My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. FREEMAN, M. D., a physician and surgeon of Freemansburg, comes of a well known and honored family of Northampton County, and for about sixty years has himself been a prominent factor in the growth and prosperity of this locality. The Freeman family is said to have originated in England, some of its members having emigrated to Pennsylvania and settled in this county at a very early day. One of Dr. Freeman’s immediate ancestors purchased and owned considerable land in Bethlehem and Lower Saucon Township. The borough of Freemansburg was named in honor of the Doctor’s paternal grandfather.

The birth of Dr. Freeman occurred in this county February 20, 1832, his parents being Jacob and Susan (Butz) Freeman, who were also both born within the limits of the county. Receiving his education in the public schools, the Doctor’s boyhood passed pleasantly and without any event of marked moment. He studied in the public schools of Bethlehem and Freemansburg, and also attended a private school at Easton under Professor Vanderveer, the latter being a college preparatory school. After attending that institution for some time, he concluded to enter the medical profession, and accordingly read medicine with Dr. C. C. Field, of Easton. With that well known physician he continued for three years, and afterward attended the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1852.

On commencing his active professional career, Dr. Freeman began practice in the town of his birth, and this has been his field of operations continuously since. He is very successful in general practice, and numbers among his clients many of the best and most prominent families of the town.

In 1850 our subject married Matilda, daughter of Edward Seip, of Easton, and they became the parents of four children: Dr. Edward J., of Freemansburg; Walter S., a druggist at Phillipsburg, N. J.; Mary E., wife of G. W. Bachman, also of this place; and Emma, who is deceased. The Doctor is a member of the Reformed Church, which he is serving in the office of Treasurer. He keeps up his profess onal studies, and is identified with the Northampton County Medical Society.

Dr. Edward J. Freeman, the elder son of our subject, is a native of Easton, where his birth occurred December 18, 1851. He was reared to man’s estate in Freemansburg, and gained the rudiments of his education in the public schools of this place, after which for five years he attended Swartz’s Private Academy at Bethlehem. Later he for two years attended the Lehigh University at Bethlehem. March 13, 1873, he was graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. After his graduation he began in practice at Freemansburg and has built up a successful business. Socially he is identified with the Beneficial Order of Elks No. 191, at Bethlehem; Hulda Lodge No. 364, K. of P., and various other social organizations. He was married May 2_4, 1877, to Emily Knecht, daughter of the late John Knecht, of Shiemersville. Of their four children, Anna E. is the only one living. The Doctor is a member of the Reformed Church, and, like his father, is highly esteemed in this city, which has been his home for so many years.