Biography of George Chase Freeman

George Chase Freeman, one of the best known dairy farmers and cattle breeders in Plainfield, was born in Cornish, N.H., August 26, 1819, son of Cyrus and Sarah (Dow) Freeman. The grandfather, Daniel Freeman, who was a native of Connecticut, moved his family to Plainfield, where he engaged in farming. He also kept a hotel in Lebanon, N.H., for a number of years. The maiden name of his first wife was Dow. That of his second wife is unknown. His children were: Cyrus, Daniel, Benjamin, Joseph, Deborah, and Mercy. Benjamin, who was a farmer, married Eudocia Childs, and reared a family; Joseph, who resided upon a farm in Plainfield, married Polly Johnson, and had one child; Deborah became Mrs. Chase, and reared a family; Mercy died in infancy.

Cyrus Freeman, father of George C., accompanied his parents from Connecticut, and was reared upon a farm in Plainfield. He tilled the soil industriously and with success during the active period of his life, devoting his entire attention to the cultivation and improvement of his farm. His first wife, a native of Cornish, whose maiden name was Persis Chase, had no children. His second marriage was contracted with Sarah Dow, who was born in Salisbury, N.H., in 1778, daughter of Jeremiah Dow. She bore him eight children; namely, John T., Sarah, Persis, Forest, Susan, Daniel D., Tamesin K., and George C. John T. married for his first wife Ursula Chase, of Cornish, who bore him three children. His second wife was a lady of Plainfield, whose maiden name was Durenda Penniman. His third marriage united him to Sarah Wyman, of Cornish. Sarah, born in 1800, died in 1826. Persis married Benjamin L. Fuller, a prosperous farmer and hotelkeeper of this town, and had five children, of whom four are living. Forest, who engaged in farming, married Nancy Penniman, of Windsor, Vt., and reared a family. Susan became the wife of Enos Spaulding, a blacksmith of Plainfield, and has a family. Daniel D., who was a farmer, wedded Mary Marcy, and reared children. Tamesin K. married Isaac C. Harroun, of Barre, Vt., a blacksmith by trade, and had children. Mrs. Cyrus Freeman lived to be eighty-two years old, and died in 1860.

George Chase Freeman acquired his education in the schools of Plainfield and Cornish. After finishing his studies, he assisted his father upon the homestead farm. He later bought of his brother-in-law, Benjamin L. Fuller, the farm upon which he now resides. This property, containing nearly four hundred acres of land located upon the banks of the Connecticut River, occupies an eminence overlooking the valley. Besides carrying on general farming and dairying, Mr. Freeman has been an extensive breeder of cattle, sheep, and horses. His son is now in partnership with him. They have some excellent Durham cows, six fine horses of noted pedigree, among which is a mare that last fall made a record of 2.17.

Mr. Freeman married Sarah Ward, who was born June 19, 1824, in Marlboro, daughter of William Ward. She has had four children, namely: Frances R., born March 7, 1846; William W., born June 29, 1848; Nellie May, born June 25, 1855; and Elizabeth Marion, born December 20, 1863. Frances R. married the Rev. R. C. Bell, of Connecticut, and had three children. William W. completed his education at the Kimball Union Academy, and has been of valuable assistance to his father in managing the farm. He possesses a practical knowledge of all branches of agriculture, and has acquired a Nellie May is the wife of Samuel P. Wood, a wealthy resident of Lebanon, N.H., and has two children. Elizabeth Marion, who attended the Kimball Union Academy, and subsequently graduated from Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass., married George F. Chandler, a native of Strafford, Vt., and has one child. Her husband is a graduate of Dartmouth College, and is now engaged in farming upon scientific principles.

Mr. Freeman is one of the most prominent residents of Plainfield. His strict adherence to high principles has gained for him a warm place in the hearts of his neighbors and fellow-townsmen. Although he takes a deep interest in the general welfare of the town, he has never aspired to political honors, as his time has always been absorbed by his large farming operations.