Robert Freeman
ROBERT FREEMAN was born in Perth Amboy NJ on October 31, 1815. His father died when he was but 10 years old. His mother, with eleven children, was in dire straits, and young Robert worked on a farm, where he attended school in winter. He left the farm and school at 14 to work in a grocery store in Perth Amboy, became a partner, and remained there into his 30s. After successfully engaging in a variety of business pursuits in Nashville and Philadelphia, Robert Freeman built a home in Camden at 104 Pearl Street, in 1870. Still a vigorous man in his 60s, he went into the real estate business in 1880, and established a company to pursue that in 1882. Robert Freeman made his home at 104 Pearl Street in the late 1880s and early 1890s, and was still active in business in the mid 1890s, by which time his son Thomas and grandsons Clarence and Edgar Freeman had become actively involved.
Robert Freeman’s real estate office was for many years at 27 Market Street. His grandsons later moved the business to 314 Market Street, and the company was known as Freeman Brothers by 1914. Clarence Freeman was active in the business as late as 1936.
Robert Freeman
Biographical Review — 1897
ROBERT FREEMAN, a well-known real estate dealer having an office at 27 Market Street, Camden, is a native of Perth Amboy, N.J., where his birth occurred early in the present century, the date being October 31, 1815. His father, Linus M. Freeman, was a native of Woodbridge, Middlesex County, N.J.; and his mother, Clarissa (Ross) Freeman, was born in Piscataway County, this State.
Thomas Freeman, the father of Linus M., passed his life in agricultural pursuits, owning a farm on the banks of the Raritan River, Middlesex County. He lived to a good age. None of his children survive.
Linus M. Freeman learned the trade of a carpenter, at which he worked during his younger days. After his marriage he followed the water. He died in 1825 on the Raritan River, near Perth Amboy, when but thirty-nine years of age. Clarissa Ross Freeman, his wife, was a daughter of Robert Ross, the captain of a vessel on the Raritan. Eleven children were the fruit of her union with Mr. Freeman, of whom three are living, namely: Robert, of Camden; and Watson and Sarah M., who both reside in Nashville, Tenn. After her husband’s death Mrs. Freeman married Edmund Dunham, and by this union had one child, a daughter, Jennie. The mother died in Bloomington, Ill., at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Linus M. Freeman were connected with the Presbyterian church, and reared their children in that faith.
At the time of his father’s death Robert Freeman was only ten years old, but even at that early age was obliged, owing to the limited circumstances in which his widowed mother was left, to assist in his own support; and he went to work on a farm where he had the privilege of attending school winters. At fourteen he left farm life, and went into a small grocery store in Perth Amboy. He was employed as a clerk during the remainder of his minority, then admitted into partnership, and for nineteen years continued a member of the firm of Crowell & Freeman. At the expiration of that time he sold out his interest, and went to Nashville, Tenn., where for a year he was profitably engaged in the grocery business. He then took charge, in company with his brother, of a general house-furnishing business, being a pioneer there in this branch of trade. Selling out in 1865, he went to Philadelphia, and set up in the furniture business, which he carried on until 1880. He then started in the real estate business in Camden, for which his experience and natural ability have well fitted him, and in which he has been very successful. In 1870, when he purchased the house in Camden which has since been his home, there were but few in this part of the city.
Mr. Freeman was first married in 1840 to Sarah N. Teed, daughter of Isaac Teed, a native of Westchester County, New York. She died at twenty-two years of age, and but one of the two children born to them is living; namely, Nelson T., who is in business in Nashville, Tenn., and formerly for twenty-seven years was a bank clerk. Nelson T. Freeman married Miss Carrie Smith, of Nashville, Tenn., and has two daughters — Gertrude and Anna. Mr. Robert Freeman formed a second union with Miss Susan Teed, a sister of his first wife, and by her has had eight children. Two of this number are living. One of these, Josiah, has twice married, his first union being with Matilda Clark, and the second with Mrs. Carrie Ecky. There were two children by the first marriage, namely: Edgar A., who married Josie O. Turner; and Clarence, who married Bessie Rupert. They are both employed in their grandfather’s real estate office. Thomas, the second living son of Robert and Susan Teed Freeman, married Elizabeth Miller, and has one child, Nellie G. He is interested in the real estate business with his father.
In politics Mr. Freeman is a Republican. During President Harrison’s administration he served as the first inspector of the Perth Amboy Port, under Dr. Smith, Collector. He is a member of Camden Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M., of Camden, which he joined about 1867. For many years he was an Elder in the Presbyterian church, but he and Mrs. Freeman are now identified with the Methodist church.
Robert Freeman & Co.
1906 City Directory Cover Advertisement
1906 Camden City Directory cover advertisement — Robert Freeman & Co., Real Estate and Insurance Agents, 314 Market Street. Edgar A. Freeman and Clarence E. Freeman, proprietors.
Freeman Brothers Letterhead
1916
Freeman Brothers letterhead, September 22, 1916. Established 1882. 314 Market Street, Camden, N.J. Edgar A. Freeman and Clarence E. Freeman, proprietors.
Letter Regarding Sale of Hotel Ridgway
Freeman Bros. —
Mr. William A. Moncure,
Broad & Market Sts., Phila., Pa.
Dear Sir:—
As per conversation with our Mr. Clarence E. Freeman this morning, we consider $45,000. to be a fair price for the Ridgway Hotel Property situate at the Southeast corner of Delaware Ave. and Market St., having a frontage on Market St. of 93’ 6”, by a depth of 100’ along Delaware Ave. to George St.
Yours very truly,
Freeman Bros.
Freeman Brothers Estimate
Estimate given to the Freeman Brothers real estate business by Harry Brown for repairs to 129 York Street in North Camden on January 30, 1930.