Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-21
DEATHS HARVEST.
Judge Leon ID. Freer Succumbs to tn
Fell DESTROYER

ceh destroyer,
! Judge Leon d. Freer, who has been living
seriously i'll in San Francisco since lasl
May, died in that city Wednesday morning
at IL o'clock. The information, although
not entirely unexpected was nevertheless a
shock to the entire community. as the pub.
lie had been led to believe that although
his illness was undoubtedly serious, vet
there were reasonable prospects of his ult-
mate recovery. The Sovereign Grand Lodge
OF Odd Fellows, of which Judge Freer was
a consistent and exemplary member, is
now in session at Los Angeles. and it is
probable that that body, in conjunction
with the Grand Lodge of California, will
take charge of the remains and conduct the
oosequles IN an appropriate and imposing
| manner.
Judge Freer received his education at
| college in Benicia, where he made his mark
as youth of far more than average
ability. After few years spent in other
pursuits, he turned his attention to the
law, and was not long in being admitted as
an attorney, and soon after went to reside
with his parents in Oroville, where he be-
came leading spirit in legal circles. His
first entrance into the political arena re-
suited in his election to the Assembly from
Butte county. When his term expired he
was elected District Attorney for the same
county, and four years ago he was, by
very large popular vote, elected Superior
Judge OF the same county. He had vet
two years OF his term to serve in that office.
He was one of the leading members of the
organization of Odd Fellows on this coast
and repeatedly he was summoned by the
votes of the majority of the Grand Lodge
OF the State to represent it in the national
body. Three months ago he was elected
TO the Sovereign Grand Lodge. now in ses
sion in Los Angeles.
Judge Freer's name has of late years been
frequently mentioned in connection with
Congressional and Gubernatorial honors.
and there is little doubt that, had his life
been spared, he would have been called by
the people to even higher places or trust
and honor than he had yet filled. He was
very popular among men of all shades of
political opinion, and always led his party
when a candidate.
Judge Freer was one of the most modest
and unassuming of men. He was, withal |
man OF commanding presence and dig |
nifty, and would command attention among
an army OF citizens anywhere. Among the |
friends OF his youth he was still the genial |
pleasant Leon, when off the bench. He |
was great admirer of field sports, was an |
excellent shot and angler, and was last |
year elected President of the State Sports |
mems Association. He was a man for |
whose ripper years the greatest honors of |
American citizenship stood in waiting. |
His memory will long be cherished by !
every man, woman and child whose |
good fortune 1t was to have been among |
his wide circle of acquaintance.
The Chico Chronicle Record of the 2Oth |
says: Judge Leon d. Freer was born in New
ork State in 1916. While qnite a Young |
boy his parents moved to California, bring |
ing him With them. They settled in Butte |
county, where representatives of the family |
have resided ever since. MIR. Freer chose |
the law as his profession, and by aptitude, |
coupled with close diligence, he fought his |
way up llfe's ladder and became promi- |
nent attorney, conducting some of the most |
important and intricate cases ever coming
before the Courts.
He was District Attorney of Butte coun- |
ty for some time, having been elected |
without opposition. In this position he |
made such record for legal ability that |
he was, few years later, elected Judge of |
the Superior Court-a position which he |
has held ever since. Judge Freer attended |
the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows at San |
francisco in May, and was there again |
elected Grand Representative to the Grand |
Sovereign Lodge.
Before the session of the Lodge had ad- |
journed he was suddenly taken i'll with a |
nasal hemorrhage. This was finally stop |
ped, but he was left so weakened and |
emRciated that be was unable to leave his |
bed-though even then the greatest hopes
were entertained of his eventual recovery,
but these hopes, born of the wishes of too
friends, were rudey dispelled by
the sad news of his demise.
Judge Freer had very few, if any, ene-
mics, but his friends are numbered by the
thousands. The county and the commu-
nifty mourns its loss, and extends to the
widow and little ones the sincerest sympa-
thy and coincidence.