Romeo H. Freer | |
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromWest Virginia's4th district | |
| In office March 4, 1899 (1899-03-04) – March 3, 1901 (1901-03-03) | |
| Preceded by | Warren Miller |
| Succeeded by | James A. Hughes |
| 13thAttorney General of West Virginia | |
| In office March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1905 | |
| Governor | Albert B. White |
| Preceded by | Edgar P. Rucker |
| Succeeded by | Clark W. May |
| Judge for 4th circuit court of West Virginia | |
| In office 1896–1899 | |
| Member of theWest Virginia House of Delegates | |
| In office 1890 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1846-11-09)November 9, 1846 |
| Died | May 9, 1913(1913-05-09) (aged 66) |
| Political party | Republican Party |
| Spouse | Mary Iams |
| Alma mater |  United States |
| Occupation | Attorney, judge, politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States of AmericaUnion |
| Branch/service | infantry United States ArmyUnion Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1866 |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Romeo Hoyt Freer (November 9, 1846 – May 9, 1913) was an American attorney, soldier turned pacifist, judge and politician. ARepublican, Freer served one term in theU.S. House of Representatives representingWest Virginia's 4th congressional district (1899–1901) and wasAttorney General ofWest Virginia (1901–1905).
Born inBazetta Township, Trumbull County, Ohio,Ohio on November 9, 1846, he was the son of Josiah D. Freer and Caroline P. Brown. The family soon relocated toAshtabula County, Ohio, where Freer attended common schools. At the age of 15, he enlisted in the Union army through 1865. Wounded during theBattle of Gettysburg, he received an honorable discharge in 1866. Freer became a dedicated pacifist and determined isolationist for the rest of his life.
In 1866, Freer moved toCharleston, West Virginia and began to study law. Admitted to the bar, Freer was elected the prosecuting attorney forKanawha County in 1870. In 1872, he was apresidential elector forUlysses S. Grant. President Grant appointed him U.S. Consul toNicaragua until he resigned his duties in 1877 and accepted an appointment as Register of the Land Office forNew Mexico. Freer resigned in 1879 after refusing orders that would lead to military conflict withMexico.
Freer settled inHarrisville,Ritchie County, West Virginia in 1881[1] and married Mary Iams in 1884. That same year, he was a presidential elector forJames G. Blaine. His isolationist policies proved to be divisive among voters, leading to his resignation from politics after the election.
Freer returned to politics by 1890 when he was elected to theWest Virginia House of Delegates and later appointed prosecuting attorney for Ritchie County. In 1896, he was elected to the Fourth Judicial Circuit of West Virginia.
He served in the56th United States Congress having been elected in 1898. In 1900, Freer was elected as Attorney General of West Virginia, and he served from 1901–1905. In 1902, he was briefly nominated for the Supreme Court by President McKinley.
From 1907 until his death he was postmaster of Harrisville.[1]
Freer married Mary Iams in 1884.
Freer collapsed suddenly while in a meeting with business associates in 1913. He was pronounced dead at 3:57 a.m. His autopsy showed acute necrosis of the small intestine and an abnormal mass in the stomach. Freer was buried with full military honors at HarrisvilleIOOF Cemetery.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromWest Virginia's 4th congressional district 1899–1901 | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by | Attorney General of West Virginia 1901–1905 | Succeeded by |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
