AGNES FREEMAN
HONBERGER
Agnes Freeman was born in Temecula,
California in the early 1900's. Her parents, James O. Freeman and Estefana Cazas, were
early Temecula pioneers who were married about the turn of the century. "Jim"
Freeman arrived after a long trip from Texas, and fell in love with Miss Cazas, who was
employed at the Welty Hotel on Main Street. They raised a family of 7 children. During his
ranching career. Freeman was foreman of the Vail Ranch, now Rancho California. After
selling land he acquired in the early years to the U.S. Government for the development of
Camp Pendleton, he built and worked his own thousand-acre cattle ranch in Oceanside.
The entire student body (grades 1-8)
of Temecula Elementary School "circa 1920" 
Albert Escallier
(8th grade) |
Louis Escallier
(grade?) |
Barney Roripaugh
(6th or 7th) |
William Banks
(grade?) |
Philip Freeman
(Pat)
(8th grade) |
Ralph Barnett
6th or 7th) |
Bruce Clogston
(6th or 7th) |
 |
| Middle Row --> |
Mary Roripaugh
(grade?) |
Dorothy Clogston
(4th grade) |
Agnes
Freeman
(4th grade) |
Annie Maruffo
(grade?) |
Frances Warner
(grade?) |
Top Row Blur
Unknown |
|
James Freeman
(Tutie)
(6th or 7th) |
Leo Roripaugh
(4th grade) |
Johnny Munoa
(grade?) |
Edward Sands
(4th grade) |
Alfred Arviso
(grade?) |
Richard Barnett
(grade?) |
Edward (Jeff)
Escallier
(6th or 7th) |
|
Miss Freeman
received her elementary school education along with her brothers, sisters, and childhood
friends at the Temecula Elementary School. Children from the first through the eighth
grade shared the same teacher. The gray schoolhouse was near the edge of town, located on
the main road to Riverside. Today the old school site would be adjacent to the
intersection of Rancho California Road and I-15.
 |
| The Temecula Union School
Photo courtesy of the Friedemann Family |
Like everyone
who attended high school from Temecula, Miss Freeman graduated from Elsinore Union High
School. She was an excellent student and excelled in sports. All of the Freeman children
were known for both their academic and athletic abilities. Her brothers were exceptional
horsemen, winning rodeo and gymkhana events throughout southern California.
In 1934 Miss Freeman married
Francis M. Honberger of Winchester, who later owned and operated retail businesses in
Hemet, Perris, and Riverside. In 1936 their son Roger was born.
Following the attack on Pearl
Harbor, Mrs. Honberger went to work like so many other American women to join the war
effort. By the end of the war she was Chief Secretary for the Transportation Department of
Camp Hahn (near March Air Force Base), which was responsible for moving thousands of
troops to the Pacific campaign.
She and her husband, Francis,
are retired and reside in Southern California.
Roger Francis Honberger
October 24, 1992 |