Individual Details

His given name is not clear. The marriage index lists him as Willis S., the 1940 Census he is listed as William S., and in the Washington State Death Index he is listed as William Willis.
In the 1870 Census he is living with his family in Monona, Clayton County, Iowa.
In the 1880 Census he is living with his family in Waverly, Martin County, Minnesota.
In the 1895 Iowa Census he is with his wife and son Floyd in Lotts Creek, Kossuth County, Iowa.
In the 1900 he is with his wife and Floyd in Fairmont Township, Martin County, Minnesota.
In the 1910 Census he is with his wife and children Floyd and Royse at his aunt's (Sarah Jane Royse Bolander) residence in Diamond Springs, El Dorado County, California (ED#19, page 2b). It is not clear if they were living with Sarah or were visiting.
In the 1920 Census he is living with his wife, son Floyd and his wife Lydia, and son Royse in Linton, Union School Township, Emmons County, North Dakota, ED#108, Page 11A.
In the 1930 Census he and his wife are living in Linton on Schley Avenue.
In the 1940 Census he is living in Linton.
The Pioneer Biography Files, 1936-1940. Bismarck, North Dakota: North Dakota Work Projects Administration. Institute Call Number: Microfilm F635.P56 1988, Page No: Emmons has a biography of Willis.
From Emmons County Record, Linton, Thursday, August 26, 1909: "Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Freeman drove up from Dale last Friday morning, accompanied by Mrs. C. W. Adsit, Mrs. Freeman's sister, and the latter's youngest child, of Bismarck, who had been down to Dale to visit their relatives, and who were on their way home. Farmer Freeman arose with the lark and started from home at an early hour - early enough for his guests to catch the Emmons County Limited for the Capital City. But his 'turnip' had gone wrong to the extent of an hour minus, and when he reached Linton the 'fire' was tearing along somewhere about Hazelton at a speed of 5 to 50 miles a week. Then William communed with himself and thought some thoughts that wouldn't look well in the large and clear-faced type used in the Record."
From Emmons County Record, Linton, Thursday, January 13, 1910: "Will Freeman was up from Dale Tuesday. He was accompanied by J. I. Scott, of Butler Cty, Iowa. The latter named gentleman is a brother of S. L. Scott, of Dale. The visitor expects to remain in Emmons county during the winter, and perhaps longer."
From Emmons County Record, Linton, Thursday, March 17, 1910: "W. S. Freeman auction will be held Friday, Mar 25 at his farm, 15 miles southwest of Strasburg and 12 miles east of Winona 25-130-78." Also: "Will Freeman of Dale will have an auction sale Friday Mar 25. Mr. Freeman will move with his family to California."
From Emmons County Record, Linton, Thursday, January 18, 1912: "Will Freeman of Dale writes from Greenville, MO: There's about a foot of snow on the level here. No wind, people here say the weather this winter has been the coldest in many years."
From Emmons County Record, Linton, Thursday, March 28, 1912: "A letter from W. S. Freeman, formerly of the Dale neighborhood, but now located at Greenville, MO, states that the farmers are just beginning to work in the fields."
In 1940, Leonard Jellema, a field worker for the North Dakota Historical Data Project interviewed Willis S. Freeman, a son of David W. This is a sixteen page handwritten document which has some genealogy data but more importantly describes much of Willis' life. It addition it contains legal descriptions of Willis' property in Emmons County, North Dakota. A copy of this document can be obtained from Michael A. Peterson.
The local historian in 2003, Ellen C. Woods, remembers giving the City Marshall, Willis, a bad time during Halloween.

Birth	23 Sep 1862	McGregor, Clayton County, Iowa
Marriage	1 Jan 1888	Lotts Creek Township, Kossuth County, Iowa. - Ellen (Nellie) Malvina SCOTT
Death	31 Oct 1942	Seattle, King County, Washington

Spouse	Ellen (Nellie) Malvina SCOTT (1867 - 1937)
Child	Floyd Fontell FREEMAN (1891 - 1958)
Child	Willis Mark FREEMAN (1895 - 1898)
Child	Royse R. FREEMAN (1905 - 1978)

Father	David W. FREEMAN (1832 - 1917)
Mother	Amanda (Addie) Adeline ROYSE (1840 - 1908)
Sibling	Sarah A. FREEMAN ( - 1879)
Sibling	Walter Burton FREEMAN (1858 - 1887)
Sibling	Frank Woodburn FREEMAN (1860 - 1938)
Sibling	David (Al) Allen FREEMAN (1865 - 1945)
Sibling	Fred Harvey FREEMAN (1874 - 1961)

Notes