A Tale of Two Brothers

"This story almost didn't get written. It is a sad fact that there are "skeletons" in some family closets, and our lineage is no exception..." Janet Freeman Auman

My Great Grandfather, John William "Bill" Freeman had an adventurous spirit. He wanted to go out west and learn to raise sheep. Many people from Laurel and Crittenden Counties made the train trip out to the Moxie and Fruitvale areas of North Yakima, Washington. Bill Freeman was no exception. He followed his Lincks and Parker cousins to the Pacific Northwest. In the ***1900 census, Bill was bording with his cousin James R. Lincks in the **Moxie area of Yakima, Washington state, and he was listed as a farm laborer. During that time, he met and married (1906) Adelia "Dilly" May Alderson. They had four children together, and lived near the fine John Alderson Ranch in Fruitvale, Washington.

When Bill's Mother, Martha "Patsy Parker Freeman died in 1934 her #obituary stated that Bill Freeman lived at Route 3, London, KY. The writer assumes that he was home for her burial. According to a Yakima City Directory his address was still listed in 1932. Whether Bill stayed on the Freeman farm until 1937 is unknown. His wife Adelia had polio and was in a wheelchair the last 28 years of her life, and it is doubtful that she would have travelled with him to Kentucky. She lived all of her life in Fruitvale, Wa., on the Alderson Ranch, except when she was born. There are no divorce records to indicate a split in their union. Adelia was a devoted Christian and that may have played a part, because divorces were not as prevalent then.

"Bill wanted to raise sheep on the Freeman Farm" - Janet Freeman Auman

As the family story goes, Bill and his brother Felix Freeman had been arguing for 3 days over whether to raise sheep or cattle. Now here is me thinking "why not both?" The argument must have spilled over into the barn. The men were in the barn killing rats.

"This reminds me of the prodigal son. Felix stayed unmarried and at home with his Mom and Dad. He tended the crops and took care of the family farm while Bill went to the Pacific Northwest. Now Bill is back on the farm and wants to change things..." Janet Freeman Auman

It didn't end well. Some say Bill was in the loft, and with a gun he borrowed from the McWhorters, he shot Felix in the shoulder, and with Felix in shock, and him looking up with pleading eyes, Bill shot his brother in the face. The coroner's report was less graphic and just said gunshot to the head. Bill Freeman was listed as the informant on the report. Bill Freeman shot his brother near the barn door on March 22, 1937. There are still markings in the wood where the bullet(s) hit.

"At first, they thought it was an accident until they saw two holes" - Bill Buckles

"There was an appeal when Bill was charged with murder, but it was filed 3 days late. He was sentenced to the Kentucky State Reformatory for the crime."

During his incarceration his brother White Freeman would go and visit him at KSR. He said that Bill taught Sunday School at the reformatory. I hope he made his peace with the Lord during that time. His daughter Elizabeth said she never knew what prison he was in. She would go to the prisons in Washington State and sing hymns to other prisoners in honor of her father.

My dad remembers that when he was ten years old (1940) the family got a call from the reformatory. Bill was very sick and he was dying. They were going to let him out if someone in the family would take him. Sadly, he died in the reformatory on September 24, 1940. Some members of the family in London went to identify the body. On Bill's coroner's report it said he was a widower, but Adelia "Dilly" Alderson Freeman didn't pass away until 1949.

John William "Bill" Freeman was buried in the KSR Cemetery "Chicken Hill" in La Grange, Oldham County, Kentucky. He was buried by number and Mr. Campbell at KSR has a list of the burials. I have been there to KSR, but due to restrictions, I was not allowed to go to the gravesite.

*Post note - For years my family didn't say much about it. They tried to forget what happened, but "skeletons rattle". I didn't want the story told, because I wanted to protect the living family, but it is a part of our ancestry, if not our tears. I hope Bill found resolution, as well as dear Felix. - Janet Freeman Auman

**See Alexander Graham Bell and the Hubbard's link to the Moxie Valley: https://www.historylink.org/file/9218

*** 1900 Federal Census [Moxie Precinct, Washington State]

#Sentinel Echo Newspaper London, Kentucky

Thursday September 13, 1934. Page 2. Column 4/5/6

Martha Parker Freeman Obituary. Mother of Bill and Felix Freeman.