Isaac Marion Freese
Isaac Marion Freese, one of Concord Township's most respected citizens, residing on his farm of 33 acres, has been a resident of this township all his life with the exception of two years. He was born in Delaware County, Ohio, July 17, 1844, and is a son of Isaac Hester (Gates) Freese.
The grandparents. John and Mary Frees, came from Pennsylvania to Ohio at an early date, settling first in Pickaway County, and coming thence to Delaware Countt about 1838. John Freese purchased a farm of acres on the east bank of the Scioto River, one-half mile south of Bellpoint, for which he paid $6.25 an acre. Isaac Frees, father of Isaac M., later acquired one-half of this land. At that time it was all covered with timber and the family endured many pioneer hardships before their wild surroundings were changed. John and .Mary Freese had the following children: Jacob, who died after settling in Illinois; Isaac, father of Isaac M.; John, who died in Concord Township and left four children; Abraham, who died in Concord Township, leaving seven sons and two daughters: Henry, who died in Concord Township, leaving one child; Mary, who married Henry Oller and removed to Illinois; and Annie, who married Henry Black, and died in Scioto Township. The grandparents lived to old age and they now rest in the Oller cemetery, on the banks of the Scioto River.
Isaac Freese, father of Isaac M., was born in 1803 and lived to the age of 88 years. On his land he built a comfortable log cabin and there all his family were reared, enjoying all the necessities of life even if they had but few of the luxuries. He was a man of sterling character and lived respected and esteemed. He married Hester Gates, who died in 1870, aged 62 years. She was a daughter of Nathaniel and Nancy Gates. who came to Concord Township, Delaware County, from Marietta, Ohio. There were seven children born to Isaac and Hester (Gates) Freese, namely: Loretta, Lavinia, Perlina, John, Isaac M., Annie, and Catherine. Loretta. who married Norman Collins, moved to Moultrie County, Illinois, where both died. They are survived by one of their four children—Lewis Collins, now of Delaware; Lavinia married J. N. Sager, of Liberty Township, and moved to Kingman, Kansas, where she died, leaving five children. Perlina, who married Stephen Freshwater, of Concord Township, is survived by her husband and four children. John, who married Jane Hamilton, died in Moultrie County, leaving three children. Annie is the wife of Joseph Evans, and resides in Liberty Township; she has eight children. Catherine, who was married (first) to John Gamble and (secondly) to Charles B. Johnson, of Concord Township, had one child—daughter—by her first marriage and seven children by her second.
Isaac M. Freese in his boyhood, attended the district schools and was reared on his father's farm. At that time the township and even the county was but sparsely settled and he enjoyed few of the social advantages which his grandchildren have in abundance. He did much hard work and assisted in improving the home place until he turned his attention to other pursuits. He has owned his present farm since 1865, on which he has made all the improvements, but during the greater part of his life he has been engaged in a mercantile business, spending two years in Illinois.
Mr. Freese was married (first) in 1863, to Susan Watson, who was a daughter of W. T. and Jane (Beckley) Watson. The children born of that marriage were: Mary, who died aged sixteen months; Lavinia, who married Frank McKinnie, of Delaware, and has eight children—Blanche, Rusk, Chester, Elizabeth, Ray, Nona, Ivalon and Clinton; Cora Irene, who married William Engard, resides in Delaware, and has four children—Peter, Marion, Walter and William; Martha Jane, who married William Reese, residing at Delaware, has three children—Marguerite, Frank and Marion; Susan, who married Frank Reese, resides at Delaware and they have five living children—Arthur, Clifford, Ralph, Lawrence and Dorence; and Walter Isaac, residing at Delaware, married Augusta Berlett and they have four children—Anna Maria, Donald, Ruth and Roy. In May, 1880, Mr. Freese was married (secondly) to Mrs. Sarah Jane Warren, who is a daughter of Nelson R. and Eliza (Edleman) Talley. They have two children, Iva and William Andrew, the latter of whom resides at home. The former married William Webster. Jr., of Concord Township, and they have three daughters: Berenice, Marian and Florence. By her former marriage, Mrs. Freese had two children. Frederick Raymond, who is a prominent citizen of Montana, where he was elected a member of the State Legislature, in 1906; and Frank D., who is the wife of George McKetrick, residing in Columbus, Ohio.
For many years, probably over a half century, Mr. Freese has been a member of the United Brethren Church. Formerly he belonged to the Republican party, but in late years he has thrown his influence in the direction of the Prohibition party.
20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908