Malcolm Samuel Freeman, Sr.

The above photo is from Ancestry.com and was posted by Judith Berrett a niece of Nat Reed Freeman, the baby in this photo. Malcolm "Mack" Samuel Freeman is on the left, his second wife, Ruth Wilson is next to him, and his sister, Lydia Clementine "Ina" Freeman Dowdle is holding the baby Nat Reed. The photo was taken about 1918.

Malcolm Freeman was the first child born to Columbus Reed freeman and his wife Lydia Clementine West Freeman, born June 8, 1863, in Millard, Utah. He was listed with his parents and siblings in the 1870 U.S. Federal Census for Kanosh, Millard, Utah, as follows: Columbus R., 32, Lydia C., 27, Malcolm S., 6, John L., 5, Lydia C., 3, and Emma E., 1 year old. His father was working as a farmer, his real estate was valued at $250 and his personal estate at $250. Columbus was born in Missouri, Lydia in Kentucky, and all their children were born in Utah. By 1880 Malcolm's baby sister, Emma Eliza had passed away in 1879, but four more children had been born to his parents. They were still living in Kanosh, and were listed as follows in the census: Columbus, 41, Lydia C., 39, Malcolm L., 16, John L., 14, Lydia C., 14, Columbus R., 8, Margaret B., 6, William N., 4, and Orilla M., 2 years old. Columbus was working as a laborer. Sometime after 1880 the Freeman family moved from Utah to Arizona.

Malcolm was listed in the Voter Registration Records for Graham County, Arizona in 1886, was 23 years old, born in Utah, and living in Solomonville. He registered to vote on June 26th that year. Malcolm married Nancy Melinda Campbell in 1889 in Graham County, Arizona, when he was 25 years old.

However, by 1900 he was a widower, living in Graham County, Arizona, with his three children. They were listed as follows in the census records: Malcolm S., 37, Samuel M., 11, William I., 9, and Lillian, 6 years old. Living next door were Malcolm's parents and younger siblings, Columbus, 61, Lydia, 60, William, 24, and Orilla, 11. Next door on the other side was Malcolm's younger brother, John L., 35, and his wife, Lydia, 32, and their children, Emma L., 13, Mildred, 4, and triplets, Beulah, Blanche, and Bertha, 1 year old, having been born in November of 1898. Columbus, Malcolm and John were all working as farmers.

In 1900 Columbus and Lydia Clementine had been married 40 years and had given birth to 8 children, 7 of whom were still living, and John and his wife Lydia had been married 14 years, had given birth to 8 children, 5 still living. By 1910, Malcolm, 47, and his three children, Samuel, 21, William, 17, and Lily, 14, were living in Artessa, Graham County, Arizona, he was still working as a farmer, and he owned his own farm free from a mortgage.

By 1920, Malcolm had married his second wife, Ruth Wilson, and they were living in Safford, Graham County, on Center Street. They were listed in the census as follows: Malcolm, 56, Ruth W., 37, son Nat Reed, 2 years, 9 months old, and also living with them were a niece and nephew, Sarah C. Anderson, 14, and Clifford W. Anderson, 12. Malcolm's wife, Ruth, was born in Williamson County, Texas. No occupation was listed for Malcolm in this census record. Malcolm and Ruth's son, Nat Reed Freeman was born April 14, 1917, in Safford, Arizona.

Malcolm may have moved from Arizona to California sometime between 1923 and 1928 because his oldest son, Malcolm Samuel Freeman, Jr., had been in the military during World War I and had been admitted to the Old Soldier's Home at Sawtelle, Los Angeles, California in 1923. He was in and out of the hospital over the following years, ending with his death there at only 40 years old in 1928.

In the 1930 census, Malcolm and Ruth were living in Santa Cruz, California, at 50 - 2nd Street, and they were listed as follows: Malcolm S., 66, Ruth W., 47, Reed, 12, and Mary R., 4 years and 6 months old. They owned their home which was valued at $10,000 and were the owners and managers of an auto campground. Since their daughter Mary was born in California, we know they must have arrived in California sometime around 1925.

By 1940 they were living at the Ocean View Auto Court on Ocean view Avenue in Santa Cruz, and were listed as follows in the census: Malcolm, 76, Ruth, 56, and Mary Ruth, 14 years old. Both Malcolm and Ruth had an 8th grade education and their daughter, Mary, was in her first year of high school. Malcolm was listed as the manager of the motor tourist court, but he declared no income on the census record.

Per a 1946 U.S. City Directory Listing, Malcolm and Ruth were living at 459 Hamilton Avenue in Palo Alto, California, with their daughter Mary Ruth, who was working as a passenger agent for United Air Lines. Also living in their home was their son Nat Reed Freeman, and his wife Barbara A., who was working as a saleswoman at Roos Bros. There was an apartment building called the Freeman Apartments located at 446 Hamilton Avenue which was also owned by the Freeman Family.

Malcolm Samuel Freeman, passed away February 8, 1952, and according to the California Death Index, he was born June 7, 1862, not 1863. His last known address was in Aptos, California