Freeman, Hiram Guernsey

1844 - 1926  (82 years)

• Name	Freeman, Hiram Guernsey
  Birth	3 Jun 1844	Concord, Merrimack, New Hampshire, USA
  Gender	Male
  Military Service	Between May 1864 and Sep 1865
  Civil War - Co. B 41st Wisconsin Volunteers
  Occupation	Aft 1882
  Fox River Paper Company
  FOX RIVER PAPER COMPANY One of the old established industries of Appleton, Wisconsin, has grown steadily since 1882, when it, was founded by W. G. and J. H. Wharton, S. K. Wambold and Captain G. W. Spalding, and is rated one of the leading paper manufacturing companies of Northern Wisconsin. The first mill built by the company, known as the "Ravine" mill, employed about eighty men and had an output of about four tons of paper daily, but this was soon found to be inadequate for the demand, and in 1887 the mill was enlarged and the "Lincoln" mill was built, the capacity thus being increased to twelve tons per day. In 1893 the Fox River mill was erected, with a large rag room, and the capacity is now about twenty-five tons per day, 375 people being employed. Writing paper is produced exclusively, and the company's product is marketed all over the world, the output being about $1,000,000 annually. The plant has a floor space of five and seven-eighths acres, and modern equipment and machinery are installed throughout, power therefore being obtained from the Fox River, the company owning about three-sevenths of the flow of the Fox River at this level. This is sufficient to operate the machinery under normal conditions, but in case of emergency the company has steam power to the extent of 2,000 horsepower. W. D. Wharton is president of the company, and Hiram G. Freeman is treasurer and manager. Mr. Freeman has been indirectly and directly connected with the firm since it was first established, and in 1884 he was elected to the position of secretary, acting in that capacity until January 1, 1899, when he was made manager and treasurer. He is a native of Concord, New Hampshire, born January 3, 1844, a son of Rev. Hiram and Adaline (Guernsey) Freeman, natives of Vermont. He received his education in the various towns to which his father's calling brought him, and attended Ripon College until he was fifteen years old, at which time he began clerking in a store at Ripon, and later was employed at Oshkosh and other places. He saw service during the Civil War as a member of Company B, Forty-first Wisconsin Volunteers, with which he was connected from May, 1864, until the following September, when the regiment was mustered out of the service, and Mr. Freeman returned to Appleton. He resumed clerking, and in 1867 went to Green Bay, where he had secured the position of bookkeeper for the First National Bank, and three years later accepted the position of cashier for the City National Bank of Green Bay, and from there went to Kellogg's National Bank, January 1, 1874. In 1881 he came to Appleton and accepted the position of cashier with the newly-organized Commercial National Bank, a position which he held until 1899. On November 20, 1886, Mr. Freeman was united in marriage with Miss Susie W. Smith, and one child, Angeline Smith, has been born to this union. Mr. Freeman is a Republican in his political beliefs, and is widely known and highly respected in Appleton.
  1890 Census	1890	Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
  	Appleton Page 3 Line 05 Veterans Schedule
  News Mention	3 Jul 1896
  Appleton Post Crescent
  Twenty-Five Years Ago, Friday, July 3, 1896 H. G. Freeman departed for Sioux City, la., to attend the funeral of his father, Hiram Freeman, 85. PAGE FOUR, APPLETON POST-CRESCENT, FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1921
  1900 Census	1900	Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
  Hiram G Freeman50 Susan Freeman42 Angoline Freeman6
  1910 Census	1910	Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
  Hiram J Freeman60 Susie Freeman45 Bertha Dauterman23 Angelina S Freeman16
  Biography	1911
  History of Outagamie County, Wisconsin Page 0962
  HIRAM G. FREEMAN, president of the Commercial National Bank of Appleton, Wisconsin, and identified with other important business interests of this city, was born January 3, 1844, at Concord, New Hampshire, and is a son of Rev. Hiram and Adeline W. (Guernsey) Freeman. The parents of Mr. Freeman were natives of Vermont, and from there, in 1846, they came to Wisconsin, the father in the capacity of a home missionary of the Congregational Church. For a time the family lived at Potosi, but in 1849 moved to Oshkosh, where Mr. Freeman was the pastor of the First Congregational Church. A man of scholarly attainments, he was particularly interested in educational work and was one of the organizers of what is now Ripon College, at Ripon, Wisconsin, to which place he removed in 1858. Subsequently he served churches in both Illinois and Iowa, and when he had reached an honored old age passed away at Sioux City, Iowa. His father, Captain Constant Freeman, was a Revolutionary soldier and a son of Sergeant Joseph Freeman, who removed from Sudbury, Massachusetts, to Preston Connecticut. To Rev. Hiram Freeman and wife three children were born, Hiram G. being the second. Hiram G. Freeman attended school wherever his father's missionary labors led the family, and completed his education at Ripon College before he was fifteen years of age, when he became self-supporting, being employed in several towns as clerk and bookkeeper. In 1864 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company B, Forty-first Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until his regiment was mustered out in the following September. He resumed his former business activities and remained at Oshkosh until 1867, when he removed to Green Bay to become cashier of the City National Bank at that place, which was succeeded by the Kellogg National Bank, where he continued until 1881, and at this time came to Appleton and helping to organize the Commercial National Bank of this city, he became its first cashier. In 1902 he became vice-president and in 1910 president of this financial institution, and has continued at its head, ably and successfully directing its policy. The stockholders of the bank were also largely interested in the Fox River Paper Mills. The stockholders of the paper mills asked Mr. Freeman to take charge of the management. After some time spent in the east, studying conditions, Mr. Freeman consented, and in 1899 accepted the position of treasurer and general manager. A new regime was inaugurated. Mr. Freeman raised these mills to their high standard, and steadily increased the scope of operations. The mills are kept up to date, supplied with all modern machinery, cement floors, etc. All credit must be given to the able management of Mr. Freeman, a man of few words, who commands the respect of all his employes. November 20, 1886, Mr. Freeman married Miss Susie W. Smith, of Appleton, a daughter born to the marriage of Rev. Reeder Smith and Eliza P. Kimball, natives of Pittston, Pennsylvania, and Boston, Massachusetts, who came to Wisconsin in 1849 in the interest of Lawrence University, representing Amos A. Lawrence, of Boston, for whom the college was named. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman have one daughter, Angeline Smith Freeman. See also info on Page 611.
  	Freeman, Hiram Guernsey Biography from History of Outagamie County, Wisconsin; 1911.
  1920 Census	1920	Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
  Hiram G Freeman76 Susan Freeman65 Angeline Freeman25 Katharine Halloran24
  Death	3 Dec 1926	Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
  Obituary	4 Dec 1926
  Appleton Post Crescent
  H. G, FREEMAN, LOCAL BANKER DIES AT HOME Death After Short Illness Removes Noted Figure in Fox River Valley Hiram Guernsey Freeman, 83, chairman of the board of directors of the First National bank and former treasurer and general manager of the Fox River Paper Co., died at 7 o'clock Friday evening at his residence, 101 E. Lawrence-st, after a brief illness. Despite his advanced age, he was actively engaged in business until a short time ago when his health began to fail. He was confined to his bed for about a week. He came to Appleton in 1881 when he organized the Commercial bank and became its first cashier. He be- came vice president in 1902 and president in 1910. Since then this institution was consolidated with the First National bank. Mr. Freeman has long been a familiar figure in banking and paper mill circles throughout this part of the state. Before coming to Appleton he was associated in various capacities with The First National bank. The City National bank, and the Kellogg National bank, all Green Bay institutions. He left the latter bank to organize the Commercial National bank in this city. MANAGED PAPER MILL While still engaged in the banking business he was made treasurer and general manager of the Fox River Paper Co. During his management, which extended over a period of 14 years from 1899 to 1913, the capacity of the mill was increased three-fold. Mr. Freeman was born at Concord. N. H.. Jan. 3, 1844. When only a child he was brought to "Wisconsin by his parents, who came here to do missionary work. His boyhood was spent in the neighborhood of Ripon, where his father, The Rev. Hiram Freeman, was influential in organizing the school now known as Ripon college, in which Mr. Freeman completed his formal education. During the Civil War he was a member of Company B. Forty-first Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, ana when mustered out -was employed for a. time at Oshkosh. where his father was the first pastor of First Congregational church of that city. Later he moved to Green Bay where he started his successful career as a banker and businessman. On Nov. 20. 1886, he married Miss Susie W. Smith, daughter of Rev. Reeder Smith, whose personal history is intimately associated with the founding of Appleton and Lawrence college. Thus were united by marriage two of the families which were largely influential in establishing the two principal educational institutions in this part of the state, Lawrence and Ripon colleges. INTERESTED IN MUSIC He has always been interested in music of the finest kind and early organized and directed the Mendelssohn club, the first musical organization in the city. This club began with 16 members, four for each part, and instituted its public appearance by singing at commencement exercises. Mr. Freeman, continued this interest throughout his life and has always cordially supported all efforts to bring great musicians to Appleton. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Susie Smith Freeman; his daughter, Mrs. Angeline Freeman Kitson of New York City; and one sister. Miss Ella Adeline Freeman of Sioux City la. The funeral will be held Monday, Dec. 6, from the residence. Saturday Evening, December 4,1926, APPLETON POST-CRESCENT, Page One and Seventeen
  Tombstone	Aft 3 Dec 1926	Riverside Cemetery, Appleton, Wisconsin, USA
  Reference Number	333
  Burial	Aft 3 Dec 1926	Riverside Cemetery, Appleton, Wisconsin, USA
  Person ID	I316907	1FamilyTree
  Last Modified	25 Aug 2018

  
  

  Family	Smith, Susie W.,   b. 18 Aug 1857, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA d. 23 Dec 1932, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA (Age 75 years)
  Marriage	20 Nov 1886
  Children	1. Freeman, Angeline,   b. 4 Oct 1893   d. 11 Oct 1943 (Age 50 years)
  Family ID	F206037	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	26 Sep 2016

  
  

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  Freeman, Hiram