Thursday, April 11, 2013
Ink-Slinger Profiles: Howard Freeman
Howard Benton “Poke” Freeman was born in Portland, Oregon on September 4, 1877; his birthplace was reported in various newspapers and his birth date was on his World War I draft card. In the 1880 U.S. Federal Census, he was the only child of Thomas and Lula; his father was a carriage maker. They lived in Portland at 415 West Park.
The New York Times, August 22, 1937, published the Associated Press report which said: “…he grew up in Hayward, Calif., and began his bike riding career while in high school there. He competed in amateur, semi-professional and professional ranks…” An article about cycle riders’ income was published in the Syracuse Standard (New York), October 19, 1898: “…Howard “Poke” Freeman, “Old Kaintuck” Kimble and “Plugger Bill” Martin are about the only remaining riders who followed the game all the year that made any profit. Freeman is about $1,500 better off than when he started…”
The 1900 census recorded him in Newark, New Jersey at 1107 Broad Street. He and another cyclist were boarding there; their profession was bicycle racing. The Evening Telegram (New York), July 29, 1901, reported a major cycling event:
The National Circuit Meet at Madison Square Garden this evening will bring all the crack “pro” and amateur riders together once more. The program is long and interesting….
…In the two big professional events…“Poke” Freeman…[is] among the starters.
Freeman’s artistic talent and training were noted in the Daily Standard Union (Brooklyn, New York), September 12, 1901:
Known as the “Artist Cyclist,” because of his ability as a sketcher for the daily and weekly papers, Howard B. Freeman, of Portland, Ore., is a typical representative of the quiet, gentlemanly American bicycle rider. His winnings, and they amount to a goodly sum in the course of a summer, pay for his tuition during the winter at the art school. Possessing an extraordinary finishing sprint, Freeman has come to the front very rapidly since ’95, when he made his first appearance as an amateur in California.
His most meritorious ride was when he broke the world’s one-mile handicap record at Los Angeles, lowering the figures to 1:57 4-5. He is a Rambler rider who should win a goodly portion of the prizes offered on the Grand Circuit. His victory at Ambrose Park in ’98, when he captured the Twentieth Century $1,000 trophy is a matter of cycling history, while his victory over Major Taylor in the one-mile championship at New Haven last season stamps him as a speed merchant of more than ordinary ability. Freeman is 24 years old, and weighs 165 pounds when in training.
His drawing (c1907) of poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox was published in the book, Period Piece: Ella Wheeler Wilcox and Her Times (1940).
Freeman has not been found in the 1910 census. The Times explained how he got started as a cartoonist:
He was a natural artist and after years of bike racing a friend noticed his drawings and suggested a career as cartoonist. Mr. Freeman agreed to try and the friend gave him a letter of introduction to the late Homer Davenport, then political cartoonist for The New York Journal.
Coming to New York Mr. Freeman accidentally met Davenport in a restaurant. He was idly drawing sketches on a menu when a man sitting near him took notice.
“That’s pretty good stuff your’e doing,” he said. “I might be able to help you. I’m Homer Davenport.”
Freeman told Davenport who he was, gave him the letter of introduction and quickly made a success cartooning.
The article also noted that he was a cartoonist with the Newark Evening News since 1912. Freeman’s love of cycling continued through cartoons for Motorcycle and Bicycle Illustrated and Motorcycling and Bicycling, and participating in an old timers event.
Motorcycle and Bicycle Illustrated, 7/12/1917
Motorcycle and Bicycle Illustrated, 9/20/1917
Motorcycle and Bicycle, 7/23/1919
On September 12, 1918 he signed his World War I draft card. He lived in East Orange, New Jersey at 159 North Park Way. He was a cartoonist at the Newark Evening News. He named his wife, Bessie, as his nearest relative. His description was tall, medium build with blue eyes and dark brown hair.
Freeman was at the same address in the 1920 census. His family included two daughters and he continued as a newspaper cartoonist. He created a comic strip about golf called In the Rough. According to American Newspaper Comics (2012): “The characters in this strip started in Freeman’s sports editorial cartoons for the Newark Evening News as early as 1926.” The strip began April 18, 1927 and ended April 19, 1934.
In 1930 his family lived in Newark, New Jersey at 68 Parkview Terrace. Freeman passed away August 21, 1937, in Avon, New Jersey. The cause was a heart attack. His death was reported in the Times the following day. A golf tournament and trophy were named after Freeman according to the Newark Sunday Call (New Jersey).
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
Comments:
Howard B Freeman is my Grandfather. He passed away many years before I was born(I’m 71 yrs old). I am interested in his golf life, his cartoons and his bicycle racing years. Any information would be greatly appreciated. I have a number of his cartoons, art, political cartoons and small amount of memorabilia. Thank you, John Maguire
Hi John - About 32 years ago, I researched and wrote a history (https://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Twenty-Six-Celebration-Multnomah/dp/0962910708) commemorating the centennial of Portland, Oregon's Multnomah Athletic Club ("the MAC" - http://themac.com) where I encountered an early 1900s reference to Mr. Freeman in the club's still-existent monthly publication. Naturally, the name caught me even though there's no possibility he was a relative -- he didn't seem to be of Jewish Lithuanian extraction. The name cited was actually Howard U. Freeman, but otherwise the details in your blog entry all fit.
I can't recall his exact association with the MAC (he may have simply participated in their 1890s bicycle races) but some members apparently knew him well and wondered about his status. Poke's Portland home address is now in the middle of downtown and would have been a couple of blocks from the original clubhouse, now the site of the public library. One member ran into him by chance on a visit to New York (the 1901 six-day race?), whereupon Poke wrote a letter to his Portland homies with a wry expression that I've retained -- and used frequently -- to this day: "I am yet able to sit up and take nourishment."
This would have been shortly after his return from Europe where the club's correspondent identified him as a champion bicycle racer in Europe where he set a world record of some sort. I don't know why, but I got the impression he raced a penny-farthing, making such accomplishments even more remarkable, but the photo shows him on a "safety" bike. His early cycling would likely have been a high-wheeler regardless.
The MAC correspondent apparently made other questionable entries besides Poke's middle initial, saying that Howard was an illustrator for Ladies' Home Journal (or something like that). Curiously enough, I currently live just just five miles or so from Westport, Wisconsin, home of Ella Wheeler Wilcox, whose portrait he drew for a book about her. Poet Wilcox's work was both praised and vilified during her lifetime. Regardless, one of her musings is one of the most familiar lines in global literature: "Laugh and the world laughs with you; weep and you weep alone."
I hope this provides some illumination in your quest to learn more about your grandfather. Feel free to contact me via email, but rest assured I've just given you everything I uncovered about him. Honestly, I don't remember how much if any of the above made it into the book. It certainly embedded itself in my memory.
Best regards,
Joel Freeman
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I can't recall his exact association with the MAC (he may have simply participated in their 1890s bicycle races) but some members apparently knew him well and wondered about his status. Poke's Portland home address is now in the middle of downtown and would have been a couple of blocks from the original clubhouse, now the site of the public library. One member ran into him by chance on a visit to New York (the 1901 six-day race?), whereupon Poke wrote a letter to his Portland homies with a wry expression that I've retained -- and used frequently -- to this day: "I am yet able to sit up and take nourishment."
This would have been shortly after his return from Europe where the club's correspondent identified him as a champion bicycle racer in Europe where he set a world record of some sort. I don't know why, but I got the impression he raced a penny-farthing, making such accomplishments even more remarkable, but the photo shows him on a "safety" bike. His early cycling would likely have been a high-wheeler regardless.
The MAC correspondent apparently made other questionable entries besides Poke's middle initial, saying that Howard was an illustrator for Ladies' Home Journal (or something like that). Curiously enough, I currently live just just five miles or so from Westport, Wisconsin, home of Ella Wheeler Wilcox, whose portrait he drew for a book about her. Poet Wilcox's work was both praised and vilified during her lifetime. Regardless, one of her musings is one of the most familiar lines in global literature: "Laugh and the world laughs with you; weep and you weep alone."
I hope this provides some illumination in your quest to learn more about your grandfather. Feel free to contact me via email, but rest assured I've just given you everything I uncovered about him. Honestly, I don't remember how much if any of the above made it into the book. It certainly embedded itself in my memory.
Best regards,
Joel Freeman
