Freestone County, Texas Towns Mills (a.k.a. String Priarie) The 1895 Rand McNally atlas shows Mills with a post office, but no express office or railroad. Mills was located about two miles southeast of Teague about halfway to Luna which was another two miles southeast. Salem was located about a half mile to the west. Brewer was about a mile northwest. Stoney Point was about two miles to the east. A map from 1918 shows about 16 structures in the Mills area. Mills was effectively a ghost town by the late 1920s. Mills was destroyed by a cyclone. Post Office: Mills had a post office from 17 Aug 1880 to 15 Mar 1906. The post offices for Beene and Baty closed and used Mills as its post office in 1905. School: String Prairie School 27 pupils in 1887. 13 students in 1893-94. Mills School Mrs. Angie Compton Watson taught at the school before her marriage in 1918. Angie began her teaching career in 1900 teaching at Butler. Church: String Prairie Church existed in 1870 Box Church (#1) [there are two Box Churches in Freestone Co.] (petitioned for membership to the Prairie Grove Association on 22 July 1887.) Other Buildings: Forman Gin Old Communities in the Area: Beene Baty Known people in Mills were: Allison, John A. Atmar, J. Y. (mechanic) Barnett, Dr. J. A. (moved from Dew) Biggs, Mattie Blackmon, Thomas G. Curry, Dave W. David, William H. Foreman, R. H. Forman, Eddie Forman, Lawrenece L. Forman, R. H. Fortner, Mr. Hughes, Alma Irene (Stroud) Jefferson, Walker C. Kilborn, J. B. Lucas, Newton A. Luckey, Sallie Measles, Susan C. Mitchell, Mrs. Orand, Fannie Seale (Stroud) Pitts, J. H. Robertson, Tex Stroud, Algy Edell Stroud, Asa Alonzo Stroud, Zack Allen Tatum, John H. Tatum, Ora (Jefferson) Tatum. Wash (moved west) Williams, J. C. Williamson, Joseph F. =================================================== The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Feb 11, 1897 - Page: 1 Postoffice Orders Postoffices established: Beene, Freestone county, special from Mills, route 50,601. Personville, four and half miles southwest; Luna, six miles northeast. ------------------------------ Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - July 24, 1902 edition - Page: 7 Mortuary MEASLES - Mexia, Tex., July 23 - Mrs. Susan C. Measles of Mills, Freestone County, died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. H. R. Parker, in this city. -------------------------------------------- Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - Feb. 26, 1906 - Page: 5 Interesting to Texans The postoffices at Mills, Freestone County; have been ordered discontinued. ----------------------------------------- The Dallas Morning News (of Dallas, Texas) - October 8, 1894 – Page 4 Negro Lynched He Assaulted a White Woman, Was Arrested and Killed by Unknown Parties. Fairfield, Freestone Co., Tex., Oct. 5 – News reached here to-day of an attempted outrage on a white young lady by a negro near Mills, ten miles south of here, yesterday evening and the killing of the negro. It seems that the negro met Miss Mitchell in the road, and after passing her turned and caught her with criminal intent, but she fought him, thwarting his purpose. The young lady was very seriously injured, being cut on the throat on both sides and in the back and her head badly bruised. In some way she managed to escape from him and he was caught. While under guard last night he was shot and killed by unknown parties. The negro was well known by the young lady and parties in the neighborhood. ------------------------------------------------ The Fairfield Recorder - April 15, 1887 edition Mr. William H. David, near Mills, an old resident of our county died on Monday of last week. He had been for many years a sufferer from a tumorous affection and for the past few months had been gradually growing worse and death was no doubt looked for by him as a welcome relief from his physical sufferings. The deceased was among the early settlers of the county having come to Freestone from Georgia in early manhood before the war. He was a hard working industrious farmer and a good citizen, a kind father and a warm friend to those he liked. Thus one by one the old familiar faces of the county are passing away. The deceased leaves a large family and many relatives to mourn his loss. Peace to his ashes. Carroll Town Cullings Mr. Wm. H. David near Mills died last night. He had long been a sufferer with a tumorous affliction and his death had been expected by his friends for some time past. He leaves a large family of children and relatives and a host of warm friends to mourn his loss. Thus one by one the early pioneer settlers of Freestone are dropping off. Mr. David’s father passed over the "silent river" quite a few months before him.