My Genealogy Hound

YELLES C. FREED, president of the Royersford Foundry and Machine Company, was born at Harleysville, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, March 23, 18 54, a son of Michael Freed, deceased. Mr. Freed is one of the most progressive business men of Royersford, and is generally regarded as one of the most valuable members of the community.

He was educated in the public schools of Limerick township, and upon the completion of his studies learned the trade of machinist, following that occupation for some time in Norristown, and then engaging in business for himself, his shop being located at Eagleville, a few miles above Norristown. He conducted business there successfully for several years, and then accepted a position as foreman of the threshing and machine department of the Buckwalter Stove Company of Royersford, Pennsylvania. Later he purchased this branch of their works and formed a stock company to manufacture horse-power threshers, cleaners and general implements. Later there was some disagreement among the general stockholders of the company, and after a connection of two years Mr. Freed accepted a position with the Granite Stove Company. At the sale of the plant of the company which he had previously organized, Mr. Freed became the purchaser and operated it for one year, after which he sold it to Latshaw & Urner, who conducted it for some time. In the meantime Mr. Freed was engaged in operating a small machine shop at his own home, which he continued for about five years, conducting a prosperous business. The dimensions of the shop were forty by forty feet, two stories in height, and in order to execute his orders he required the services of some twenty men. In 1891 he and others organized the Royersford Foundry and Machine Company at Royersford, Mr. Freed being its president and general manager. New buildings were erected and thereafter enlarged, new machinery added from time to time as business increased and demanded it, and in the manufacture of all kinds of machinery constant employment was given to some seventy-five men.

Mr. Freed is not only a very skillful and ingenious workman, but an inventor of note, having patented many of the machines which the company are now using. One of his patents is a machine used for punching and shearing heavy iron in place of drilling; this machine, takes the place of sixty men, and is manufactured, sold and used all over the United States and Europe. He has been a prominent factor in the building up of the town of Royersford, aiding materially in the organization of various enterprises, in which he holds a large amount of stock. In addition to his fine home on Main street, Mr. Freed is the owner of several houses which he rents, and from which he receives a handsome income. He is a member of the board of directors of the Delaware Steel Foundry. In politics he was formerly a Republican, but of late years has acted with the Prohibition party. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Royal Arcanum, and the Knights of the Golden Eagle.

In 1876 Mr. Freed was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Detwiler, daughter of William Detwiler, of Eagleville. Their children are: Naomi, Mary D., Norman D., Ellwood D., and Howard D. Mr. Freed and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the True Blues.