1892 Biography - James R. Freeman

The Freeman family. James R. Freeman, a worthy representative of his family, is one of the leading planters of East Feliciana parish, La., and is a man of much decision and force of character. He was born in the parish in October, 1842, a son of Z. C. and Sarah A. (Jelks) Freeman, who were born in South Carolina in I816 and in Mississippi in 1801, respectively. The former came to Louisiana when a young man and settled near where Norwood station is now located, being among the very earliest settlers of this section. He died November 18, 1873, his widow surviving him until l88~, when she too passed away, her death occurring on the plantation on which she settled upon coming to the state. She was first married to William Boatner, a native of South Carolina, but after his death she married Mr. Freeman. Her first union resulted in the birth of a large family, and by Mr. Freeman she became the mother of four children: Susan, Alice, James R. and Catherine. Alice and Catherine are deceased and Susan is the wife of W. W. Garrig of Baton Rouge. James R. Freeman was reared in the parish in which he is now residing, his early days being devoted to the duties of the farm and to attending the common schools near his home. He afterward entered Centenary college of Jackson, La., and had just completed the freshman course when the war broke out and he left that institution to enter the service. He became a member of Company E, First Louisiana cavalry, but during the latter part of the war joined Capt. Eugene Holmes' battery, of which he was made first lieutenant just before the surrender of Mobile, and upon the death of his captain he was placed in command of the battery. In the battle of Summit, Ky., his company lost very heavily. His company was the first to enter Frankfort and take down the Union flag at that place, and this was done three times in succession before the federals drove them from the place. He was in the battle of Murfreesboro, and after the surrender of Vicksburg he was transferred to the battery as above stated. With some others he captured a gun between Port Gibson and Baton Rouge and with this gun and others which he had taken he made a valuable addition to Holmes' battery. They operated in Louisiana and Mississippi until after the battle of Mobile, and during the siege of that city Captain Freeman had charge of the lighthouse out on the bay. He was paroled in northeast Mississippi by General Canby. For gallant conduct Mr. Freeman was appointed to the position of first lieutenant in 1864 by Cot. John S. Scott, commander of the southern department, receiving his promotion at Olive Branch, La. In capturing a schooner on Lake Maurepas many of the men of his company lost their lives and he narrowly escaped being killed, as his clothes were riddled with bullets. He now has in his possession the original muster roll of Holmes' company of light artillery of seventy-one members; Holmes being captain; James B. Freeman, first lieutenant, and James Campbell, second lieutenant. After the final surrender he returned home and was married, in 1866, to Miss Blanche McCants, a native of this parish, who was born and reared in the house where she and her husband now reside. Her birth occurred November 24, 1845, but her parents, David and Maria Y. (Livingston) McCants, were born in South Carolina. The former was born in 1781, and about 1810 came with other families to Louisiana and settled in East Feliciana parish. He took up his residence on the property on which his daughter, Mrs. Freeman, now resides, and there he continued to make his home until his death in January, 1864. He had been very active during his early life and became quite an extensive and successful planter. At the time of his death he was a member of the Episcopal church and throughout life had been a democrat in politics. He was married twice, but his second wife was Miss Maria Y. Livingston, who, with her mother, sisters and brothers, removed from Charleston, S. C., to New Orleans, La., thence to East Feliciana parish, where she met and married Mr. McCants. She died on July 26, 1877, at New Orleans, where she had a home and lived part of the time. She was a skillful and tasteful worker in tapestry, and many of her pictures were highly complimented and took a number of premiums at different fairs. Her largest piece, for which she was offered $500, was "Christ Predicting the Destruction of Jerusalem," and was on exhibition several times. Her mother, Mrs. Margaret Livingston, was also a skilled needle-woman and one of her large pictures on tapestry, portraying George Washington in his continental uniform, was considered her masterpiece, and she was on various occasions offered several hundred dollars for it. Mrs. Freeman has a few of these pictures which are, without doubt, admirable works of art. Mrs. Margaret (McLean) Livingston was of Scotch descent, and Mr. and Mrs. Freeman have in their possession a cornelian seal with the McLean court of arms on it. The design is an arm half bent and a dagger about to sever it. The seal was formerly used for sealing letters. To Mr. and Mrs. McCants were born nine children, seven of whom lived to be grown and four are now living: Robert Y.; Malvinia Imogene; Valeria Blanche; Willhelmina Ernestine, wife of W. 0. B. McNeely, living, and Constancia B., who died at the age of five years; Ann M., who died when eighteen months old; William Scott, who died while serving in the army in Company E, First Louisiana cavalry; Junius C., who died in New Orleans, having served in the Ninth Louisiana battalion during the Civil war, and Thomas Scott., who was also in the confederate army, entering the service at the age of thirteen years. He was a member of Company I, Ninth Louisiana battery, under Holmes. Mrs. Freeman was reared and educated in East Feliciana parish and in New Orleans, and her marriage with Mr. Freeman has resulted in the birth of ten children: Gustavus Scott, farming in Pointe Coupee parish; Willie Emmett, who is a salesman in a mercantile establishment at Bastrop, Morehouse parish; James B. Jr., at home; Blanche Beatrice, a recent graduate of the Clinton Female academy; Mabel Imogene, who is attending that institution; Sarah M. Lillian; Minnie Ernestine; Thomas McCants; Zachariah David, and Edwin Scott. Another child, Junius Clarence, died at the age of five months. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman have a pleasant home on one of the oldest plantations in this part of the parish. Their residence is a commodious two-story and a half basement brick, is beautifully situated and is a typical southern residence. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Freeman is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and was formerly a member of the I. 0. 0. F. He is a democrat, politically, and is one of the leading men of his vicinity, devoting much of his time and attention to his farm.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana, published in 1892, volume 1, pages 423-424.