Private Abraham Marion Freeman was born on October 3, 1835 to Abraham & Nancy Freeman of Franklin County, Missouri, a hard working farmer. As a young man, Abraham moved in and out of several counties in the southern portion of Missouri until finally settling permanently in the Macks Creek, Camden County, Missouri area.

     Sometime between 1854 and 1860, Abraham met and married Catherine (?) Phillips and started raising his new family on this beautiful 160 acre farm, just north-north west of Macks Creek, Missouri. On the 4th of July 1861, understanding the need to protect his home and family, Abraham enrolled in Capt. William N. Harrison's Company "F", Osage Home Guard Regiment. As the need increased for permanent soldiers to fight for the Union, Abraham resigned from the Osage Home Guard Regiment on Dec. 20, 1861 to settle any matters concerning his farm and family before signing up for regular military service.

     It was on February 25, 1862 that Abraham enlisted as private, under Capt. Francis L. Withaup in Company “B”, 14th Missouri State Militia Cavalry.

     In October 1862, Abraham contracted pneumonia, but refused to be sent to the regimental hospital in Springfield. Instead, he requested to be treated by the Camp doctors. During the night and in a heavy rain storm while on route to Prairie Grove, Arkansas, the feverish Abraham fell from his horse, injuring his back. Still refusing to be sent to Springfield, Abraham remained with his unit through most all of the battles of which the 14th would engaged before the 14th Missouri State Militia, Cavalry was disbanded on March 3, 1863. By February 1863, Abraham was near death and was transferred to the 4th Missouri State Militia, Cavalry to be transported back to Springfield for medical attention.

     It was unclear as to the actual destination of Private Abraham Marion Freeman at this point in time as his pension papers has two locations of discharge, Springfield and Casseville, Missouri. However, in a subsequent medical document, obtained from the National Archives, it has been established that Abraham was discgarged at Casseville, Missouri. It is also known that the 4th Missouri State Militia, Cavalry passed through Casseville on route to Springfield while transporting Private Freeman. It is possible that the commander of the 4th decided that Abraham was so near death that he left Private Freeman at the military hospital in Casseville. It was just ten days later on February 13, 1863 that Private Abraham Marion Freeman was discharged from active military duty. When Abraham was well enough to return home, he once again picked up his tools and returned to farming on his farm outside Macks Creek, Missouri with his young wife, Catherine. Although he petitioned the military for reimbursement for his horse, Abraham never saw a dime.

     Abraham never totally recovered from his back injury and was also left with a lung condition from his battle with pneumonia. In the following years, Abraham and Catherine had five children, William G, Richard I., Mary Ellen, James W. and John Franklin between 1864 to 1874.

     On January 20, 1877, Catherine passed away in the nearby town of Roach, Missouri, just north-east of Macks Creek, Missouri. Catherine’s grave site has never been found.

     Eventually, Abraham remarried to Nancy Jane (Brown) Gilbreth on May 19, 1878 by Danial Hicks and recorded at Linn Creek, Missouri. Nancy’s former husband, John Gilbreth had passed away leaving her with two children, Mary Ellen and A. R. Gilbreth. Abraham and Nancy had just one child between them, Della F. Freeman. On May 23, 1897, Abraham and Nancy sold their 160 acre farm to Mr. Henry Baker for the sum of $300.00 and moved into the town of Macks Creek, Missouri.

     For about 30 years, Abraham petitioned the government for a disability pension, winning his case on March 14, 1907 and was awarded a pension of $30.00 per month.

     It was on March 28, 1914 when Abraham met his maker at his home. Private Abraham Marion Freeman now resides at the Macks Creek Cemetery, Macks Creek, Camden Co., Missouri. With him is his second wife, Nancy, two children William G and Richard I. , both Joe & Della F. (Freeman) Wheeler and a daughter of Joe & Della F. (Freeman) Wheeler (not named).

Roster Record	Casualty Sheet	Pension Award

Researcher of Private Abraham Marion Freeman.
Arthur (Art) F. Freeman

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