Mr. Freeland was born August 10, 1854, in Platte County, Mo. When he was two weeks old he crossed the Missouri river on a ferry, near Leavenworth, with his parents. The family settled in the Indian village of Oak Mills. Later they moved to Kickapoo. When Mr. Freeland was seven years of age, they moved to the eight-mile house, it was called then, and where now a section of the Atchison-Leavenworth highway is laid.

"In 1866 the Freelands changed their residence from Leavenworth to Atchison County and settled on the old Mooney farm, southeast of Effingham. Wm Freeland attended school at District 42 and later at Pleasant Grove school. The latter is known today as the Noffsinger school.

Mr. Freeland was 21 years old when his father died. He assisted his mother in the rearing of six brothers and sisters.

"Mrs. Freeland, whose maiden name was Leah Lucetta Shell, is the daughter of the late Susan and Henry Shell. She was born May 16, 1861, and was reared on her father's farm. She, too, attended the Noffsinger school.

"The wedding of 50 years ago, was performed by the late Rev. Z. S. Hastings, a former local pastor of the local Christian church.

"Buffalo Bill Cody, at one time was a schoolmate of Mr. Freeland, and the families were neighbors for several years. During this time wagon trains, sometimes as large as 100 in number, would pass the Freeland home. It was an all-day venture for the wagon trains to cover but a short distance. Soon after Buffalo Bill signed himself as a class pupil, he left the school and joined a wagon train.

"While reminiscing, Mr. Freeland recalled some of the border warfare during the Civil War. The bushwhackers and border ruffians drove off Grandfather Freeland's stock and left no horses to complete crop planting for that season.

"Their children were: Rolly Freeland who remained on the farm; Frank farms southwest of Effingham; Mrs. Emmett (Mamie) White makes her home near Nortonville; Mrs. Walter (Alice) Hoffman lives near Nortonville, and Dr. G. E. Freeland is a Coffeyville resident. There are four children who have died: Mrs. Guy (Elizabeth) Cooper; Mrs. Walter (Evelyn) Perry, Charles Freeland and Laura Freeland.

Effingham New Leaf 1934