Flora Belle (Berry) Freeman was born on November 26, 1860, to parents Joseph Thompson Berry and Keziah Elizabeth (Young) Berry in Cave City, Barren County, Kentucky. Flora was the fourth of seven children, which, in order, were John Thompson, Mary Jane Read (died young), Billy Wilson (died young), Katherine Bragg, Bettie Davis, and Mary Susan.

In 1880, Flora was living on her parents' farm in the Cave City area and working as a school teacher. The Census record indicates that her parents had become disabled in some respect. Her younger sisters Katherine Bragg and Bettie Davis, along with a hired hand, were living on the farm. Flora's youngest sister, Mary Susan, had died in 1873.

Flora married Mariman Crittendon Thomas Freeman on January 16, 1883, at her parents' home in Roseville, Kentucky, which is located near Glasgow. The service was conducted by Reverend Uberta Wright of the Christian Church of Glasgow.

In 1886, Flora and Mariman had their first son, Orland Estmer, who was born in Roseville. In 1889, Flora gave birth to her first daughter, Tessa Clyde. Tessa lived only a few months and was buried at the Young Cemetery south of Glasgow.

In 1891, Flora, Mariman, and their son pioneered a 160 acre homestead about four miles east of Chandler, Oklahoma. Their move was part of the Oklahoma land run that opened Sac and Fox Country for settlement. (Flora's obituary indicates that the family lived in Texas during the year before the move to Oklahoma.) Shortly thereafter, Flora and Mariman, along with other families that settled in the area, established the New Zion Church, building a log structure on two acres of donated land located on the southeast corner of Flora and Mariman's homestead. For more information on the history of the New Zion Church and Cemetery, please see the article posted at Oklahoma Cemeteries.

Flora and Mariman lived in a small log house on their homestead. Mariman farmed while Flora opened the first school in Lincoln County. The school was located a couple of miles away, consisting of a small log hut with a dirt floor. The school was four miles east and one mile south on what was known as Gibbons farm. It was built in the fall of 1891, with school commencing in the spring of 1892. (The structure was still standing at the time of Flora's death in 1940.) Thirty students originally enrolled. Students sat on benches made from rough planks a nearby sawmill donated. The County provided no funds for a regular salary, so Flora was paid by subscription.

Flora and Mariman had their second son, Elvin Delph, in 1895. The couple also occasionally cared for the two children of Flora's sister Betty Davis, who had died in 1892. Betty and her second husband, Jefferson Davis Bradshaw, also had settled the area.

In 1916, Flora and Mariman moved to a residence in Chandler at Tenth and Dewey, while still owning and maintaining their homestead. She and Mariman celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in January of 1933, the celebration of which was reported in local papers.

Mariman died in 1935; Flora followed in 1940. Reverend Scott of the First Christian Church of Shawnee, Oklahoma, conducted the memorial service, which was followed by rites of the Order of the Eastern Star, of which Flora was a past matron. Flora had been a member of the Christian church for 60 years, giving service as a teacher and attendant.

Flora and Mariman are buried in New Zion Cemetery on land that was originally a part of their homestead. Nearby are buried Flora's sister Betty, who was the first person buried at what was to become New Zion Cemetery, and her second husband Jefferson Davis Bradshaw; her son Orland Estmer (and his wife Occa Jefferson Freeman Martin); and her sister Kate (and her husband James T. Rowland); among other relatives.

Scott Day Freeman, great grandson, wrote the foregoing memorial, which was last updated on April 21, 2014.

Flora Belle (Berry) Freeman was born on November 26, 1860, to parents Joseph Thompson Berry and Keziah Elizabeth (Young) Berry in Cave City, Barren County, Kentucky. Flora was the fourth of seven children, which, in order, were John Thompson, Mary Jane Read (died young), Billy Wilson (died young), Katherine Bragg, Bettie Davis, and Mary Susan.

In 1880, Flora was living on her parents' farm in the Cave City area and working as a school teacher. The Census record indicates that her parents had become disabled in some respect. Her younger sisters Katherine Bragg and Bettie Davis, along with a hired hand, were living on the farm. Flora's youngest sister, Mary Susan, had died in 1873.

Flora married Mariman Crittendon Thomas Freeman on January 16, 1883, at her parents' home in Roseville, Kentucky, which is located near Glasgow. The service was conducted by Reverend Uberta Wright of the Christian Church of Glasgow.

In 1886, Flora and Mariman had their first son, Orland Estmer, who was born in Roseville. In 1889, Flora gave birth to her first daughter, Tessa Clyde. Tessa lived only a few months and was buried at the Young Cemetery south of Glasgow.

In 1891, Flora, Mariman, and their son pioneered a 160 acre homestead about four miles east of Chandler, Oklahoma. Their move was part of the Oklahoma land run that opened Sac and Fox Country for settlement. (Flora's obituary indicates that the family lived in Texas during the year before the move to Oklahoma.) Shortly thereafter, Flora and Mariman, along with other families that settled in the area, established the New Zion Church, building a log structure on two acres of donated land located on the southeast corner of Flora and Mariman's homestead. For more information on the history of the New Zion Church and Cemetery, please see the article posted at Oklahoma Cemeteries.

Flora and Mariman lived in a small log house on their homestead. Mariman farmed while Flora opened the first school in Lincoln County. The school was located a couple of miles away, consisting of a small log hut with a dirt floor. The school was four miles east and one mile south on what was known as Gibbons farm. It was built in the fall of 1891, with school commencing in the spring of 1892. (The structure was still standing at the time of Flora's death in 1940.) Thirty students originally enrolled. Students sat on benches made from rough planks a nearby sawmill donated. The County provided no funds for a regular salary, so Flora was paid by subscription.

Flora and Mariman had their second son, Elvin Delph, in 1895. The couple also occasionally cared for the two children of Flora's sister Betty Davis, who had died in 1892. Betty and her second husband, Jefferson Davis Bradshaw, also had settled the area.

In 1916, Flora and Mariman moved to a residence in Chandler at Tenth and Dewey, while still owning and maintaining their homestead. She and Mariman celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in January of 1933, the celebration of which was reported in local papers.

Mariman died in 1935; Flora followed in 1940. Reverend Scott of the First Christian Church of Shawnee, Oklahoma, conducted the memorial service, which was followed by rites of the Order of the Eastern Star, of which Flora was a past matron. Flora had been a member of the Christian church for 60 years, giving service as a teacher and attendant.

Flora and Mariman are buried in New Zion Cemetery on land that was originally a part of their homestead. Nearby are buried Flora's sister Betty, who was the first person buried at what was to become New Zion Cemetery, and her second husband Jefferson Davis Bradshaw; her son Orland Estmer (and his wife Occa Jefferson Freeman Martin); and her sister Kate (and her husband James T. Rowland); among other relatives.

Scott Day Freeman, great grandson, wrote the foregoing memorial, which was last updated on April 21, 2014.