Clara Eliza Parrish was born February 9, 1855, in Jefferson, Frederick County, Maryland, the daughter of Nicholas Merryman and Catharine Ann Horton Parrish, natives of Baltimore, Maryland, who moved to Frederick County after their marriage. They later moved from Jefferson to Mechanicstown, now Thurmont. Clara was the granddaughter of Captain James Henry Horton, native of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, who was a soldier in the War of 1812. He settled in Baltimore and married Elizabeth Diffenderffer. On October 28, 1880, in Thurmont, Clara married John Henry "Harry" Freeze, son of Joseph and Mary Elizabeth Rouzer Freeze. They were the parents of 7 children, all of whom lived to adulthood: Bessie Horton, Henry Maynard, Mabel Katherine, Joseph Claude, Earl Parrish, Edgar Merriman and Wilbur Ross Freeze. Clara passed away September 9, 1912, in Thurmont, and was buried on the 11th in Weller's Church Cemetery, Thurmont. She was my great-grandmother.


Obituary notice for Clara E. Freeze, Catoctin Clarion, September 10, 1912:

"Mrs. J. H. Freeze. Mrs. Callie Freeze, wife of J. H. Freeze, of Thurmont, died at her home at that place yesterday afternoon following several strokes of paralysis, aged about 57 years. Mrs. Freeze was a member of the Lutheran Church. She is survived by her husband and the following children: Maynard Freeze, Claude Freeze, Earl Freeze, Edgar Freeze and Wilbur Freeze, Thurmont; Mrs. Bessie Smith, Chambersburg; Miss Mabel Freeze, at home. The funeral will be held on Wednesday at 2:30 o'clock. Services at the house. Interment will be made in the U.B. Cemetery."


Obituary notice for Clara E. Freeze, Catoctin Clarion, September 12, 1912:

"Mrs. Clara E., wife of Mr. J. Harry Freeze of this place, died at her home after a lingering illness due to paralysis on Monday, September 9, 1912, aged 57 years and 6 months. The deceased was a daughter of the late Nicholas and Catharine Parrish and a granddaughter of the late Captain James Henry Horton, of Baltimore, and had been a residentof Thurmont since childhood. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at her home at 2:30 o'clock, her pastor, Rev. M. L. Beard, officiating. The deceased is survived by her husband, two daughters, Mrs. Walter Smith, of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and Miss Mable Freeze, and Messrs. Maynard, Claude, Earle, Edgar and Wilbur Freeze, all ofthis place. She is also survived by three sisters, viz.: Mrs. Elizabeth Slick, Mrs. Gertrude Grimes and Mrs. Emma K. Rouzer, and one brother, Mr. Edgar Parrish, all of this place. Interment was made in theUnited Brethren Cemetery, Willhide & Creeger funeral directors."