My Genealogy Hound

WATTS S. FREER, a prominent and representative business man of Cortlandville township, and a descendant of one of the early settlers, resides near Blodgett’s Mills, where he is carrying on various lines, that net him handsome profits. He was born October 31, 1843, in Cortland, and is a son of John James Freer, who was born November 11, 1809, and grandson of John A. Freer. The Freer family in this country owes its origin to the Huguenot Persecution in France more than 200 years ago; in 1680, a large party of them, driven by the awful treatment accorded them in their native land because of their religious beliefs, crossed the Atlantic to freedom and liberty, and among these was the ancestor of the Freers.

Our subject’s grandfather, John A. Freer, with his wife, who was Mary De Puy, daughter of Joseph and Mary De Puy, started from Rochester, Ulster County, N. Y., on November 1, 1802, their three small children accompanying them. Their destination was Cortland County, which was then included in Onondaga County, and their route led them through Kingston, Albany, Utica and Pompey Hill; a team of horses and wagon carried their household effects, while they were assisted on the way by a hired man. On the thirteenth day of their journey they arrived in Cortland County, and snow having fallen, rendering further travel both unpleasant and not altogether safe, they stopped at the house of N. Knapp on the next day, and remained there until Mr. Freer had constructed a log cabin on the south-east corner of lot 74, whither he transferred his family and the effects they had brought with them. After domiciling his family, and providing as fully as possible for their comfort, Mr. Freer returned to his former home at Rochester to bring the remainder of his household goods. Heavy snowstorms prevailed, and he found himself unable to again make his way to Cortland County, for the snow had so blocked the pioneer roads as to make traveling with teams impossible. He accordingly was forced to wait until Christmas, winter having set in early; during his absence his family was dependent on the assistance and help of the settlers for the providing against bodily want, and for protection against the wild animals, that then abounded. As a pioneer settler, Mr. Freer worked hard and unceasingly with his axe, and cleared a nice farm of good dimensions and productive quality. He proved to be a very successful man, and left his family in very comfortable circumstances. Ten children gathered about his fireside, of whom the following eight grew to maturity: Maria; Anthony; Jane L.; Joseph D.; Catherine R.; John James; Sarah R.; and Stephen D.

John James Freer took up his residence on the Freer homestead, where he carried on general farming until a period of ten years had elapsed, when he bought a farm in the town of Solon, which he farmed a few years, then sold and bought and sold in succession several farms in Cortlandville and the town of Harford. Later he settled in Cortland, where he assisted A. S. & D. Freer, general merchants of that village, and drew goods for their store from Binghamton, N. Y., and Scranton, Pa., before the line of railroad was built. After a connection of four years with this firm, Mr. Freer with his son, our subject, carried on a grocery and farmed at Blodgett Mills; he built at this time the store now occupied by J. Hubbard. When he retired from active life, he made his home with his son, Watts S., until his death in October, 1884. He was a man of strong constitution, compact and well-knit frame, and enjoyed almost continual health, thanks to his excellent habits. In business he was forceful and fertile of resources, successfully accomplishing whatever he undertook. His first wife, Alice Mary Whitney, daughter of James Whitney, was born September 3, 1820, and died July 24, 1851, leaving six children: John A. of Ithaca, N. Y.; Watts S., our subject; Francis D. of Virgil, this county; Dewitt J., deceased; and Henry D. of Ithaca, N. Y., besides an infant, who died unnamed. Mr. Freer married as his second wife Mrs. Sarah Tarball, daughter of Jonas Metzgar, and widow of Simon Tarball; she lives with our subject, her step-son, and also son-in-law, as will be seen later. Mr. Freer by his second marriage became the father of four children, as follows: Alice J., who married Henry Hall of Virgil; Charles D., deceased; Joseph D., of Virgil; and Ella N., the wife of F. Burt.

In 1874, the subject of this sketch bought the E. Higgins Hotel at Higginsville, Cortlandville, this county, the purchased property including 47 acres of the choicest farming land. Mr. Higgins kept a hotel at this place several years; it has a beautiful location in the valley of the Tioughnioga. The standard of the old sign-post, which is of stone some twenty-five feet high, still stands, but it no longer calls the attention of the traveler to a place of rest for man and beast. The hotel structure was built with the only genuine spring dancing floor, forty by thirty feet in dimensions, in the county, and with few alterations the place has served admirably for the entertainment of many dancing parties, that come thither during the sleighing season. Mr. Freer is a royal entertainer, and under his able management, these dancing parties have become very popular. As one of his enterprises, Mr. Freer built a cider mill, and yearly manufactures large quantities of cider and vinegar, shipping many hundred barrels to market, and receiving the highest prices obtainable. For some years he carried on blacksmithing, having learned the trade when a young man. He has built a handsome, commodious barn, and many general improvements have been instituted and carried out about the place, that have added much to the value and attractiveness of the farm. Mr. Freer has always been a very active man in working to promote the town’s progress, and as a charter member of the Grange did much in unifying the agricultural elements of the district.

Mr. Freer married Miss Mary A. Tarball, daughter of Simon and Sarah (Metzgar) Tarball. Simon Tarball was born in Groton, N. Y., and was a son of Daniel Tarball, who was born in Susquehanna County, Pa. Daniel Tarball was a farmer by occupation, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits after his removal to Tompkins County; he died June 3, 1883. Simon Tarball was a farmer of Tompkins County, and died young, April 5, 1843, leaving two children, as follows: Lieut. William H., deceased; and Mary A., our subject’s wife. Our subject’s only son, Charlie S., married Lucy E. Hinds, and is associated in business with his father.