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George Romulus FREEMAN - b. Nov. 1,1850, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Feb. 12, 1901, Texarkana, TX; bur. Feb. 14, 1901 in Red Lick Cemetery [photo], Texarkana, TX. Son of Wilkerson Bell FREEMAN and Lucilla Margaret WALLACE. Red Lick Cemetery is about 10 miles northwest of Texarkana, on the north side of Interstate 30 and about 6 miles from the town of Nash, TX. There are a number of photographs of the FREEMAN family and residence in NC. When they first moved to Texas, the Freeman home in NC was sold to A. P. HIGGINS, brother-in-law of Susanna (CARPENTER) FREEMAN. The home burned about 1915, and a new HIGGINS home was constructed on the foundation (Historic Architecture of Rutherford County, by Kimberly I Merkel, 1983, photo 167) George's daughter Cora Bess dictated extensive "Memories" prior to her death, primarily about their life in Rutherford Co., NC and in Texarkana, TX. The FREEMANS left NC first after the 1880 census of Rutherford Co., NC for Denton Co., TX, returning to NC after about two years. They then moved to Texarkana in 1898. George died of malaria, and his widow and the younger children returned to NC, most of the family finally settling at Fort Worth, TX a few years later. No death certificate or probate record was found in Bowie Co., TX, and attempts to locate the 1900 census record have failed. Married Aug. 6, 1871, Rutherford Co., NC, by Rev. G. W. ROLLINS.

Susanna CARPENTER - b. Jan. 14, 1856, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Feb. 10, 1942, Fort Worth, TX; bur. Feb. 14, 1942 in Red Lick Cemetery [photo], Texarkana, TX. A Family Reunion with her eight surviving children was held in Ft. Worth, TX in August 1939. Daughter of John H. CARPENTER and Mary MCGAUGHEY.

George and Susanna Freeman Family - 1894, Rutherford Co., NC

1. Robert Benjamin Franklin - b. Nov. 8, 1872, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Nov. 3, 1924, Hamlet, Richmond Co., NC; bur. Mary Love Cemetery, Hamlet, NC. Married on Dec. 22, 1897 in Rutherford Co., NC to Martha 'Mattie' Catherine BLAND (b. Dec. 31, 1873; d. Oct. 13, 1952; bur Mary Love Cemetery, Hamlet, NC). Children of Robert and Mattie FREEMAN: Ruth married Bolivar STARK; Olema married Charles S. MABRY (ch. Ruth and Sherlyn); Pattie Sue married J. Chalmers BIGGS (ch. Susan McNeil); and Helen married Samuel O. MEREDITH (ch. Samuel O.).
2. Cana Van Buren - b. Oct. 9, 1873, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Aug. 4, 1917, Love Island, Bowie Co., TX; bur. Aug. 6, 1917, Red Lick Cemetery, Texarkana, Bowie Co., TX. Murder victim. Married on May 28, 1803 in Rutherford County, NC at the Caroleen home of Mattie Padgett to Mary CARSON by Rev. F. M. FREEMAN, with witnesses B. T. SCRUGGS, J. D. FREEMAN and Laura WELLS. Mary CARSON (b. Mar. 10, 1886, SC; d. Nov. 1982, CO; bur. Crown Hill Cemetery, Denver, CO) was the daughter of Montgomery Morgan CARSON (b. about 1857, Rutherford Co., NC; d. about 1888, possibly at Columbia, SC), with his name also recorded as M. C. Carson, and Johnnie (GREEN) CARSON (b. Oct. 18, 1869, NC; d. Dec. 29, 1946, Denver General Hospital, Denver, CO; bur. Jan. 2, 1947, Littleton, Arapahoe Co., CO). Johnnie married second Horace WATSON (b. Mar. 12, 1877; d. Nov. 11, 1952, CO; bur. Littleton Cemetery, Arapahoe Co., CO). A Carson Ancestry Chart and Ahnentafel, based on an analysis of available material, provides extensive Carson family information, and descendants and cousins have shared numerous Cana VanBuren Freeman Branch Photos of the family. Children of Buren and Mary FREEMAN: Morgan Tommie married Marie HELD (ch. Virginia, Charlene, Tom, George Henry, and Mary Elizabeth); Henry Arthur married first Jessie Naomi MacIntosh (ch. Audrey Marilynn, and Arleigh Marian), and second Evelyn Bratten (TAYLOR) ROGERS; Marie married first Mr. GREEN (ch. Francis), and second Ray KEASLER (ch. Janet); and Romas Montgomery married Ilse LOESCHNER (ch. Romas Byrl, and Erna Mae).
3. Mary Etta 'Et' Vashti - b. Jul. 5, 1875, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Dec. 15, 1918, Dekalb, TX. Married on Feb. 24, 1901 in Bowie Co., TX to Robert Clowney FANT (b. Oct. 11, 1880, TX), son of Robinson Samuel FANT and his first wife Alma Hendee WILLIAMS. After the death of Et, Robert married second Idabell CHADRICK. Son of Et and Robert FANT: William M. married Alice JONES (no ch.).
4. John Bell - b. Sep. 19, 1876, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Jun 26, 1910, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX; bur. Red Lick Cemetery, Texarkana, Bowie Co., TX. Died of ptomaine poisoning. Married on Jan. 1, 1905 in Bowie Co., TX to Mantie Zonia 'Zonie' LEDBETTER (b. Jul. 4, 1881; d. Dec. 31, 1927) by W. J. SIMMONS, Minister (marriage license dated Dec. 31, 1904). Granddaughter Kathryn WHITE has shared John Bell Freeman Branch Photos of the family. Children of John and Zonie FREEMAN: Susie married Joseph Walter CHAMBERS (ch. Joseph Walter and Freeman Lee); John Worth married Emma SIHALLY; and Rex Bell married Ruby Kathryn HODGES (ch. John William, Zona Kathryn and R B).
5. Martha Lucilla - b. Feb. 11, 1878, Rutherford Co., NC; d. there May 9, 1878; bur. Mt. Lebanon Baptist Cemetery, Rutherford Co., NC.
6. Aretus 'Reet' Erastus - b. Jun 26, 1879, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Dec. 31, 1946, Seattle, King Co., WA.
7. James DeWitt 'Dee' - b. Aug. 10, 1881, Argyle, Denton Co., TX; d. Jul. 25, 1965, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX; bur. Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX. His obituary reads: "James D. Freeman 83, 2774 Forest Wood Drive. Retired railroad conductor. Survivors: Wife; sisters, Mrs. Cora Bess, Fort Worth, Mrs. Anna Maye Reed, Florida; brothers, Joe, George W., both Texarkana; several nieces and nephews. Services 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Owens-Brumley Chapel. Interment Mount Olivet. Arrangements Owens-Brumley, 425 S. Henderson. ED 5-4557." Married in Sep. 1918 in Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX to Mary Virginia WILLIAMS (b. 1885, d. May 18, 1978; bur. Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX). No children.
8. George Watson FREEMAN - b. Jun. 27, 1883, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Nov. 7, 1974, Texarkana, Bowie Co., TX; bur. Red Lick Cemetery, Texarkana, Bowie Co., TX. Married on Dec. 23, 1911 in Bowie Co., TX to Dora Ophelia MOSLEY ( b. Mar. 17, 1893; d. Aug. 11, 1973, Texarkana, Bowie Co., TX; bur. Red Lick Cemetery), daughter of William MOSLEY and Susan Jane (VERNER) MILLS. Children of George and Dora FREEMAN: Leon George married Ethel Young BRILL (ch. Irene Dora, Robert George, Dorothy Susanna, Gerald Leon, and Karen Louise); Bob Ralph married Inez ANDRUM; and Horace Glenn married Faye Elizabeth SMITH ENGLE (ch. Barbara Ophelia, Glenda Fay, and Sharon Louise).
9. Anna Maye - b. Mar. 22, 1885, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Jan. 6, 1978, Tampa, FL; bur. Pinecrest Cemetery, Cocoa, FL. Married on Dec. 27, 1905 to William Kirkpatrick REID, Jr. (b. Mar. 14, 1879; d. Aug. 4, 1957). Maye was the writer of one of the Freeman Letters that provides much family information. Children of Maye and William REID: Robert Paul married first Alivene SAVAGE; George William married Loretta Edith GRAVES; James DeWitt married first Evelyn CULLENDER, and second Olene Ima OZEE (ch. Jerry Lee and Sandra Dyan); and Susan Elizabeth married first Gene SPELL, and second John Boucher COX (ch. Susan Patricia).
10. William Cortez 'Cort' - b. Jul. 1, 1886, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Mar. 14, 1950, Texarkana, Bowie Co., TX; bur. Red Lick Cemetery, Texarkana, Bowie Co., TX. Cort was married on Mar. 27, 1910 in Bowie Co., TX to Leona Argus MILLS (b. Apr. 15, 1885; d. Nov. 14, 1933); Cort and Leona were divorced, remarried, and divorced again. Cort was married on Feb. 3, 1923 to Eva Adela INGRAM (b. Oct. 24, 1899, TX; d. May 11, 1949), daughter of Melvin and Nora INGRAM. Cort was married to 'Boots', and to Bertha. Cort was married on Jan. 14, 1946 to Florence Helen RAY (b. May 4, 1908). Children of Cort and Leona FREEMAN: Nellie Dixie married Carl James MILLIGAN (ch. Carl William and Earl Freeman); Norris married first, Eloise CALLOL, second Ruth TENDLER, and third Carmelita TENGA (ch. Anthony Argus, Susan, Leta Ann, Lorraine, and John Mills); Cortez Ariel married first James LANE, second Charles Bennett OLERICH, and third John S. MURDOCK (ch. Gary Freeman); and Joy Iris married first Benton Means BERBOWER, second Joe ALLALA, and third Benjamin J. EDELSTEIN (ch. Joe III, Jan Marcha, and Linda Joy). Children of Cort and Eva FREEMAN: Texas Jack married Birdie Lee McRAE (ch. Jack Wesley, Joyce Lee, Adrian Cordell, Debra Priscilla, and John Paul); and Utah Joe married Shirley Jean SNELSON (ch. Daniel Joe, William Carl, and Dina Carol). Son of Florence and legal son of Cort FREEMAN: Jerry Dale did not marry. Daughter of Cort and Florence FREEMAN: Mary Gale married Steven Frank BARRAND (ch. Steven Buck, Troy Andrew, and Seth Aaron).
11. Zeb Ulon - b. Feb. 6, 1888, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Jan. 9, 1949, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX; bur. Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX. Though his name has also been given as Zebulon Vance, after his Uncle, he used the name Zeb Ulon. Married in Feb. 1912 to May MILES. Children of Zeb and May FREEMAN: Dee Ulon married first and third Frances FLANIGAN (ch. by his second wife, Benjamine Zeb, Jerrie, and Nancy); and Virginia Joyce married Dan WILLIS.
12. Joseph Sidney - b. Aug. 2, 1890, Bostic, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Jan. 20, 1971, Fort Worth, TX; bur. Moore's Cemetery, Arlington, TX. Married on Apr. 5, 1913 in Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX to Bessie Iola FRANCIS (b. Apr. 3, 1894; d. Apr. 1976). For a few years after their marriage, Joe and Iola resided at 1033 Bessie Street, Fort Worth, TX. The family lived in Fort Worth and Texarkana, TX, and for about 5 years in Tacoma, WA. Joe's occupation was primarily as a mechanic (for street car companies and in a defense plant) and a farmer. Daughter Adell was the writer of one of the Freeman Letters that provides much family information. Children of Joe and Iola FREEMAN: Bess Adell (adopted) married George Benjamin MOORE; and Jo Susan married Michael Oscar SWEENEY (ch. Susan Beth and Mara 'Molly' Lee).
13. Cora Bess - b. Feb. 22, 1892, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Nov. 4, 1984, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX; bur. Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX. Married first on Nov. 10, 1910 to Robert Allen HADEN (b. Jun. 21, 1890; d. Oct. 23, 1918), and second on Jul. 23, 1930 to Claude J. SANDLIN. Children of Bess and Robert HADEN: Clarence 'Buster' Cortez married Madeline Nadine SNOOKS (ch. Jackelyn, Robert Cooper, and Andrew Clarence); and Roberta Allene married James Byron BOATWRIGHT (ch. Carl Allen and Janis Allene).
14. Thomas 'Tommie' - b. Sep. 2, 1896, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Jan. 7, 1903, Hebron, NC; bur. Mt. Lebanon Baptist Cemetery, Rutherford Co., NC. Died of malaria.
15. Infant son - b. Jan. 5, 1899, Texarkana, Bowie Co., TX; d. there Jan. 8, 1899; bur. Red Lick Cemetery, Texarkana, Bowie Co., TX.

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Aretus Erastus FREEMAN - b. Jun. 26, 1879, Rutherfordton, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Dec. 31, 1946, Seattle, King Co., WA; bur. Evergreen Cemetery [photo], Seattle, King Co., WA. Son of George Romulus FREEMAN and Susanna CARPENTER. Reet received a Diploma from Draughon's Business College of Fort Worth, TX on Oct. 17, 1907 with the following grades in percent:Bookeeping 94; Penmanship 88; Banking 91; Commercial arithmetic 94; Correspondence 93; Spelling 90; and Deportment 98. The FREEMAN family moved from Fort Worth, TX to MI, and then to Tacoma, WA in 1909, residing at 1824 So. J St. (1909-10) 1505 So. I St. (1911), 1715 So. J St. (1912-13), 2122 So. J St. (1914-1915), and 5411 So. L (1916-1926), where the phone number as MAdison 1730. In the 1910 census of Tacoma, Pierce Co., WA, Reet is listed as an accountant, employed by Puget Sound Electric Ry. All family members appear in the 1920 census of Tacoma, Pierce Co., WA, where Reet is listed as an auditor, working for wages for streerailway<sic>, and Minnie is listed as a soap canvasser, working house to house for her own account. The 1920 census indicates the FREEMANs owned their home, but it is unclear whether or not it was mortgaged (probably not). The Tacoma City Directory of 1920 lists Reet's occupation as auditor, and employer as: Tacoma Railway & Power Co, Puget Sound Electric Railway, Pacific Traction Co and Tacoma Division of Puget Sound Power & Light Co. In 1927, the family moved to Seattle, King Co., WA, and resided at 2159 10th Ave. West, where the family lived at the time of the 1930 census of Seattle, King Co., WA. In 1930, Reet was Assistant Treasurer of Puget Sound Power and Light. Married Dec. 21, 1902, at Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX, by J. D. Young, Methodist minister.

The Seattle Times, Thursday, January 2, 1947

ARETUS E. FREEMAN

Funeral service for Aretus E. Freeman, 67 years old, who died Sunday, will be held at 2 o'clock Saturday in the Queen Anne Baptist Church, 2011 First Ave. N., under the direction of Arthur A. Wright & Son, Inc.

Born in Rutherfordton, N. C., Mr. Freeman went to Fort Worth in 1901, where he was employed by the Texas Traction Company. In 1909 he moved to Tacoma and began working for the Puget Sound Power & Light Co. Still in that company's employment, he came to Seattle in 1927. He retired in 1946, after 37 years' service.

Mr. Freeman was a member of Arcana Lodge No. 87, F. & A. M., and of the Queen Anne Baptist Church.

Survivors are his widow, Minnie Elsie; two sons, George A., Seattle, and Morey W., El Monte, Calif.; three daughters, Mrs. Eva Brown, Seattle; Mrs. Elsie Patterson, Bremerton, and Mrs. Iva Lawson, Oak Harbor.

Minnie Elsie MOREY - b. Sep. 24, 1877, Big Rapids, Mecosta Co., MI; d. Feb. 17, 1959; Seattle, King Co., WA; bur. Evergreen Cemetery [photo], Seattle, WA. On September 19, 1944, her son George recorded Minnie reciting The Old, Old Story. Minnie was the daughter of William Clemeth MOREY and Melvina ANDREWS.

The Seattle Daily Times, February 17, 1959

Mrs. Aretus E. Freeman

Mrs. Minnie Freeman, 81, widow of Aretus E. Freeman, former executive of the Puget Sound Power & Light Co., died today in a rest home.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 o'clock Thursday in the Arthur A. Wright & Son chapel. Burial will be in Evergreen.

Mrs. Freeman, born in Grand Rapids, Mich., had lived here since 1927. She was a member of the Queen Anne Baptist Church and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

Mrs. Freeman is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Eva Brown, 2602 Tenth Av. W., with whom she resided, and Mrs. Elsie M. Patterson and Mrs. Iva M. Lawson, also of Seattle; two sons, George A. and Morey W. Freeman, both of Seattle; a brother, Charlie Morey, Tacoma; a sister, Mrs. Kitty Cornett, Fort Worth, Tex.; nine grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

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Aretus and Minnie Freeman Family - 1915, Seattle

1. Elsie Maye - b. Sep. 29, 1903, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX; d. Apr. 9, 1989, Tacoma, Pierce Co., WA; interred in Evergreen Cemetery, Seattle, King Co., WA. Married Aug. 24, 1922, Everett, Snohomish Co., WA, Owen H. 'Pat' PATTERSON (b. Feb. 15, 1903; d. Apr. 5, 1989, Tacoma, Pierce Co., WA), brother of Lester and Vera. Elsie and Owen moved to Bremerton in 1930, where they lived for over 45 years before moving to Tacoma. Both work for Puget Sound Naval Shipyard; she in the comptroller department, and he as chief analyst and scheduler for the machinery division. Owen served as a member of the Bremerton School Board for 16 years and the Washington State Board of Education for 8 years. He was also president of the Olympic College Board of Trustees. Elsie and Owen celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary in 1988. Residence: Tacoma, WA. Children of Elsie and Owen: Betty Ann PATTERSON and Douglas Wraye PATTERSON.
2. George Aretus - b. Jan. 23, 1906, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX; d. Aug. 16, 2005, Seattle, King Co., WA; bur. Aug. 20, 2005, Evergreen Cemetery, Seattle, WA). Married Jun. 15, 1929, at Portland, OR, Olga May THORSON (b. May 16, 1906, Wenatchee, Chelan Co., WA; d. Mar. 31, 1988, Seattle, King Co., WA; bur. Evergreen Cemetery, Seattle, WA). Olga, whose parents lived at Omak, WA at the time of her birth, was the sister of Gordon THORSON, Opal WALTERS and Marian CREWSON. George was a pioneer in radio and television, from ship radio operator in the 1920s to chief engineer of KING and KOMO television in the 1960s. He was instrumental in establishing radio and TV stations in Seattle and Bellingham, WA, in Monterey and Salinas, CA and in AK. From Mar. 12, 1929 to Jul. 8, 1929, George maintained a Diary when he was a radioman and watchman aboard the "Point Lobos." The ship departed from Everett, WA, travelled south to San Diego, CA, with stops at Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Subsequently, a number of trips were made between the three central cities. Throughout the Diary, one event becomes the focal point - the marriage of George and Olga on Jun. 15th. Residence: Seattle, WA.
3. William Morey - b. Oct. 17, 1909, Tacoma, Pierce Co., WA; d. Dec. 1, 1979, Seattle, King Co., WA; bur. Evergreen Cemetery, Seattle, WA. Morey worked as a cook and in various other capacities aboard ship. He was an accomplished saxaphonist. In 1930, Morey was single, living at his parents' home and a ticket agent for a stage company. Married first, Mildred CONNELL (d. 1938, bur. Tacoma, WA), and second Jan. 3, 1939, Seattle, WA, Ruby Matilda FORS (b. Oct. 11, 1910, Rossland, BC, Canada; d. Jul. 7, 1997, Seattle, King Co., WA; bur. Jul. 9, 1997, Evergreen Cemetery, Seattle, WA), daughter of Oscar and Matilda FORS. Children of Morey and Ruby: Janice Morene and Randolph Helge (d. as infant).
4. Iva Melvina - b. Jan. 17, 1913, Tacoma, Pierce Co., WA (2:00 am); d. Jul. 9, 1991, Seattle, King Co., WA (2:00 pm); interred Jul. 27, 1991, Hillcrest Memorial Park, Grants Pass, Josephine Co., OR. Married Sep. 10, 1932, Seattle, King Co., WA, Donald VanHoosier LAWSON (b. Dec. 20, 1908, Seattle, WA; d. Apr. 24, 1974, Grants Pass, OR). Children of Don and Iva: Donald Freeman, Suanna Maye, Stephen Martin, Ivan (stillborn), and Charles Aretus.
5. Eva Susanna - b. Jan. 17, 1913, Tacoma, Pierce Co., WA (2:10 am). Married Dec. 17, 1932, Seattle, King Co., WA, Charles Elmer BROWN (b. January 5, 1910, Seattle, King Co., WA; d. Jun. 11, 1999, Seattle, King Co., WA (2:40pm); bur. Jun. 16, 1999, Mt. Pleasant Cem., Seattle, WA), son of Charles Elmer BROWN and Isabella BARBOUR. Charles retired from Food Giant stores, and Eva from Frederick and Nelson. Charles died following a heart attack on Jun. 7, 1999, with his last words being "I love you," to his wife of over 66 years. Children of Eva and Charles: Patricia Isabelle BROWN and Marilyn Elsie BROWN.

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