Romeo H. Freer
Encyclopedia
Romeo Hoyt Freer was the Republican Attorney General of West Virginia
from 1901 to 1905.
Born in Bazette (Trumbull County
), Ohio
on November 9, 1846, he was the son of Josiah D. Freer and Caroline P. Brown. The family soon relocated to Ashtabula County, Ohio
and Freer attended common schools. At the age of 15, he enlisted in the Union army through 1865.
In 1866, Freer moved to Charleston, West Virginia
and began to study law. He was later admitted to the bar and elected prosecuting attorney for Kanawha County
in 1870. In 1872, he was a presidential elector
for Ulysses S. Grant
. Later in 1873, President Grant appointed him U.S. Consul to Nicaragua
resigning his duties in 1877 and accepted an appointment as Register of the Land Office for New Mexico
. He resigned in 1879.
Freer settled in Ritchie County, West Virginia
in 1881 and married Mary Iams in 1884. That same year, he was a presidential elector for James G. Blaine
.
Freer steadily returned to politics by 1890 when he was elected to the West Virginia Legislature
and later appointed prosecuting attorney for Ritchie County. In 1896, he was elected to the Fourth Judicial Circuit of West Virginia.
He served in the 56th United States Congress
having been elected in 1898. In 1900, Freer was elected as Attorney General of West Virginia.
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
from 1901 to 1905.
Born in Bazette (Trumbull County
Trumbull County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 225,116 people, 89,020 households, and 61,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 365 people per square mile . There were 95,117 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile...
), Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
on November 9, 1846, he was the son of Josiah D. Freer and Caroline P. Brown. The family soon relocated to Ashtabula County, Ohio
Ashtabula County, Ohio
Ashtabula County is the northeasternmost county in the state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 101,497, its county seat is Jefferson. The county is named for a Native American word meaning "river of many fish"....
and Freer attended common schools. At the age of 15, he enlisted in the Union army through 1865.
In 1866, Freer moved to Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
and began to study law. He was later admitted to the bar and elected prosecuting attorney for Kanawha County
Kanawha County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 200,073 people, 86,226 households, and 55,960 families residing in the county. The population density was 222 people per square mile . There were 93,788 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile...
in 1870. In 1872, he was a presidential elector
United States Electoral College
The Electoral College consists of the electors appointed by each state who formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Since 1964, there have been 538 electors in each presidential election...
for Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
. Later in 1873, President Grant appointed him U.S. Consul to Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
resigning his duties in 1877 and accepted an appointment as Register of the Land Office for New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. He resigned in 1879.
Freer settled in Ritchie County, West Virginia
Ritchie County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,343 people, 4,184 households, and 2,999 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile . There were 5,513 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
in 1881 and married Mary Iams in 1884. That same year, he was a presidential elector for James G. Blaine
James G. Blaine
James Gillespie Blaine was a U.S. Representative, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, U.S. Senator from Maine, two-time Secretary of State...
.
Freer steadily returned to politics by 1890 when he was elected to the West Virginia Legislature
West Virginia Legislature
The West Virginia Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of West Virginia. A bicameral legislative body, the Legislature is split between the upper Senate and the lower House of Delegates. It was established under Article VI of the West Virginia Constitution following the state's...
and later appointed prosecuting attorney for Ritchie County. In 1896, he was elected to the Fourth Judicial Circuit of West Virginia.
He served in the 56th United States Congress
56th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Leadership :- Senate :* President: Garret Hobart , until November 21, 1899 , vacant thereafter.* President pro tempore: William P. Frye * Democratic Caucus Chairman: James K. Jones...
having been elected in 1898. In 1900, Freer was elected as Attorney General of West Virginia.