Clayton E. Freeman
Encyclopedia
Clayton Eugene Freeman was an American
businessman and Republican Party
politician
who served as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
.
, on October 26, 1872. He moved to Massachusetts
at the age of 17. He graduated from Adams Academy
and spent 20 years in the jewelry business in Boston. He assisted in organizing the W. T. Grant
chain of stores, eventually serving as the company's president.
Freeman moved to New Jersey
to organize the W. T. Grant
chain there. He also served as a director of the Newark
-based L. Bamberger & Company
. He settled in Glen Ridge
, where he became involved in the Essex County
Republican organization, serving as the chairman of the county's Board of Chosen Freeholders
.
Freeman served on the financial committee of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
, and in 1937 he was selected by Lester H. Clee
, Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey
that year, to be chairman of the State Committee. He declined a second term in the party chairmanship and was replaced by Howard Alexander Smith.
He died at his home in Glen Ridge, New Jersey
in 1959 at the age of 87.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
New Jersey Republican State Committee
The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the Republican Party in New Jersey. The Committee was founded in 1880. The party is led by Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee Sam Raia of Saddle River, New Jersey.-Membership:...
.
Biography
Freeman was born in Essex Junction, VermontEssex Junction, Vermont
Essex Junction is a village in the town of Essex in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 8,591 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated on November 15, 1892....
, on October 26, 1872. He moved to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
at the age of 17. He graduated from Adams Academy
Adams Academy
Adams Academy was a school that opened in 1872 in Quincy, Massachusetts, USA. John Adams, the second President of the United States, had many years before established the Adams Temple and School Fund. This fund gave of land to the people of Quincy in trust...
and spent 20 years in the jewelry business in Boston. He assisted in organizing the W. T. Grant
W. T. Grant
W. T. Grant or Grants was a United States-based chain of mass-merchandise stores founded by William Thomas Grant that operated from 1906 until 1976. The stores were generally of the variety store format located in downtowns.-History:...
chain of stores, eventually serving as the company's president.
Freeman moved to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
to organize the W. T. Grant
W. T. Grant
W. T. Grant or Grants was a United States-based chain of mass-merchandise stores founded by William Thomas Grant that operated from 1906 until 1976. The stores were generally of the variety store format located in downtowns.-History:...
chain there. He also served as a director of the Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
-based L. Bamberger & Company
Bamberger's
Bamberger's was a department store chain with locations primarily in New Jersey, but also Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania. The chain was headquartered in Newark, New Jersey.-History:Founded in 1893 by Louis Bamberger as L...
. He settled in Glen Ridge
Glen Ridge, New Jersey
Glen Ridge is a borough in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,527. In 2010, Glen Ridge was ranked as the 38th Best Place to live by New Jersey Monthly magazine....
, where he became involved in the Essex County
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
Republican organization, serving as the chairman of the county's Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
.
Freeman served on the financial committee of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
New Jersey Republican State Committee
The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the Republican Party in New Jersey. The Committee was founded in 1880. The party is led by Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee Sam Raia of Saddle River, New Jersey.-Membership:...
, and in 1937 he was selected by Lester H. Clee
Lester H. Clee
Lester Harrison Clee was an American clergyman and politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and was the Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey in 1937.-Biography:...
, Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
that year, to be chairman of the State Committee. He declined a second term in the party chairmanship and was replaced by Howard Alexander Smith.
He died at his home in Glen Ridge, New Jersey
Glen Ridge, New Jersey
Glen Ridge is a borough in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,527. In 2010, Glen Ridge was ranked as the 38th Best Place to live by New Jersey Monthly magazine....
in 1959 at the age of 87.
External links
- Biographical information for Clayton E. Freeman from The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...