# Freeman Knowles

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{{Short description|American lawyer and politician (1846–1910)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Freeman Knowles
| image = Hon. F. Knowles Crop.jpg
| caption = Portrait by [C. M. Bell](/source/C._M._Bell) {{circa}} 1897–1899
| state1 = [South Dakota](/source/South_Dakota)
| district1 = {{ushr|SD|AL|At-Large}}
| term_start1 = March 4, 1897
| term_end1 = March 3, 1899
| predecessor1 = [Robert J. Gamble](/source/Robert_J._Gamble)
| successor1 = [Robert J. Gamble](/source/Robert_J._Gamble)
| office2 = 
| term2 = 
| birth_date = {{birth date|1846|10|10}}
| birth_place = [Harmony, Maine](/source/Harmony%2C_Maine), U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1910|06|01|1846|10|10}}
| death_place = [Deadwood, South Dakota](/source/Deadwood%2C_South_Dakota), U.S.
| resting_place = Mount Moriah Cemetery,<br>Deadwood, South Dakota, U.S.
| party = [Populist](/source/Populist_Party_(United_States))
| other_party = [Socialist](/source/Socialist_Party_of_America) {{small|(1900s)}}
| alma_mater = 
| occupation = Attorney
}}
'''Freeman Tulley Knowles''' (October 10, 1846 – June 1, 1910) was a veteran of the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War), lawyer, journalist and social activist. From 1897 to 1899, he served one term in the [United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) as a [Populist](/source/Populist_Party_(United_States)).

==Biography==
Knowles was born in [Harmony, Maine](/source/Harmony%2C_Maine), and educated at the local schools and Bloomfield Academy in [Skowhegan](/source/Skowhegan%2C_Maine).

=== Civil War ===
He enlisted for the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War) in 1862, joining the [16th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment](/source/16th_Maine_Volunteer_Infantry_Regiment).  He served until the end of the war, took part in several battles including the [Battle of Gettysburg](/source/Battle_of_Gettysburg), and attained the rank of [Corporal](/source/Corporal).

=== Career ===
After the war Knowles moved to [Denison, Iowa](/source/Denison%2C_Iowa), where he studied law and attained admission to the bar.  He practiced in Denison from 1869 until 1886, when he moved to [Nebraska](/source/Nebraska) to become publisher of the ''Ceresco Times''.

Knowles moved to [Tilford, South Dakota](/source/Tilford%2C_South_Dakota) in 1888 to begin publication of the ''Meade County Times''. He subsequently moved to [Deadwood](/source/Deadwood%2C_South_Dakota) to publish the ''Evening Independent''.

=== Congress ===
In addition to his activities in journalism, Knowles became active in the [Populist Party](/source/Populist_Party_(United_States)). After running unsuccessfully for Seat A in 1894, in 1896 he was elected to Seat B, one of South Dakota's two at-large seats in the [United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives). He served in the [55th United States Congress](/source/55th_United_States_Congress), March 4, 1897 to March 3, 1899, and was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1898.

=== Later career ===
Knowles later became involved with the [Socialist Party of America](/source/Socialist_Party_of_America), and made unsuccessful runs for [Governor of South Dakota](/source/Governor_of_South_Dakota) in 1904 and 1906.  In addition, he started a [socialist](/source/socialist) newspaper, ''The Lantern'', and his editorials and stories on topics including [birth control](/source/Birth_control_in_the_United_States), [labor rights](/source/labor_rights), and [labor unions](/source/Labor_unions_in_the_United_States) angered mine owners and other business leaders, which resulted in scrutiny by law enforcement agencies and other government officials. In 1908 he was charged with sending obscene material through the mails, and sentenced to a year in prison.<ref>{{citation |title=Mt. Moriah Cemetery Guide |publisher=Parks, Cemetery, and Recreation Department, City of Deadwood |year=1987 }}</ref>

=== Death and burial ===
Knowles died in [Deadwood, South Dakota](/source/Deadwood%2C_South_Dakota) on June 1, 1910. He was buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{congbio|K000293}}
*{{Find a Grave|6917264}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{US House succession box
| state=South Dakota
| district=AL
| before=[Robert J. Gamble](/source/Robert_J._Gamble)
| after=[Robert J. Gamble](/source/Robert_J._Gamble)
| years= March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899}}
{{s-end}}

{{SouthDakotaUSRepresentatives}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knowles, Freeman T.}}
Category:1846 births
Category:1910 deaths
Category:People from Harmony, Maine
Category:People's Party United States representatives from South Dakota
Category:South Dakota Populists
Category:People from Denison, Iowa
Category:People from Deadwood, South Dakota
Category:Union army soldiers
Category:Iowa lawyers
Category:19th-century American journalists
Category:Socialist Party of America politicians from South Dakota
Category:19th-century American lawyers
Category:United States representatives from South Dakota
Category:19th-century United States representatives
Category:19th-century American male journalists

{{SouthDakota-politician-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Freeman Knowles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeman_Knowles) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeman_Knowles?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.