Page 140
MR. O. S. FREEMAN,
who located on his present farm south of the city in the year 1870, when there was no other white settler within many miles, and
Page 141
who has resided thereon since, commenced his experience as a stock farmer six years ago with eleven head, which he has increased until at present his herd numbers over 100, consisting of native milch cows, with a few high grade Holstein cows, heifers, yearling bulls and calves, and the celebrated registered Holstein bull, Lord Northwood, generally conceded to be the finest in the Northwest, and valued at $2,000. Mr. Freeman has a large trade furnishing milk through the city. He also has a creamery and makes butter from the surplus milk, which always commands a premium; and he does quite a business buying and selling cattle, always keeping on hand for sale some fine milch cows, for which there is quite a demand. Besides the cattle he has fifty Berkshire and Poland China hogs and considerable poultry. The farm consists of 600 acres, about 100 acres being enclosed for pasturage. His residence and buildings are all of the most substantial kind. One of his barns, over 200 feet in length, has a basement stable under the entire length. He is now putting up a windmill, with which he intends to distribute water through the buildings for the stock, besides furnishing power to cut feed, etc. The dairy farm adjoins the city on the south, on the banks of the Red river. Others of our citizens who have engaged in the stock raising business thus far, have met with the most signal success.
Page 30
In 1873 Gov. Burbank appointed Messrs. G. B. Winship, O. S. Freeman and Ole Thompson as county commissioners…
Page 58
The (post) office was established in 1870, with John Stewart as postmaster. He was succeeded by O. S. Freeman, who was followed by Alex. Griggs.
Source:
Grand Forks and North Dakota Manual for 1885
William L. Dudley
Plaindealer Book and Job Rooms, Grand Forks, 1885
PIONEER DEAD
O. S. Freeman, One of the Old Settlers and a Leader of Enterprise, Departed this Morning.
This morning at six o’clock O. S. Freeman one of the pioneers of this valley and a characteristic man of western energy, quietly breathed his last, having been unconscious since early yesterday. Thus has departed from among us another of the old settlers of this valley, who came here and planted their stakes as the advance guard of civilization. Of these, who, one by one are going away “to that bourne whence no traveler e’er returns.” Mr. Freeman was peculiarly typical. For, from his early manhood, until he settled at Grand Forks, he was always moving at the front of that restless throng which keeps pushing on in the van of settlement, paving the way for others to follow and enjoy the fruits of their energy and activity. For twenty-five or thirty years Mr. Freeman was a pioneer possessed of a tireless spirit, love of adventure and pride in making improvements wherever he went, and his loss will be severely felt, not only by his family and neighbors and his old friends, but by the community at large whereof he was one of the pillars. He was well known to the editor of the HERALD for a period extending over the last eighteen years, hence, it may be truthfully said by him that a truer friend, a more devoted husband and father never lived. Mr. Freeman was born at Hartford, Mass., Feb. 22, 1836, his age at his death being 50 years, eight months and twelve days. In 1856 he came west to Anoka, Minn., where on January 5, 1860, he wedded his wife, Miss Veturia V. Richardson. Some time after, in 1861, he went to Pike’s Peak, but returned to Painesville, Minn., the following year, and was there during the Indian outbreak in 1862, serving as a volunteer in those troublous times on the frontier. He afterwards resided at St. Cloud for two years, where he had charge of the extensive freight business of J. C. Burbank & Co. Later he formed a copartnership with Charles Warner under the firm name of Freeman & Warner, in the business of freight handling and government contracts, which they carried on until 1871, when Mr. Freeman came to Grand Forks with his little family and took up a claim, one of the first – where he resided down to his demise, and built up and improved so as to make it the admiration of all visitors. Since coming here, he was mainly engaged in agriculture, fine stock raising and dairy farming, in which he invested largely and expended his vitality, continually branching out and improving his business. For some time past he was in failing health, with brain affection, and was finally prostrated by the weight of the disease. No medical skill could avail. He leaves, to mourn his departure, a faithful and affectionate wife, one son Harry, and a daughter Grace Curtis, who resides at Battle Creek, Minnesota and has been notified of the mournful intelligence. To these the profound sympathies of the community will be extended. The funeral will take place at the residence on Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, sermon by Rev. H. G. Mendenhall, the services probably to be conducted by the Masons, of which he was an active member. At his own request, made some time since, his remains will be interred at a chosen spot on the river bank, on his own farm. The public are invited to attend the last sad rites over this departed pioneer of the valley.
Source:
Grand Forks Daily Herald
Friday Evening, November 5, 1886
Volume 11, Number 5, Page 1
Funeral of O. S. Freeman
The funeral services over the remains of the late O. S. Freeman were conducted at the residence of the deceased yesterday, under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity and were entirely divested of any showy demonstration of sorrow – but simple and unassuming as the life of the deceased. A large number of the friends of the family and companions of the departed went out from the city in carriages to pay their last respects. The Masons assembled at their hall at 12 m., and proceeded to the house of mourning in a body, under Dr. H. M. Wheeler, D. G. M. At the house, the funeral services of the Presbyterian church were read by Rev. F. W. Iddings. It was expected that Rev. Mendenhall would speak, but he was obliged to go to Larimore to officiate at an installation. After the brief services at the house, the remains were sadly borne to their last resting place near the river side, by his old comrades and friends D. P. Reeves, W. C. Nash, James Elton, W. J. Anderson, William Budge and Geo. B. Winship. At the grave the Masonic ceremony was performed by Deputy Grand Master Wheeler, the prayer being read by W. M., W. A. Selby. Amid these solemnities, all that was mortal of O. S. Freeman was sadly placed “deep in the quiet grave.”
Source:
Grand Forks Daily Herald
Monday Evening, November 8, 1886
Volume 11, Number 7, Page 1