My Genealogy Hound

ALFRED H. FREEMAN, one of the self-made men of Lehigh County, has through his own unaided efforts won a place among the substantial citizens of Catasauqua. He is a prominent railroad man, and a popular engineer in the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. A native of this county, his birth occurred in North Whitehall Township, on the 5th of April, 1849. His father, Charles Freeman, was also born in that locality, while his grandfather, Michael Freeman, lived and died there. The latter was a patriot in the War of 1812, and after its close was made an officer in the state militia.

The father of our subject made his home with Alfred H. for many years prior to his decease, his death occurring May 30, 1891, when in his eightieth year. His wife, prior to her marriage Miss Lavina Steckel, was also a native of North Whitehall Township, and the daughter of Daniel Steckel, who was born in this county, where he spent his entire life in agricultural pursuits. The parental family included eight children, of whom our subject is the fourth in order of birth. His brother Amos is also engaged as an engineer on the Lehigh Valley Railroad, his run being from Easton to this city.

He whose name heads this sketch spent the first seventeen years of his life on the home farm, and received his early education in the district school. He then began to make his own way in the world, his first work being in a brickyard, and after being thus engaged for two years he came to Catasauqua. This was about 1868, and the first two years after coming here he was employed by Robert Miller, a brick manufacturer. Two years later Mr. Freeman purchased the interest of his employer in the yard, which was located at Lower Catasauqua, and was engaged in the manufacture of brick on his account for the succeeding four years. He was successful during that time, turning out each year about five hundred thousand brick. The panic of 1874, however, stopped the sale of this article, and he was obliged to close out his business.

When again working for other parties our subject found employment in a stone-quarry, and shortly afterward went to Egypt, where he was similarly employed. In 1881 he abandoned that kind of work, and accepted the position of brakeman on the Lehigh Valley Railroad. He worked for seven months as brakeman on a freight train, when he was promoted to the position of fireman, running between Perth Amboy and Packerton. He worked thus until 1885, when he was made engineer for the same road, and now runs the “Mogul” engine, of which he has been engineer since it was built. He has a run of one hundred and four miles, and during the nine years in which he has held that position he has been very fortunate, never having had a serious accident.

Alfred H. Freeman was married in Coplay, December 5, 1869, to Miss Mary E. Roth, who was born in North Whitehall Township. Their union has resulted in the birth of nine children, of whom Mackey and Charles are deceased. Those living are Remitta, Ida, Lizzie, Mary, Daisy, Ella and Ray. Our subject occupies a high position in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, in which he was Chief for two years. In politics he is a staunch and influential Republican, and his many excellences of character have won him high regard, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers this record of his life. Religiously he belongs to the Reformed Church.