Peter E. Freer

As printed in 1910

PETER E. FREER (1874), of Heron Lake, is an early day settler of western Jackson county. He is the son of Johannes D. and Ann-E. (Hasbrook) Freer, descended from pioneer New York state stock, the family originally coming from Germany in colonial days. The mother of our subject was a cousin of John Jacob Astor, the founder of the American branch of the Astor family. The father of our subject moved from New York state, to Winneshiek county, Iowa, in 1856, and settled with his family at Frankville. There he erected and conducted a flouring mill seven or eight years. Later he engaged in farming in Winneshiek county, and in 1874 came to Jackson county and homesteaded in Alba township. He located in Heron Lake in 1889 and died in that village in 1894 at the age of 78 years. His wife died in ISOi aged 78 years,

Mr. and Mrs. Johannes D. Freer were the parents of seven children, as follows: Abraham H., born May 29, 1840; Sarah A., born May 22, 1842; Newton, born October 20, 1844; Peter E., born April 10, 1848; Mary C, born August 23, 1850; Nellie D., born August 11, 1853, died November 9, 1853; Walter, born March 29,

Peter E. Freer, the fourth child of this family, was born in Ulster county, New York. He accompanied his parents to Winneshiek county, Iowa, in 1856 when eight years of age, and in that county he grew to manhood, receiving his education and working on his father's farm and in the flouring mill at Frankville. He came with the family to Jackson county in 1874 and took a homestead claim in Alba township. He remained on the homestead until the fall of 1879, and then took a position as brakeman on the St. Paul and Sioux City railroad, running between Heron Lake and Woodstock. In the fall of 1880 Mr. Freer took a position in the tow mill of J. T. Smith, and operated one of the brakes in the mill the following winter. In the Summer of 1881 he was employed on the large farm of Hugh Paul, and that fall operated a threshing machine.

Mr. Freer went to St. Paul in the spring of 1882 and for three months was engaged in teaming there. He was in White Bear Lake for a time and then returned to Jackson county, locating in Heron Lake. In partnership with his brother, W. S. Freer, he rented the Pioneer House, which he conducted for a number of years. He also conducted the Chapman House livery barn until the spring of 1884. Returning to the farm that year, he engaged in agricultural pursuits until the fall of 1889; then he moved to Heron Lake, rented the Pioneer House from his brother Walter, and conducted it eleven years. Thereafter until the spring of 1909 he engaged in teaming in Heron Lake. On that date he rented the Waver Tree hotel, which he conducted until the fall of 1909. Mr. Freer owns his home in the village of Heron Lake. During his residence in Alba township Mr. Freer served two terms as treasurer of his precinct.

Mr, Freer was married to Maggie Golda in Heron Lake March 7, 1893. She was born in Germany and came to America with her father, Joseph Golda, when one year old. They have six children: Milton S., bom February 11, 18945 Merlin M., born July 26, 1896; Maud

TH.OEN FOUNOATi

A., born June 12, 1908; Myrtle, born December 23, 1901; Raymond, born January 21, 1903i Mary, born August 30, 1905.

As printed in An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.