John M. Freeman (1829-1907), third-great uncle of the Ballantyne-Dailey-Uible cousins was born in Pittsburgh in Feb. 1829, died in Toronto, Jefferson County, Ohio in November 1907. He married Cyrene Peggs in August 1864 and they had two daughters – Lucile Freeman Rogers (1873-1920?), and Cyrene "Rena" Freeman (1872-1952).
John, who owned and operated a Sewer Pipe Manufacturing company, was a Civil War Veteran and was the younger brother of James L. Freeman (1809-1892). James was the maternal grandfather of Nathaniel Wallace Ballantyne (1868-1949).
Following is the obituary from the (New Cumberland WV) Hancock County Independent, published November 21, 1907.
JOHN M. FREEMAN
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Pioneer Brick and Clay Manufacturer
Answers Death's Summons
John M. Freeman, one of the pioneer brick and sewer pipe manufacturers of the Ohio valley, prominently identified with the fire clay industry for nearly half a century, died at his home in Toronto, Sunday morning.
Mr. Freeman had not been in good health for two or three years, but was not confined to the house except for a few weeks prior to his death. He was in the 88 year of his age at the time of his death. He was born in Pittsburg, being a son of Thomas Freeman, who came to this county with his family in 1833, and settled at Freeman's Landing. There the senior Freeman embarked in the clay and brick business and is said to have been the pioneer of that industry west of the mountains.
The business was conducted there for many years, and the family was honored and respected among the most prominent residents of the county.
There were fourteen children, all of whom but two have answered the final summons. Among those were James, William B., Samuel, Charles A., and John M., the survivors being Miss Virginia of this place and Mrs. Mary Trusdale
[Truesdale], of Iowa.
In 1846 John M. Freeman went to Cincinnati and there engaged in the brick, coal and cement business, which he conducted for ten years, and subsequently engaged in similar business i Madison Indiana and after devoting some years to that field, returned to this neighborhood, and embarked in the brick and sewer pipe business at Freeman's station, with his brother, Charles A., which business was continued until it was merged into the American Sewer Pipe Co., in 1901. The death of Charles Freeman followed about five years ago.
Mr. Freeman
[indecipherable: who had recently lived?] in Steubenville with his daughter, Mrs. Lucile Rogers, moved to Toronto, and the days he spent there were days of real enjoyment, because he always seemed glad to get back into the vicinity in which he spent his boyhood days, and here he enjoyed meeting his old friends, the rugged river scenery, the sight of the old factory operated so many years by his venerable father long since dead.
Mr. Freeman was a man of genial social qualities, which made for him many warm friends. The news of his death therefore will be learned with sadness by all who knew him. He was a man esteemed in business circles for his honor and integrity. He was a member of the Second Presbyterian church of Steubenville. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Rodgers
[Rogers], of Toronto and Miss Cyrene Freeman, of Steubenville.
The funeral services were held at his late home in Toronto at 1 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon brief services being conducted by Dr. Robinson and Rev. Hodil and the remains were conveyed by trolley to the Steubenville cemetery for internment.
