Friday, September 17, 2010

Capt. R. L. Freeman

Company K.

Robert L. Freeman was born in New Jersey in 1828. His family moved to Ohio a few years after his birth, but he did not remain there long. Mr. Freeman was possessed while young with a very roving disposition, and while still quite a lad ho served as cabin boy on a steamer between St. Louis and New Orleans. At the breaking out of the Mexican war he enlisted in the United States army and went to Mexico, where he was wounded by a bayonet and honorably discharged after five months' service. The Captain still bears the scar of the bayonet on his right arm, and he suffered for nearly two years with the wound. In 1849 ho came to California on a hunt for gold, working on the Feather river and at Mokelumne Hill. In 1851 he returned via the Isthmus route to Clayton county, Iowa. Here he entered into business and followed it successfully for five years. During his residence in Iowa he was married to Mary L. Arnold, who has since shared his joys and sorrows and is still his loving helpmeet. After being in business for some time, Mr. Freeman began the study of law, passed an examination and was admitted to practice in 1859. At the breaking out of the war in 1861 he recruited Company K, First Iowa Cavalry, and served three years. After the war he was elected recorder of Clayton county, Iowa, and was re-elected to the same office for three more terms, serving in all four terms as county recorder. In 1877 he removed to California, taking up his residence in Oakland. About five years ago he came to Tulare county, where he has resided ever since. He became Secretary of the Alta Irrigation District; and in 1889 was appointed Receiver of the United States Land Office at Visalia,

SOURCE: Charles H. Lothrop, A History Of The First Regiment Iowa Cavalry Veteran Volunteers, p. 345-6

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