An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 297-298
	
	DR. BENJAMIN R. FREEMAN, a prominent physician of Spokane, Washington, was
born in Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, in 1843, oldest of the three children of
William and Elizabeth (Randolph) Freeman. His parents were natives of New York.
They located in Ohio about 1841.
	William Freeman, the doctor's father, was also a physician. He graduated at
Geneva College and began practice at Lockport, at which place he was married.
Moving to Ohio, he established himself in practice at Hamilton, where his entire
professional career was one of marked success. He entered the army in the spring
of 1862 as Assistant Surgeon in the Seventh Ohio Cavalry, and the following year
was made Surgeon of his regiment. He served until February, 1865, when, on
account of ill health, he resigned and returned home. He continued the practice
of his profession in Hamilton until the time of his death, in 1875. He was a
member of both the county and State medical associations. His wife had passed
away in 1852. They were earnest and devoted Christians and members of the
Methodist Church.
	Benjamin R. was a school boy in Hamilton when the war came on, and without
his parents' knowledge left school and enlisted in Company C, Thirty-ninth
Indiana Infantry, under Harrison. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville
and Stone River, being captured at the latter place and sent to Libby prison,
where, he was held from January, 1863, until June of the same year. He was then
exchanged and joined his regiment at Murfreesborough; was then in the Battles of
Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, in all the engagements of the campaign to
Atlanta, and with Sherman on his memorable march to the sea. He was one of a
detail to accompany General Sherman to his review with General Johnson regarding
the surrender. After an honorable service, he was mustered out at Indianapolis,
July 20, 1805. He was wounded at Shilo.
	Upon his return from the army, the subject of our sketch re-entered school,
and graduated at the Hamilton High School in 1867. He then began the study of
medicine in his father's office, took his lectures in the Medical College of
Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated in 1873. Having completed his course, he
established himself in practice at Middletown, Ohio. In 1877 he moved to Jay
county, Indiana, where he remained until 1889. That year, on account of ill
health, he sought a change of climate, came West and located at Spokane,
Washington. About six months later, his health having improved under the
influence of this genial climate, he resumed the practice of his profession, and
his career here has been one of marked success. In 1890 and ë91 he served as
City Health Officer. For the past two years he has been a member of the Pension
Board. He is a Republican and takes a somewhat active part in political matters.
He is a member of the G.A.R., and is Surgeon of the General Reno Post. He has
identified himself with both the State and County Medical Societies.
	Dr. Freeman was married in 1866, to Miss Margaret A. Johnson, a native of
Ohio, and has three children: Clara, William and Benjamin. Mrs. Freeman is a
member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Spokane.
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
* * * * 

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.