ELIAS H. FREELYN
Bio-Sawyers
SURNAMES: DELRAY
A pioneer of the Cupertino district, the late Elias H. Freelyn was one
of the county's public-spirited citizens, and his passing removed from
the community one of its worthy and honored citizens. Mr. Freelyn was a
native of Denmark and 1843 marks the year of his birth. His parents,
both natives of that country, passed their entire lives there. America
was the goal of Mr. Freelyn's ambitions, and a few years after he had
completed his education in the schools of his native land, he crossed
the ocean in his early twenties. For some years he remained in New
York, moving westward as far as Michigan, where he was employed for a
time, and then terminating his journeyings when he reached the garden
spot of the West, Santa Clara Valley, in 1887.
Purchasing his ranch of fifteen acres on Prospect Road, Mr. Freelyn
immediately became actively identified with the life of the community,
and developed a fine orchard place, meeting with a financial success
that gave abundant reward for his unflagging interest. Besides his own
place he set out various orchards for others. He erected a beautiful
home on Prospect Road, and here he made his home until his passing away
on November 20, 1911. He also owned twenty-five acres which he improved
and later sold. His marriage united him with Mrs. Cornelia Delray, and
she made her home on the ranch until her death on December 26, 1921.
For the past nine years, however, she had been an invalid, and a niece,
Miss Senia Freelyn, is devoting her time to the management of the
ranch, a task she is filling with unusual capability. During his
lifetime Mr. Freelyn was active in Grange circles and also in the local
affairs of the Democratic party, and an active member of the Saratoga
Christian Church, and he left behind him a name justly honored by his
fellow-citizens.
Transcribed cferoben, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 574