STEPHEN FREEMAN
Stephen Freeman was a native of Wales and the latter of Pennsylvania, and married Elizabeth Willich. Charles was one of their family of nine children, five sons and four daughters. Stephen Freeman came to the United States in 1856 and settled in Centralia, Illinois, where he worked in the boiler shop of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, occupying the position of foreman. The following year he removed to Cairo, Illinois, and was engaged in the boiler business there with John O’Brien. With the outbreak of the Civil war he put aside all business and personal considerations and in 1861 became connected with Admiral Porter’s fleet, having charge of the boilers of the fleet, in which capacity he served for two years. Becoming ill, he was ordered north and in the fall of 1864 made his way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where his ability soon won for him the position of foreman of the boiler shops of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. Subsequently he removed to Watertown, Wisconsin, and in the winter of 1867 came to Racine, where he established a business on his own account. He had learned his trade in Laird’s shipbuilding yards at Liverpool and before coming to the new world he had rendered military aid to his country by a year and a half’s service in the Crimean war. With his arrival in the new world he entered upon a business career in which he made steady progress, interrupted only by his military service as a defender of the Union cause in the Civil war. He continued active in business in Racine until his death and won a prominent place in the regard of his fellow citizens, both as a business man and as a public officer. He served for two years as alderman of this city from the fifth ward and was also supervisor. His political allegiance was ever given to the democratic party, while fraternally he was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both he and his wife were devout members of the Episcopal church, continuing communicants of that faith until called to their final rest, the former passing away September 10, 1889, and the latter died in 1894.

Contributed by Deborah Crowell

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