John D. Freeman (1817 – January 17, 1886) was a U.S. Representative from Mississippi.

John D. Freeman
Attorney General of Mississippi
In office
1841–1850
Preceded byT.F. Collins
Succeeded byDavid C. Glenn
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Mississippi's 3rd district
In office
March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853
Preceded byWilliam McWillie
Succeeded byOtho R. Singleton
Personal details
Born1817
Cooperstown, New York, U.S.
Died(1886-01-17)January 17, 1886
Canon City, Colorado, U.S.
Resting placeJackson, Mississippi
Political partyDemocratic
Other political
affiliations
Unionist

Born in 1817 in Cooperstown, New York,[1] Freeman attended the common schools. He moved to Mississippi and located in Grand Gulf. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar and practiced. He served as district attorney. He moved to Natchez, Mississippi. Attorney general of Mississippi from 1841 to 1851. He was author of the first volume of reports of decisions of the Chancery Court of Mississippi published in 1844.

Freeman was elected as a Unionist to the Thirty-second Congress (March 4, 1851 - March 3, 1853). He served as attorney general. He argued Mitchell v. Wells, a case questioning whether a man could leave property to his daughter, who had been born one of his slaves. The father freed his daughter, Nancy Wells, and then tried to leave property to her. The Mississippi Supreme Court rejected his will.[2] Later Freeman served as member of the Democratic State central committee and served as chairman. He moved to Colorado and settled in Canon City in 1882. He resumed the practice of his profession. He died in Canon City, Colorado, on January 17, 1886, and was interred in Jackson, Mississippi.

References

edit
  • United States Congress. "John D. Freeman (id: F000363)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Specific
  1. ^ Address to the People of Hinds County
  2. ^ Mitchell v. Wells, 37 Miss. 235 (1859).

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

Political offices
Preceded by Mississippi Attorney General
1841–1850
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Mississippi's 3rd congressional district

1851–1853
Succeeded by