Benjamin T. Freeman, a prominent farmer and stockman of Lincoln township, is a Kentuckian. He was born in Robertson county, Kentucky, May 9, 1859, a son of Benjamin and Miranda (Williams) Freeman, natives of Virginia, the former of English and the latter of Scotch descent. When Benjamin T., the subject of this sketch, was a baby, his parents removed from Kentucky to Illinois, settling about fifteen miles north of Springfield, where the father died in 1860. The mother then returned to Kentucky with Benjamin T., who was her only child. She spent the remainder of her life in Kentucky and died at Bracken.

When he was seventeen years of age, Benjamin T. Freeman went to Missouri, locating at Kansas City, where he spent six years, most of which time he was employed by farmers in Jackson county, Missouri, in the vicinity of Kansas City. He had saved some of his earnings by economy and good management, and in 1883 came to Butler county. He came with W. H. Irwin, whose daughter he later married. They drove through from Kansas City to Butler county, and when they were passing through the Flint Hills, Mr. Freeman remarked that that was the poorest country he had ever seen, and when they reached the Walnut Valley. Mr. Irwin asked him how he liked that country, and he said that looked better. They came to El Dorado where they purchased some supplies, and then went to Mr. Irwin's place, which he had purchased the previous year, on the West Branch of the Walnut. Mr. Freeman worked for Mr. Irwin for two years and in 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Ida E. Irwin, daughter of W. H. and Catherine (Yost) Irwin, natives of Kentucky.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Freeman rented a farm, and later bought a half section of land in section 23, Lincoln township, to which he has added another quarter, and now owns 480 acres which is one of the best farms in Lincoln township. Mr. Freeman has been offered $100 an acre for part of his land. He raises hogs, cattle, alfalfa, and grain, and has made it a rule never to sell any grain or feed from his place, as he finds it more profitable to feed cattle and hogs and rely solely upon that source of income, which he has found to be very satisfactory.

To Mr. and Mrs. Freeman have been born the following children: Miranda C., resides at home; Bonnie E., resides at home; Nellie N., married Irvin Harrison, Keokuk, Iowa; Annie L., married John Cherryholmes, of Butler county; Frances, attending school at Hutchinson; Edna, a Butler county teacher; Sarah, attending school at El Dorado; Grace, attending school at El Dorado; Lila, Albert and Alice, residing at home. Mr. Freeman is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at El Dorado, and is a Democrat.

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