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William Freeborn (December 13, 1816 (January 3, 1817) – June 3, 1900) was a pioneer in Minnesota, Montana, and California. Freeborn County, Minnesota is named in his honor.

Born in Richland County, Ohio in 1816, Freeborn moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1848. By 1853 Freeborn had removed to Red Wing, Minnesota. According to Upham, Freeborn "had large interests, as also at Cannon Falls." From Red Wing, Freeborn moved to Montana, where he spent a season as a gold miner in the Rocky Mountains. In 1868 Freeborn arrived in Santa Margarita, California, where he settled on a ranch. Back in Minnesota, Thomas Newson wrote of Freeborn, "He was a man of progressive and speculative ideas, energetic, always scheming, and had a happy faculty of getting other parties interested in his enterprises. He was a quietly spoken man, of rugged appearance; self-possessed, and never was afraid to venture." Freeborn served as a member of the Minnesota Territorial Council in the Minnesota Territorial Legislature from 1854 to 1857, and was mayor of Red Wing, Minnesota in 1858, resigning after less than a year. He also served on the Saint Paul, Minnesota city council.

On Line Data

Cities Albert Lea (county seat) Alden Clarks Grove Conger Emmons Freeborn Geneva Glenville Hartland Hayward Hollandale Manchester Myrtle Twin Lakes Unincorporated communities Armstrong Corning Gordonsville Mansfield Maple Island Moscow Oakland Petran

Townships Albert Lea Township Alden Township Bancroft Township Bath Township Carlston Township Freeborn Township Freeman Township Geneva Township Hartland Township Hayward Township London Township Manchester Township Mansfield Township Moscow Township Newry Township Nunda Township Oakland Township Pickerel Lake Township Riceland Township Shell Rock Township

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