TO: Mrs. Mary Freelove, the aged mother, Alma Dorothea Freelove, the loving wife, Arthur Franke Freelove, the son, and Dorothy Louise Freelove, the daughter, this memoriam is dedicated by the business associates and friends of the late

Arthur Lloyd Freelove was born at Arcadia, Iowa, on November 24, 1873. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Freelove, while Arthur was yet an infant, moved to Manning, Iowa. Here Arthur spent his boyhood, entered the public schools and later the high school, graduating in 1891.

At school Arthur was a good student. He also took an active part in athletics and distinguished himself as a baseball pitcher and as a foot racer. His soul and body thus grew hand in hand - a rare combination.

After graduation Arthur began to look out upon life and its possibilities. Like many others he used teaching as a stepping stone to advancement. In the school room he gained some or that knowledge in dealing with others that he missed as a student and as an athlete. He taught two years, worked summers and thus saved some money.

Arthur now began to feel that the school room did not give him sufficient opportunities for advancement. He therefore entered the law school at Valparaiso, Indiana. He longed to pursue that mysterious subject, the law. To his credit, he completed the law course without financial assistance from home or from his friends. His strong mind and strong body enabled him to put in long and laborious hours. Aside from his lessons he ventured out hunting jobs with which to earn a competence. The year 1897 witnessed his graduation from the law school, admission to the bar in the states of Indiana and Iowa, and also admission to practice in the United States Circuit Court of Indiana.

The University now no longer looked attractive to him. He began practicing law in a small town. The young lawyer hung out a shingle at Rolfe, Iowa. He was very active but soon saw greener fields and moved to Britt, Iowa, and entered the practice of law there. Here he remained a little over a year and then opened a law office at Pocahontas where he remained until 1901. He then moved to Sioux Rapids, Iowa, to engage in the practice of law.

In the first four years of practice of law after graduation, young Freelove had gained much valuable experience that was of great benefit to him in later practice. This period witnessed the passing of the boy, as such, into ripening young manhood. He was now no longer an experiment, but a product of success.

This transition period, 1897-1901, was marked by a very important event in the life of A.L. Freelove, It was at this time (1899) that he married Miss Alma Dorothea Franke (1892 Manning High School graduate). Miss Franke had been a brilliant student in school and at the time of her marriage was a young teacher of marked ability. Miss Franke was a good match for him in keenness of mental perception and acumen. It is seldom that two young persons start out so evenly matched in mental attainments. Miss Franke was also a young woman of strong religious convictions and a home maker. By the time A.L. Freelove moved to Sioux Rapids his home had been blessed by the arrival of a son in the person of Arthur Franke.

On April 14, 1903, a second child was born, Dorothy Louise. These are the only children.

It was at Sioux Rapids, Iowa, that A.L. Freelove rounded out his career of young manhood as a professional businessman. Here he was counsel for the First National Bank and in this capacity came in touch with some of the big business men of his state. He also ventured out into the land business and at the age of thirty-four, when he moved to South Dakota, he had accumulated much for a man of his age.

During this period Mr. Freelove also took active part in politics. He united himself with the Cummings forces and was one of the young men in that state who assisted in the nomination and election of A.B. Cummings for Governor of Iowa. He was also twice elected mayor of his hometown - Sioux Rapids.

On moving to Lyman County in 1908, A.L. Free-love retired from the active practice of law, as such, and followed the banking and real estate business. However, he still kept up his studies and was admitted to the South Dakota bar in 1908. For the first few years he had considerable practice in probate and land matters but banking and real estate business interested him most. At various times he also operated large farming interests in conjunction with his partners. During the World War, and until the spring of 1923, the First National Bank of Kennebec occupied his entire time. He retired from the office of President of the bank at this time and devoted his entire time to real estate transactions. At the time of his death he had disposed of considerable real estate.

For many years after coming to South Dakota Mr. Freelove took no active part in politics. However, in 1919, without solicitation on his part, he was tendered the nomination for State Senator for Lyman and Jones Counties, by the Republican party and was later elected. While in the State Senate Mr. Freelove took a prominent part in debates. To him duty, not polities, came first and he was considered a poor politician. If a measure looked bad to him, he opposed it, no matter whether it was popular to do so or not. Naturally he came into conflict with the administration in power. He was made chairman or the cement plant commission and also held positions on important committees. Before the end of the term he had become well known over the entire slate as a brilliant debater and an able legislator.

During his legislative period, Mr. Freelove won such distinction that many of his friends began to urge him to become a candidate for governor. He talked this over with his friends and associates but never got far enough along to make any definite announcement. Could he have lived and been elected he would have put better business administration into the state government and some of the present duplications would have been eliminated.

What were the outstanding characteristics of this man Freelove - Kennebec's foremost citizen? What were the attainments that gave him this first place in the lives of his townsmen? They are many. No one knew him completely. Like others, Mr. Freelove did not show all of his inner self even to his most intimate friends. He left one to arrive at conclusions from an analysis of that part of the inner man that came to the surface. Deep rooted in his mind were many problems that he tried to fathom and solve, but on these he did not seek aid from others. Yet he was considered a most frank and outspoken man.

As a banker Mr. Freelove combined the rare quality of being a booster and yet a safe banker. He had fundamental confidence in humanity and knew a good risk. This enabled him to start many young men and yet not lose anything to his bank. He had the happy faculty of combining public and community welfare with good and safe banking. He took a prominent part in the affairs of the State Bankers Association and was an active member of that body.

Mr. Freelove's integrity and honesty was never questioned even by his enemies - if enemies he had. To him it was a disgrace to dishonor one's signature on an obligation. He had great confidence in those with whom he associated in business. Unkindness and unfairness were foreign to his nature and he disliked contentions. So much did he dislike contentions that he would often allow himself to be greatly wronged rather than stir up strife.

Mr. Freelove believed in living and let live. He was always willing to liberally compensate those who assisted him in consummating any of his business transactions. He had a good word for his competitors in business and never tried to enhance his own interests by effecting the downfall of someone else. He stood aloof from cold-blooded business methods - a rare quality in a man of active business affairs.

Mr. Freelove was a great lover of his home and family. He was never happier than when playing with his children and he was a constant pal to both of them. This friendship grew closer and dearer with the passing of the years. While thus kind, as the kindest father, to his children, he did not forget the wife and mother. His devotion to her was constant, true and kind at all times.