FWIW, I checked the 1900 census records and found his daughter (by his first wife), she indicated that her father was born in England. Hope it helps. Now that you are retired do you ever get back over to the Ellington area. Jim Morris

Name: Nellie J Free
Home in 1900: Springfield Ward 3, Greene, Missouri
Age: 29
Birth Date: Jan 1871
Birthplace: Missouri
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relationship to Head of House: Wife
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: Ohio