When Robert Marquis Freshwater was born on 11 June 1846, in Carrollton, Carroll, Ohio, United States, his father, David Freshwater, was 23 and his mother, Diantha Ralston, was 19. He married Mary J. Mc Call on 11 June 1868, in Steubenville, Jefferson, Ohio, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 2 daughters. He lived in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States in 1910 and Goshen, Tuscarawas, Ohio, United States in 1920. He died on 13 February 1931, in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas, Ohio, United States, at the age of 84, and was buried in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas, Ohio, United States.