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Below is a family biography included in The History of Phelps County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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James M. Freeman, merchant at Relfe, was born October 20, 1837, in Hamilton County, Tenn., and is the son of Britton and Elizabeth (McMullen) Freeman. Britton Freeman was born in Roane County, Tenn., in April, 1816, grew to manhood on a farm, and received his education in the common schools. He assisted largely in removing the Indians from Georgia and Tennessee to the Indian Territory. His two brothers, James and Thomas, served in the Mexican War, the former a captain and the latter a colonel. Mr. Freeman immigrated to Missouri in 1848, settling in Wright County, where he engaged in farming. Here he died in 1863. During his life in Tennessee he was both colonel and major of the State Militia. He lost, his wife in 1842, and three years later married Miss Harriet A. Dyke, of Tennessee. By his first marriage, to Miss Elizabeth McMullen, a native of Roane County, Tenn., he became the father of three children, all living: James M., George W., and Clemantine, wife of George W. Hickey, of Arkansas. The second marriage resulted in the birth of six children, three now living: William, John, and Ellen, wife of F. E. McDonald. Those deceased are Edward (who was killed by the Indians in 1863), Dodson and Marion. James M. Freeman lived in Tennessee until eleven years of age, then immigrated to Missouri, and settled in Wright County, where he remained until twenty-six years of age, receiving a common-school education. He worked for his father until twenty years of age, then traded in stock for eight or ten years, and in 1863 came to Missouri, settling in this county, near St. James, where he dealt in stock until 1868. He then moved to the place where he is now living, farmed for a year, and then engaged in the mercantile business, which he has since followed in connection with his farming interests. He was married in January, 1865, to Miss Martha E. Coppedge, a native of Phelps County, Mo., and the daughter of Lindsey L. and Amanda (Dodd) Coppedge. Mr. Coppedge was a native of Kentucky, and settled where Newburg, Mo., now stands in 1823, while the Indians were still in the county. To Mr. and Mrs. Freeman were born three children, two now living: Mary E. (wife of John H. Rillmon) and Loring L. The one deceased was named Edward L. During the war Mr. Freeman served six months in the State Militia, in Company G, Seventh Missouri Regiment; was in the battle of Pea Ridge, and was discharged at Van Buren, Ark. He has been postmaster at Relfe, and has been notary public for three years. He is the owner of 680 acres of land in this county, 200 acres under culvation. He is a member of the Masonic order, and is a stanch Democrat in his political views.

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This family biography is one of 71 biographies included in The History of Phelps County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Phelps County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Phelps County, Missouri family biographies, click here

To view a map of Phelps County, Missouri: Phelps County, Missouri Map

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