Charles Hughes Freeman, known as C. H. Freeman, was born in Niagara Falls, New York on November 11, 1854. Shortly after his father's death in 1857, the remaining Freeman family moved to Michigan, where Charles eventually studied law and was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1877. He married his first wife, Abby J. Stewart, in 1890 and the couple had a daughter, Sarah Freeman. Abby died in 1898. In 1901, Charles Freeman came to West Virginia to help his client, William C. Yawkey, examine some land Yawkey had recently inherited upon the death of his father. While there, Freeman and Yawkey observed a natural spring that was on fire due to the presence of oil and gas in the ground. Recognizing the potential for natural resource extraction in West Virginia, Yawkey and Freeman quickly set about raising the necessary capital. They went on to form the Yawkey and Freeman Coal Company, the Big Creek Development Company, and other business ventures in order to mine the coal, oil, and natural gas of Boone, Mason, and Lincoln Counties. While living in Hamlin, WV, Freeman met Zubah Ray, a former school teacher. The two married on March 12, 1912 and relocated to Huntington, WV. During the next two years, they built a large house on approximately 250 acres of land just south of the city. The house eventually became known as the Freeman Estate, or Park Hill Farm, and it has since been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Freeman's had three daughters, Ruth, Joan, and Mary, while Zubah had a son from a previous marriage, Aubrey Raymond, born May 10, 1905, whom Charles adopted. Aubrey died March 24, 1923. Charles Hughes Freeman died on July 3, 1920.
Marshall University, Special Collections
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FREEMAN FUNERAL HELD - Huntington, W. Va. July 6 - Funeral services for Colonel Charles H Freeman, millionaire oilman and gas producer who died late Saturday were held, at his home here today. Colonel Freeman was president of the Yawkey Freeman Company first developers of the Boone county oil field. At one time he was vice president of the Detroit baseball club.
- Hinton Daily News, 7 Jul 1920
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Charles is buried under a large lot monument which is inscribed with the following names; Charles Hughes Freeman, Zubah Ray Freeman, Moody Freeman, Mary Freeman, Aubrey Raymond Freeman, Joan Freeman, Paul Ray, and Kathryn Ray.
Burial: 6 Jul 1920, Woodmere

Charles Hughes Freeman, known as C. H. Freeman, was born in Niagara Falls, New York on November 11, 1854. Shortly after his father's death in 1857, the remaining Freeman family moved to Michigan, where Charles eventually studied law and was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1877. He married his first wife, Abby J. Stewart, in 1890 and the couple had a daughter, Sarah Freeman. Abby died in 1898. In 1901, Charles Freeman came to West Virginia to help his client, William C. Yawkey, examine some land Yawkey had recently inherited upon the death of his father. While there, Freeman and Yawkey observed a natural spring that was on fire due to the presence of oil and gas in the ground. Recognizing the potential for natural resource extraction in West Virginia, Yawkey and Freeman quickly set about raising the necessary capital. They went on to form the Yawkey and Freeman Coal Company, the Big Creek Development Company, and other business ventures in order to mine the coal, oil, and natural gas of Boone, Mason, and Lincoln Counties. While living in Hamlin, WV, Freeman met Zubah Ray, a former school teacher. The two married on March 12, 1912 and relocated to Huntington, WV. During the next two years, they built a large house on approximately 250 acres of land just south of the city. The house eventually became known as the Freeman Estate, or Park Hill Farm, and it has since been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Freeman's had three daughters, Ruth, Joan, and Mary, while Zubah had a son from a previous marriage, Aubrey Raymond, born May 10, 1905, whom Charles adopted. Aubrey died March 24, 1923. Charles Hughes Freeman died on July 3, 1920.
Marshall University, Special Collections
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FREEMAN FUNERAL HELD - Huntington, W. Va. July 6 - Funeral services for Colonel Charles H Freeman, millionaire oilman and gas producer who died late Saturday were held, at his home here today. Colonel Freeman was president of the Yawkey Freeman Company first developers of the Boone county oil field. At one time he was vice president of the Detroit baseball club.
- Hinton Daily News, 7 Jul 1920
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Charles is buried under a large lot monument which is inscribed with the following names; Charles Hughes Freeman, Zubah Ray Freeman, Moody Freeman, Mary Freeman, Aubrey Raymond Freeman, Joan Freeman, Paul Ray, and Kathryn Ray.
Burial: 6 Jul 1920, Woodmere