Biography

03/18/1858 - 12/02/1940

Benjamin Newton Freeland (D40) Fayette and Greene Counties 1903-1906

Early Life:

Benjamin Newton Freeland, born March 18 , 1858, Mount Morris, Greene County, Pennsylvania; William and Nancy Clevenger Freeland; public schools, Mount Morris, education; Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York, 1876; teacher, public schools, Greene County, twenty one years; appointed, United States storekeeper, Twenty - third district of Pennsylvania, 1893-1896; elected clerk of courts of Greene County, 1896-1902; admitted, Waynesburg bar, 1901, engaged law practice of law; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1903-1906; utility company official; trustee, Waynesburg College; died, December 2, 1940 (aged 82), home; interment, Green Mount Cemetery, Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Director, People's National Bank of Waynesburg, Waynesburg Home Gas Company, Sheridan Oil and Gas Company; stockholder, director, South Penn Telephone Company; member, East Waynesburg Board of Education.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Appointed, United States storekeeper, Twenty - third district of Pennsylvania, 1893-1896. 

Elected, clerk of courts of Greene County, 1896-1902.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 40th district, Fayette and Greene Counties, 1903-1906; standing committee assignments, Senate of Pennsylvania, extraordinary and regular session, 1906, Agriculture, Federal Relations, Forestry, Judiciary General, Law and Order, Library, Pensions and Gratuities.

Extraordinary session, legislation accomplished by the Senate, 1906, personal registration law, direct primary legislation, enacted; up until this legislation candidates were chosen at conventions.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members F". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1906) Cochran, T.B., (Editor) Miller, H.P. (Assistant Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 824, 829-834, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 802.

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) · Monday, December 02, 1940, page7.

Benjamin Newton Freeland (1858-1940) - Find a Grave Memorial