators of Allen County who have endeared themselves to the school patrons and who have established a reputation for efficiency and honesty of purpose is the subject of this personal reference, George Freeman, principal of the first ward school in Iola. Mr. Freeman is distinctly of Allen County. His birth occurred here, he was educated here and his entrance upon the serious phase of life has occurred here. He was born in Salem township April 8, 1875, and his first years of school age were passed in the country. At the age of twelve years his parents moved into Iola and almost since that date George Freeman has been more or less known to the citizens of this town.
Charles Freeman, our subject's father, came to Kansas in 1868, from New London, Canada West. He was a carpenter by trade but he determined to secure a free home upon the plains of Allen County and he homesteaded a quarter section in Salem township. He laid aside his trade, as a business, and devoted himself to improving his claim and bringing it gradually into the appearance of a farm. He remained with it till 1887, when he came to Iola. Mr. Freeman is a son of George Freeman, who with his wife, Sarah, nee Faulkenburg, emigrated to the new world and located in Canada West. They died there in 1884 leaving their son, Charles, as their sole American heir. He was reared by Mr. McKenzie. He had learned
| 272 | HISTORY OF ALLEN AND |
his trade by the time he reached his majority and, during the war he went into the Pennsylvania oil fields and became a small operator, with some prospect of success, but unexpected reverses overtook him and left him financially exhausted. He was married in Logan township, Allen County, in 1867 to Nancy E., a daughter of William Bartley. Their children are: Minnie, Arthur W., M. Louise, George, Fred F., Samuel S. and Josie.
George Freeman entered the 7th grade of the Iola schools, and finished the high school course in 1893. He taught his first school in his old Salem district and, with the exception of the year 1896-7 spent in Baker University, he has made teaching his exclusive business. He entered the Iola schools in 1899 as principal of the first ward building where he has finished his second year.
Mr. Freeman was married in Iola in August, 1900, to Zella, a daughter of Marshal M. Hart. He is one of the leading members of the Methodist Episcopal church in which he has taken an active part for many years.
Pages 271-272, transcribed by Carolyn Ward from History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas: embellished with portraits of well known people of these counties, with biographies of our representative citizens, cuts of public buildings and a map of each county / Edited and Compiled by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott. Iola Registers, Printers and Binders, Iola, Kan.: 1901; 894 p., [36] leaves of plates: ill., ports.; includes index.
