Progress Notes

In three previous Progress Notes I presented the histories of:

Robert Marshall (photo 01)

01 Bob Marshall

John Ferguson (photo 02)

02 John and Dorcas Ferguson

and William P. Freeman (photo 03).

03 W.P. Freeman

One day in the late 1930’s circumstances occurred which led to an impromptu and informal meeting of these three very important figures of Miller County history. William Freeman had returned to Miller County from Oklahoma where he had moved some twenty five or thirty years before to attend the fiftieth anniversary of the Tuscumbia Christian church. Perhaps it was a sudden whim but on learning of Mr. Freeman’s plans to come to Tuscumbia local residents C.B. Wright and Autogram editor Lawrence Wright met him in Tuscumbia with the purpose of taking him as well as famous steamboat captain Bob Marshall to Iberia to rendezvous with the revered Iberia patriarch, Squire John Ferguson. The meeting was recorded in an article soon afterward published in the Miller County Autogram. Here is a photo copied from that edition of the paper which features these three famous Miller County citizens (photo 04):

04 Marshall, Ferguson and Freeman
Click image for larger view

And here is a transcription of that article:

Miller County Autogram - 1938

Three Grand Old Men

Total Ages 263 years

On Saturday afternoon, Iberia was the scene of an unusual meeting of three old friends…two thorough Scotchmen and the other of English-Scotch descent.

The trio consisted of John Ferguson of Iberia, W.P. Freeman of McAlester, Oklahoma, and Captain R. M. Marshall of Tuscumbia; and the combined ages of the three totaled 262 years.

It was an entrancing moment when Mr. Freeman stepped up on the porch where Mr. Ferguson was sitting and remarked: “John, do you know me?” It had been many, many years since they had met; and after Mr. Ferguson scanned Mr. Freeman’s face a moment, he remarked, “It’s Perry! God bless you, Perry!” Then Mr. Freeman sat down, and with hands clasped they talked of olden times when both were leaders in the affairs of Miller County.

Mr. Ferguson recalled that he was active in support of Mr. Freeman’s candidacy for Secretary of State on the Republican ticket, when he received the nomination at the Springfield convention in 1896. That was back in the days when Missouri always went Democratic, but it stands to the honor of Mr. Freeman that he lead the Republican ticket in the general election.

Tragedy was an experience early in life of both Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Freeman. While Mr. Ferguson’s parents and the large family of children were on the ship, bound from Scotland to America, the father died and was buried at sea. Mr. Freeman’s father, Andrew Freeman, was killed during the Civil War in the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi, the son being a small child at the time.

By reason of these misfortunes both boys were thrown upon their own resources early in life; and it stands to their lasting credit that they both made honorable citizens. When a mere lad of 12 or 13 years, Mr. Ferguson began working on a Mississippi river steamer; and Mr. Freeman began working in a printing office in Tuscumbia when he was a lad.

Captain Marshall, too, it was recalled by Mr. Freeman, was also then learning the first rudiments of the printing business, and frequently the two boys would lie under the trees in the courtyard at Tuscumbia during their spare time and discuss various things; Captain Marshall suggesting that perhaps the chief topic was “the girls.”

That was a long time ago; but Mr. Freeman and Captain Marshall on their return to Tuscumbia were told they should not consider themselves old at all, for although each is 81 years of age, yet Mr. Ferguson, who will be 101 in December, was casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln when they were mere children in arms.

Captain Marshall and Mr. Freeman were accompanied to Iberia by C.B. Wright and L.A. Wright, who felt greatly honored in having this opportunity to be present at the meeting of these three grand pioneer citizens of Miller County (photos 05 and 06).

05 Clarence Boyce Wright

06 Lawrence Alfred and Carmen Ercel Bassman Wright

I had first learned of the move from Tuscumbia to McAlester, Oklahoma by William Freeman when I recently read a booklet published by the Tuscumbia Christian Church prior to its fiftieth year celebration in 1939 (photo 07).

07 Christian Church Bulletin

In the booklet were a number of pages featuring some of the early charter members of the church. One of these was William P. Freeman and his wife. Here is the page with a photo of the couple and a short narrative, which made reference to their move to McAlester (photo 08):

08 W.P. Freeman and Wife
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As you may remember if you read the previous Progress Notes about William P. Freeman, he was a very popular elected official having been born and raised here and even as a young man began to serve the public in many different county and political positions. Copied here is a short summary taken from the Goodspeed Miller County history of what William Freeman (photo 09) accomplished while in Miller County:

09 W.P. Freeman

William P. Freeman
Goodspeed’s History of Miller County p.766

William P. Freeman, circuit clerk and recorder, was born in Miller County, near Brumley, June 15, 1858, and is the son of Andrew J. and Editha A. (Tinsley) Freeman, the father a native of Missouri, and the mother of Virginia. The paternal grandfather emigrated from Tennessee to Missouri at an early day and settled in Hickory County, where he died in 1872. He served as a private in the Mexican War. Andrew J. Freeman, father of the subject of this sketch, was a tiller of the soil. He came to Miller County in 1857, and entered land and settled near Brumley. Here he resided until 1861, when he answered his country’s call, and enlisted in Company E, thirty third Regiment Missouri Infantry Volunteers, on the 11th day of August, 1862, and served as corporal until the 15th day of December, 1864, when he was discharged for disability, the effects of a gunshot wound in the right shoulder, received at the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi, on the 15th day of July, 1864. After his discharge he returned to his home in Miller County, and died from the effects of the wound on the 14th day of November, 1874. To his marriage were born five children, one son and four daughters: William P., Lucy E., wife of William Golden; Paralee F., wife of J.M. Cox; Belle, wife of F. Hooker, and Dora. William P. Freeman assisted his father on the farm until twelve years of age, when he took upon himself the duties of a “printer’s devil” in the Miller County Vidette office. He worked at the trade until twenty one years of age, and was at one time local editor and business manager of the Lebanon, Missouri Journal, and was also one of the publishers of the Richland Missouri Sentinel. He was clerk in a general store at Tuscumbia for two years, and in 1881 was appointed deputy sheriff and collector by C.P. Myers, who then held those offices, and served as such for two years, when he was again appointed deputy sheriff and collector, which position he held until his election to the office of clerk of the circuit court in 1886, which office he holds until 1890. He, at an early age, took a great interest in politics, identifying himself with the Republican party, and has many times represented his county in the State and congressional conventions of his party, and is now and has been for a number of years a member of the congressional committee of the Eleventh “Congressional District. He was married September 19, 1881, to Miss Alice Harris, a native of Laclede County, Missouri, by whom he has two children, Harry and Elsie. Mrs. Freeman is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Freeman is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Odd Fellows, and is also a member of the Christian Church. He is self made, having attended school but fourteen months, and that when yet a mere child, and in the old log country school house. He is a bright young man, having by his own exertions worked himself up to his present position, and is a prominent citizen of Miller County.

One important fact mentioned in the short biography above is that William’s father was wounded fighting for the North in the Civil War and eventually died when William was about sixteen. His mother, Editha, some time after that event moved from the farm to run a hotel in Tuscumbia. This information is given in Clyde Lee Jenkins’ History of Miller County as quoted on our website’s section on hotels:

“…….Clyde Lee Jenkins in his historical study of the town lists this and two other hotels to accommodate the public around 1885. Amanda Adcock was proprietress of the Central Hotel (this one); Editha Freeman, proprietress of the Tuscumbia House which was directly across the street; and Benjamin Lawson, proprietor of the hotel on the river bluff. Other business places listed at that time include two general stores, four saloons, and two blacksmith and wagon shops…..”

Editha, William’s mother, passed away sometime in late 1890 early 1891. We have in our museum a copy of one of the estate sale announcements (photo 10).

10 1891 Sale Bill - W.P. Freeman Administrator
Click image for larger view

So it is possible that the death of his mother freed William to entertain seeking opportunities outside the area.

At any rate some time around the turn of the last century William moved to McAlester, Oklahoma. He earned a law degree either before he went or after arriving in Oklahoma. I was curious about the further history of William Freeman after his move to Oklahoma, and suspected he had done well since the excitement generated by his return to Tuscumbia as recorded in the article above suggested he was recognized by his former acquaintances here as having achieved success in the neighboring state. I did some initial research about William Freeman on the internet.

This website confirms that he was on the executive committee of the State Bar of Oklahoma in the early 1900’s.

He was a charter member of the board of a large bank named Bank N.A. in McAlester as indicated on this website.

He was a charter member of the McAlester Rotary club organized in 1914/1915 as indicated by this website.

He also was a member of the Masonic Lodge as indicated by this website.

But the most information about William Freeman’s life in Oklahoma was found in an old history book of Oklahoma I discovered on the Internet which I will copy here:

A Standard History of Oklahoma Vol. IV

By Joseph Bradfield Thoburn (photo 11)

11 Joseph Bradfield Thoburn

Published 1916
p. 1750

Honorable William Perry Freeman

From 1898 until 1907, at the beginning of statehood, William P. Freeman served as clerk of the Indian Territory Court of Appeals. This service alone has naturally made him well known over the state at large. Mr. Freeman is a very substantial sort of citizen. He has the character and attainments which make people repose confidence in him and respect his acts and opinions. While he has some very excellent idealisms, he keeps his dreams and visions in the right place, and makes his practice practical. While he has naturally been widely known for his political activities, Mr. Freeman confesses that the post of dignity and responsibility of which he is most proud was his election as grand master of Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Oklahoma, and that honor has meant more to him than election as governor of the state.

Born in Miller County, Missouri, June 15, 1858, he is a son of Andrew J. and Editha A. (Tinsley) Freeman. His parents were solid industrious people, self respecting but noteworthy neither for wealth nor for conspicuous position in society. His father served as a soldier in the Union army until the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi, where he was struck down and so severely wounded that he died not long afterward.

Note: Goodspeed says he died about ten years later.

Having lost his father so early, William Perry Freeman’s early education was confined to ten months in a backwoods country school before he was ten years of age. He had no college education. At the age of ten he went to the county seat and entered a printing office as a devil to learn the printer’s trade. A printing office has always been considered one of the best universities in the world, and he not only learned to set type and perform the routine work of such an establishment, but he read books and newspapers, and to his reading he brought a judgment that enabled him to sift and discriminate. He read various text books used in the schools and a large amount of standard literature and history He has had a thorough experience as a news paper man, having graduated from the composing room to the news department, and was successively reporter, editor and manager. He naturally took up politics as a side interest. He was also a journeyman printer and newspaper man, and wandered pretty much over the country, seeing all sorts and conditions of men, and keeping himself in close touch with the world’s interests.

In 1886 Mr. Freeman was elected clerk of the Circuit Court of Miller County, Missouri. He filled that office eight years. During 1884-85 he was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives. In 1886 he was defeated for the office of secretary of state. Then in January, 1898, he was appointed clerk of the United States Court of Appeals for the Indian Territory, and continued to perform the duties of that office until statehood in November, 1907.

Mr. Freeman resides at McAlester. In recent years he has been most actively identified with banking. He is chairman of the board of directors of the First National Bank of McAlester, president of the Scipio State Bank of Scipio, and a director in the First National Bank of Allen and the First National Bank of Calvin, all in Oklahoma. In a business way he has been prospering, though he has no ambition to rank among Oklahoma’s wealthiest citizens.

Asked to define his stand in politics, Mr. Freeman states that he is a republican, equally removed from progressivism and reactionaryism. In fact, he says, “I am just a plain old time republican and offer no excuse or apology for being one. I voted for Taft and grow prouder of the act each day. I am praying and hoping and have implicit faith that we will return again to safe and sane policies the next time the opportunity is presented.”

His interest in Masonry is of long standing. It was in 1914 that he served as grand master of Masons of Oklahoma, and he is not only a Knight Templar and a member of the different branches of the York Rite but has attained the supreme and ultimate thirty third degree in the Scottish Rite. He belongs to the Royal Order of Scotland, the Red Cross of Constantine and the Order of Eastern Star, and is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a member of the Christian Church or Church of Christ at McAlester.

On September 19, 1881, in Camden County, Missouri, he married Miss Alice Harris, daughter of Robert B. Harris. They have one daughter, Elsie, who married Lewis A. Ellis, a son of Edward S. Ellis of McAlester.

So I am quite happy to have pursued the question of what became of William P. Freeman after he left Miller County, especially since his career here had been so very successful and noteworthy. To think that as a young boy of ten years of age he had to walk to Tuscumbia from his home south of the river to take a printer’s job at the newspaper, yet had the ambition to educate himself through those early years. Then after achieving great success here, as detailed in the Goodspeed account, he takes a position with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Oklahoma and becomes one of the most successful and respected individuals in the state.

I am sure such a story as William P. Freeman’s could be told about many Miller Countians who left here to achieve success elsewhere. I always enjoy learning more about them and having the opportunity to present their stories on our website.

Recently, Peggy Hake (photo 12) sent me a short video which she found on the internet which is quite well done covering the WWII era in America with music, photos and original narratives. Here is a brief note she wrote me about it:

12 Peggy Hake

“I must really be old because I can remember most of the scenes depicted in this slide show! WWII was the time of my childhood and I recall it so vividly! We lived on base at Fort Leonard Wood in the 1940’s in the civilian housing area and in my memory I still see the old buildings, the children playing all around, and many more scenes from those days!!!”

To view the video just click HERE.

Note: after the website uploads you will need to click on the start button at the lower right corner of the large square in the middle of the page.

Peggy also sent the website to former Miller County resident Alan Wright (photo 13), author of the book MURDER ON ROUSE HILL,who sent me his interesting memories of that epoch in America’s history:

13 Alan Wright

I watched this video with some sentimentality. Although I was born in December of 1946, well over a year after the War was over, "baby boomers," like me, feel like we "lived" that '40s era because of the constant talk of the War and recollections of our parents and older siblings. It's almost like we experienced the whole thing just by "osmosis." For example, when I look at those toys, those are the ones that older kids had, pretty well worn, that maybe, just maybe, they would let us "tykes" play with.

Almost every man that I knew as a kid had participated in the war in some way. One neighbor, Edward Spalding, had some sort of leg malformation from birth that did not permit him to serve in the army. He walked with a distinct limp. Nevertheless, he volunteered to go as a civilian to Pearl Harbor to help rebuild after Dec. 7. He worked as a carpenter and made a career out of it, building whole houses around Eugene. He brought back an impressive collection of Hawaiian shirts! As a child, the single most impressive thing I remember was my Uncle Warren Allee showing off a Japanese Army rifle (bolt action with a really long barrel) that he "liberated" during the fight for Saipan. He actually gave me a bullet that may have been in the magazine when he got it. I kept it for years---can you imagine giving a kid a live round of ammunition? It wasn't shocking then.

My Dad was in the Army in WWI, but was quarantined at Camp Funston, Kansas because of the influenza epidemic, and was not sent to France before the Armistice ended that war. He was too old for WWII, but nevertheless, worked at Ft. Wood, during it's rapid construction, and then later in the war, worked at Wilson & Co. meat packers in K.C. In the early '50s, I would beg our next door neighbor, Frank Prenger (He and his wife semi-adopted and spoiled me), to see his war medals. The biggest thrill was when he pulled out a German Luger pistol collected from German prisoners in N. Africa. The circles were completed when, during my stint in the Army, during basic training, I likely stayed in the old wooden "temporary" barracks thrown up in WWII that my dad may very well have painted and finished when they were new. My unit in the Army was the 1st. Battalion, 34th Artillery. As such, I was entitled to wear a purple ribbon, framed in silver, signifying a "Presidential Unit Citation." The "34th" won this decoration for decimating the German tank-led attack against Patton near the Tunisian village of El Guettar in 1943. This battle is highlighted in the movie, "Patton." I like to think that Frank's Luger may have been captured there. Amazingly, the commander of the 1/34 at El Guettar was Lieutenant Colonel William C. Westmoreland, later a four star general and commander of all forces in Vietnam during my Army days.

There is nothing like that wonderful Glenn Miller music. Theories still abound about what, exactly, happened when his plane disappeared at night over the English Channel. One theory, for which there is some evidence, is that an Allied bomber, badly damaged after a raid over Germany, was abandoned by it's crew when they bailed out over the Channel. It's position and timing put this plane just above Miller's plane, headed the other way, to France. The disabled plane may have collided with Miller's plane and they crashed together. I'm surprised that they haven't found it by now, but of course, the Channel is filled with war debris. The task may be too daunting.

Alan Wright

Thanks Peggy for sending us this wonderful nostalgic video of WWII and thanks to Alan for sharing his memories of that time period when he was a young boy.

A few weeks back Judy and I went over to Judy’s mother, Elva Steen’s home to watch as Martha Suttee demonstrated techniques of piece cutting for quilt making. Paulette Reeves Apperson also came to get the opportunity to learn some of the techniques from Martha as well as Elva (photo 14).

14 Martha Suttee, Paulette Apperson and Elva Steen

Elva has donated several quilts to our museum over the last few years for the annual quilt raffle. The next photo features this year’s raffle quilt donated by Elva as well as a “rag rug” under the quilt stand. The “rag rug” also was made and donated by Elva as a consolation raffle prize (photo 15).

15 Hand Crafted Quilt and Rag Rug donated by Elva Steen for Annual Raffle

In this next photo Elva is standing on two other of her hand made “rag rugs” (photo 16):

16 Elva Steen and two Rag Rugs

Paulette and my sister, Pat (Trish) Pryor Hillman, performed for Lee Mace on his Ozark Opry show in the mid 1960’s (photos 16a and 16b):

16a Ozark Opry 1963 - Trish playing Tamborine - Paulette Reeves on Fiddle

16b Ozark Opry 1965 on the Road - Trish, Paulette Reeves and Lee
Click image for larger view

Recently, I received this email from my sister in law, Shirley Steen Woolsey of Tulsa, Oklahoma:

“Joe, I just watched a PBS documentary about the 1918 Influenza pandemic and wondered if you've researched its effects in Miller County. The date given for the first death was March 4, 1918, Daddy Holmes' birth date, so I found myself especially interested. And it started in Kansas. I don't remember stories about it from Grandparents. Just wondering.”

It occurred to me that other readers might want to review what I have written about this very devastating epidemic which caused severe illness in many Americans at the time. So I have listed below the URL’s of previous Progress Notes which referred to the 1918 epidemic. Once you bring up the website just type the word “influenza” in your site search engine to bring the web page to the location where is discussed the disease.

Here is the list of previous Progress Notes which discuss the epidemic:

- June, 29, 2009

- October 13, 2008

- December 31, 2007

- August 31, 2009

- March 24, 2008

- October 26, 2009

Of the ones listed above, the one from October 13, 2008 is of special interest to me.

This particular edition of Progress Notes not only gives a good discussion of the epidemic but also tells the story of my grandmother, Sadie Abbett Bear, who not only suffered the 1918 influenza but also one of its late term complications, post encephalitic Parkinson’s disease. Here is a photo of Sadie before she was struck with the deadly influenza, sometime before 1918 (photo 17):

17 Sadie Abbett Bear as Young Woman

The next photo was taken about 1950. Especially notice how the Parkinson’s disease crippled her hands (photo 18):

18 Sadie Abbett Bear age 60 crippled by Parkinson's Syndrome

A couple of weeks ago we installed a water softener for the museum. We are certainly very grateful to Carroll (“Dink”) Musick and Paul Holder for purchasing, delivering and installing the unit for us at a cost much below that we could have obtained from a commercial outlet (photos 19, 20 and 21).

19 Dink and Paul

20 Dink and Paul

21 Dink and Paul

Dink recently has had surgery for his shoulder and suffers from arthritis of his hands and wrists, probably from the many years he has worked as a professional plumber, so we are especially grateful for his willingness to help our museum in this way. He is a 1964 graduate of Tuscumbia High School and Paul is a 1962 graduate of Eldon High School. Paul was the contractor in charge of the construction of our new three thousand square foot addition to the museum in 2007.

That’s all for this week.

Joe Pryor

Previous article links are in a dropdown menu at the top of all of the pages.