Frederick N. Freeman

Brief background of the founder of Theta Chi Fraternity

The founder of Theta Chi Fraternity, Frederick Norton Freeman, was born in Claremont, New Hampshire, on March 2, 1839. His ancestors on his father's side had been in America since the early sixteen hundreds. The grandmother of Freeman was a Chase, and through this circumstance Freeman and Arthur Chase were distant cousins. Freeman attended Claremont Academy and entered Norwich University at the age of fourteen. he received the degrees of B.S. in 1856 and B.A. in 1857 and A.M. in 1860. In the years of 1858 and 1859 Freeman read law in his father's office in Claremont, New Hampshire, and was admitted to the bar, but did not practice. In 1860 he became associated with Yonkers Collegiate and Military Institute in Yonkers, New York, and in 1861 he was made superintendent of this institution with the title of colonel. In 1862 he took a similar position at the Englewood Military and Collegiate Institute of Perth Amboy, New Jersey. It is interesting to note that while Freeman was at Perth Amboy, Alpha Chapter made an unsuccessful attempt to establish a chapter of the fraternity at the Perth Amboy institution. In 1864 Freeman became the first superintendent of the Pennsylvania Coal Company at Newburgh, New York.

While engaged in the construction of a new dock for his company at Newburgh, Freeman contracted a severe cold which progressed rapidly to pneumonia. He died suddenly on March 28, 1867, at the age of 28 years. Freeman was a young man of great promise and achievement, who held positions of responsibility and trust far beyond his years. It was unfortunate that his span of life was so short.