Homestead
In 1902 Ourtown Post Office operated on the property of P.C. Gering (section 20 of Childstown Township). In 1902 brothers Henry C. and John Gering began making stationary for farmers. In 1904 Henry started a watch business and John began printing books. In 1940 Gering started Pine Hill Printery on the farm. In 1960 the business was sold and moved to the Roller Rink in Freeman.
Ludwig Deckert built his home around 1879, located four and a half miles north and three miles east of Freeman (section 5 of Rosefield Township). The lumber was hauled by ox and wagon from Yankton. The house was 38 by 26 feet.
In the early 1900’s Christian P. Dickman bought a farm 5 1/2 miles south of Freeman (section 25 of Valley Township). In 1930 Christian moved to town and opened a service station. The house was later sold to Denver Watson.
Paul Tschetter’s home was built one mile north and 1/2 miles east of Freeman (section 24 of Grandview Township).
The Spitzberger house was located a mile south of Freeman on 280th street (section 2 of Valley Township). Peter J. Graber and John J. Gering constructed the homemade brick house. The Spitzberger house was built alongside a lake and was an ideal meeting place for large social gatherings when visitors from Kansas came to stay.
Michael Hofer and his wife immigrated to Dakota Territory from Crimea, Russia. In 1878 they settled a mile north and 1/4 mile west of Freeman and built a house (section 22 of Grandview Township). In 1892 they replaced the original sod home with a two story frame home that measured 26 by 40 foot. (The lumber was hauled in from Yankton.) The home was later owned by Michael’s son, Jacob Hofer
Enoch Hofer settled 5 1/2 miles north of Freeman and built a house-barn structure in the late 1870’s (section 35 of Silver Lake Township). The house-barn measured 26 by 74 foot. The house was later owned by Joe L. Hofer.
In 1881 Joseph Wollman built a house three miles west of Freeman (section 32 of Grandview Township). The house measured 42 by 26 foot, built with kiln fired brick. The house was later sold to Joseph C. Kleinsasser.
In 1873 the Christian Holzwarth home was built seven miles west and one mile north of Freeman (section 27 of Wolf Creek Township). The house was built with puddled clay and stone, measuring 22 by 58 foot. The house was later sold to Phillip Lang.
