James Fall Freestone (obituary)

"James [Fall] Freestone, aged 76 years, died at his home in Layton [Arizona], Monday afternoon, April 2, 1917. Funeral services were held at Layton church, Wednesday afternoon. Interment was made in Union cemetery.

James Freestone was born on a ship in American waters, near Boston, Mass., May 5, 1840. His parents went to Ohio, settling on 40 acres in Harden County. **About 1851 they joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and in 1852 the family started overland for Zion, a distance of 1,700 miles. Young Freestone drove sheep 1,000 miles barefoot across the plains. They reached Council Bluffs in April 1953, and left there with a company of fifty immigrants. They reached American Fork, Utah county, Utah in September, in 1853.

He was married to Pauline Poulsen, February 15, 1868. On April 12,1869, he was married to Marie Lynd (girl friend of his first wife). They lived at American Fork until October 1, 1883, when they started for Arizona, living in Snowflake, Apache County, for some time, and then came to the Gila valley, April 17, 1884, where he established a home for his families.

He was the father of nineteen children, eleven of who are living, and leaves also twenty-seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He is also survived by both wives.

Mr. Freestone was a member of the Pioneer Band from its organization in the early '80's and played the snare drum. He is the second member of the band to pass away to the great beyond, following Alonzo Packer, the bass drum player, who died Friday, March 23, 1917." (End)

**[Taken from mother's history.]
"James, the second son of Ann and Thomas Freestone, was the first one of the family to hear the young Mormon missionaries speak in a school house near their home. Previous to this, James had made it a matter of prayer, though then about nine years of age. He went into the woods every day and prayed to the Lord that if He had a people upon the earth who were true followers of Christ that he, James, might know for himself that he might be numbered among His followers. He afterwards heard about the Mormon Elders and believed every word he heard and was so impressed by their testimony that he asked his mother, Ann Fall, to attend the next meeting. At this time Ann Fall and Thomas Freestone were members of the Methodist Church."

Note: Alonzo Packer [First man on left in band. Click on photo to see other names.] and James Freestone were best friends. Alonzo's daughter, Charlotte, had married James' son, Leonard. They lived close to each other. As Alonzo's life drew to a close it was hard to make him stay in bed. When he was urged to lie down and rest he would say, "No, if I go to bed, I will never get up. When I give up to the bed, that is the end for me".

Shortly before he died his old friend, James Freestone, came to see him. He had walked with the aid of his cane the distance of the 20 acre field that separated the two of them, to pay his respects to Alonzo. As he entered the room, he stood for a time looking down upon his friend in bed, then he said. "Well.. 'Lonzo," Alonzo replied, "Well.. James." Two short words! That was the only exchange. That was all that needed to be said. A lifetime of meaning and emotion were packed within these few words. Ten days after Alonzo died James also died.

View online death certificate.


* Linked to parents
Note: those that are not linked yet have their memorial number by their name.

Children of James and Pauline Kersten Poulsen:
James Albert 1869-1890 *
Pauline Augusta 1870-1930 *
George Leonard 1872-1955 *
Ann Delia 1875-1905 *
Joseph Franklin 1877-1969 *
John Wilford 1881-1968 #27842413
Clara Elizabeth 1884-1971 *

Children of James and Maria Magdalena Lind:
Edwin Alonzo 1870-1872 [child] *
Oscar Anthony 1872-1872 [child] *
Marie Evalina 1873-1920 *
Caroline Meriam 1875-1878 [child] *
Charles Edward 1878-1955 *
Royal Henry 1880-1958 *
Rhoda Georjennie [Jennie] 1882-1955 *
Louis Frederick 1885-1886 [child] #19349700
George Clarence 1885-1886 [child] #19349665
Ina Deseret [Dessie] 1887-1939 *
Alma Lind 1889-1956 *
Marian June 1893-1895 [child] *