Sacramento County
Biographies
ISAAC F. FREEMAN
ISAAC F. FREEMAN ("Uncle
Isaac"), a prominent citizen of Sacramento County,
was born in Ohio, in the year
1815. As early as 1836 he made a trip across the country from Hamilton,
Ohio, to the Black Hawk purchase, now Burlington, on the west side of the
Mississippi, crossing the river in a canoe run by Indians; and three years
afterward he settled at Bentonsport on the Des Moines
River west of Burlington. At that time the milling (corn-grinding) for the
immigrants was done by Meeks & Sons at Bonaparte, and Dr. G. S. Bailey
dosed out the quinine to the inhabitants all along the Des Moines
River. In 1852, with a son, A. C., twelve years old, he drove
a herd of live-stock across the plains, and walked all the way, sleeping every
night with no tent covering. Although the Indians were numerous along the
route, they gave no trouble. After arriving in California,
Mr. Freeman was engaged in the milk business for about a year, and then
returned East. In 1859 he came again to California,
settling at his present home near Elk Grove. The country at that time was
wild and only the following settlers were in Old Elk Grove, then known as the
"Illinois Ranch." Thomas and Thaddeus McConnell, H. Stewart,
Judge Hannon, Messrs. Beam, Foulkes, Buckner, Frye
and James Whitcomb. There was no farming, stock-raising being the only
industry; hay-raising began about 1861, but little or no wheat till
later. Kerr Bros. set out the first grape-vines in that part of the
county. The land grants made much trouble and impoverished many of the
original settlers. The flood of 1862 caused a great devastation, and reached
nearly up to Georgetown, now Franklin. The
plains were covered with cattle dying and dead, and a man named Meny was said to have made money by killing them and
stealing their hides. In 1869-‘70 Mr. Freeman was a member of the
Legislature. He has been a school trustee for over thirty years, and he has
filled various other positions. He has now been a farmer for sixty-five
years, and has always been in favor of white labor and opposed to Chinese
labor, Chinese citizenship and Chinese immigration.
Transcribed 9-12-07 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated
History of Sacramento County, California. Page 637.
Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Marilyn R. Pankey.