My Genealogy Hound

DR. J. R. FREED, physician and surgeon, Avilla, Mo. The subject of this sketch is a native of the Hoosier State, born in Lawrence county, Sept. 5, 1842, and there grew to manhood and acquired a fair education. When the tocsin of war sounded he was among the first to respond to the call of President Lincoln for three years’ troops, enlisting in August, 1861, as a private in Company A, Thirty-eighth Indiana Volunteers, serving in the Army of the Cumberland, in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. He was discharged for disability in December, 1862, returning to his home in Indiana, where he remained until the May following. When he had sufficiently recovered his health to again take the field he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Seventeenth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and was commissioned second lieutenant, and one month later was promoted to first lieutenant, in which capacity he served, participating at the battles of Clinch River, Mount Gap, Bean Station, and Strawberry Plains. He was mustered out with the regiment in February, 1864, and in June of the same year he recruited a company for the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, in which he mustered as captain and served until October, 1861, when the regiment was mustered out. In February, 1865, he again “sought glory at the cannon’s mouth,” enlisting in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Indiana Veteran Volunteers, and was attached to Hancock s Veteran Reserve Corps, serving in the Shenandoah Valley, Va. He received his final discharge from the service in August, 1865, returning to his home in the Hoosier State. He adopted the study of medicine, read two years, and took a medical course at the Medical College at Louisville, Ky.; also, a course of lectures in the medical department of the University of Louisville, Ky., from which institution he received his diploma. His first practice was with his preceptor, Dr. E. M. Berry, at Saltilloville, Ind.; next in Wabash county. Ill. From there he moved to Benton county, Mo., where he lived ten years, and enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. He represented the county in the General Assembly of the State of Missouri from 1878 to 1880, was elected on the straight Democratic ticket by a majority of 375, overcoming a Republican majority of 250, showing beyond question his popularity and fitness. He disposed of his practice there and returned to his old home in Indiana in 1880, remaining there until 1882, when he became a citizen of Jasper county, Mo., locating at Avilla, where he succeeded Dr. Forester, and, without ostentation, is building up a good practice and making many friends. The Doctor was married at Saltilloville, Ind. April 15, 1868, to Miss M. J. Robertson, a native of Indiana. Of this union there are three children: Nora E., Lulu M., and Florence E.