Source: News-Journal, January 25, 1934

MRS. MARTHA FREEMAN DIES AT AGE OF NINETY

Mrs. Martha Matilda Freeman died early yesterday morning at the home of her son, Frank Freeman, death following an attack of bronchial pneumonia, and being partly due to her advanced age, being nearly ninety. The funeral service will be held at the Bender funeral home Friday afternoon at two o'clock, and the service will be conducted by Ref. C.A. Duncan, pastor of the Christian church. Burial will be had in the Half Acre cemetery, west of Urbana.

Mrs. Freeman, whose maiden name was Martha Matilda Purdy was born near Moscow, Ohio, March 28, 1844, and would have been ninety years of age next March. With her parents and several  brothers and sisters she came from Ohio to a farm west of Urbana when she was but a child. The trip was made in a covered wagon, and in later years she often told of the journey. At the age of seventeen she was married to Alex Freeman, who died in 1892 at the age of 54. Four boys were  born to them, George and William having preceded the mother. Edward Freeman lives at Wabash. Frank, the other son, lives near North Manchester, and it was at his home that her death occurred. She was the last member of her immediate family, and was the last charter member of the Paw Paw Christian congregation, or the Half Acre church, as it is known today. Besides her two sons she is survived by ten grand children and two great grand children.