Freestone County, Texas History News of 1859 ================================================================== Southern Intelligencer published in Austin, Texas January 12, 1859 (Vol. 3, No. 21) Front page Freestone - The Pioneer says that the "Thespian corpse" of Fairfield, will give an entertainment on the 28th inst. We suppose that the overture will be the "Dead March" or the "Other Side of Jordan", and that a galvanic battery will be the principal performer on the occasion. The whole affair will doubtless be very jolly. - Galveston News ============================================================== Houston Weekly Telegraph January 26, 1859 Page: 1 Texas Items The Herald has the name of Hon. John Gregg, of Freestone county, at its mast- head for Governor. ----------------------------- [Same issue, page 2] Texas Items. Central Texas The Fairfield Pioneer acknowledges the receipt of a bottle of Mustang wine, which however it acknowledges it is no judge of but likes notwithstanding. The Pioneer learns that a good deal of cotton is accumulating in the warehouses on the Trinity. The Pioneer says that a stranger calling himself Levi Payne, about 40 years of age, of medium height and having a gray beard, stayed all night at Mr. S. B. Phariss, 16 miles below Fairfield. During the night his horse got away, and in the morning he started in pursuit. Sometime after he was found dead about a mile from Phariss' house. He had represented that he had a drove of horses on the San Jacinto 30 miles from Houston and 20 from Lynchburg, and had said he was going to Navarro county where he had a son going to school. Any information desired by his friends will be ???ished by the chief justice of Freestone county. ================================================================ Dallas Weekly Herald March 2, 1859 W. R. DeArmond, Fairfield "" 21 " ================================================================ Trinity Advocate March 9, 1859 Page: 3 No. 877 THE STATE OF TEXAS { District court County of Anderson, { Spring Term John G. Caldwell, Plaintiff, { 1859 vs. Josephine P. Caldwell, Df't The plaintiff in the above entitled cause has this day filed in my office, certain interogatories to be propounded to W. C. Wilson who resides at Fairfield,in the county of Freestone, State of Texas. Notice isereby given that on or after the thirtieth day after the publication of this notice, a commission will issue a prescribed by law, to take the deposition of said witness. Teste A. E. McClure, Clerk of the District Court of Anderson County. Given under my hand and seal of office at Palestine, this 4th day of March A.D. 1859. A. E. McClure, Clk. D. Ct. A. Co. Issued March 4th A.D. 1859 A. E. McClure, Clk. D.C.A.C. March 4, 1859 n30 (30 days) prs fee, $750 =================================================================== Texas State Gazette published in Austin, Texas April 23, 1859 The proceedings of the Democracy of Freestone have not come to hand yet. ==================================================================== Trinity Advocate June 15, 1859 G. W. Strother Z. P. Clough J. M. Shepherd Galveston Fairfield Lexington, Tenn. ........... ........... ........... Strother & Clough & Shepherd Cotton Factors and ... ==================================================================== Southern Beacon June 18, 1859 Texas Items The Fairfield Pioneer says the effect of the late killing frost on the 22nd ult., have almost disappered under the influence of warm wather and genial showers. Corn is low and later than usual but has a fine appearance and is growing fast and our oldest farmers say it will yield well. Cotton, though troubled some with the insects, is now growing and looks as if it was doing well. The gardens generally are flouishing. The wheat crop is being harvested. From present indication, there will be a plenty made in our county this season to supply the large immigration expected to our counties the coming fall. ==================================================================== Texas State Gazette published in Austin, Texas July 2, 1859 Page: 3 Congressional Canvas for 1859 ... At Fairfield, Freestone County, Friday July 8th ... ================================================== Texas State Gazette published in Austin, Texas July 30, 1859 J.C.C. Brelett, Esq. of Owensville, is now addressing the people of Falls, Limestone and Freestone. He is said to be an eloquent and effective speaker. ================================================== Texas State Gazette published in Austin, Texas September 10, 1859 Page: 2 Freestone - A correspondent gives us the official returns - Houston 295; Runnels 277; Lubbock 308; Clark 258; Waul 305; Hamilton 250; -- 597 whole vote cast. Freestone has been suffering for rain, but the recent heavy rains here have doubtless also come to the relief of our Freestone planters and stock-raisers. ================================================== Daily Confederation printed in Alabama September 17, 1859 Page: 3 Texas Cotton Crop - ...The Galveston News, of the 8th, learns that the crop in the wealthy counties of Limestone, Freestone and others, has been cut off by one-half by the drought. ... ================================================== Texas State Gazette September 24, 1859 "The Texas Farmer and Stock Journal," is the name of a periodical that being started at Fairfield, by the publishers of the Pioneer. Mr. W. B. Moores is to be the editor. We shall be glad to see the undertaking successful. ================================================== Trinity Advocate September 28, 1859 Last week we visited our neighboring towns of Fairfield and Springfield. We noticed that the Cotton crops in the two counties of Freestone and Limestone, were fully as short as our own, say about a half crop. An abundance of Corn, however, had been raised, and they have the consolation of at least having plenty of the staff of life. There was one thing we found to exist in a greater degree than we had imagined, that the people of those counties are of a more pastoral character than we were aware. Large flocks of sheep and herds of cattle were almost continually in sight, after we reached the prairies. We understood that the raising of sheep is rapidly increasing; and were informed that the profit of this branch of business was indeed astonishing. Some place the figures as high as 75 per cent., while no one seemed to think it was less than 50 per cent. We met with a number of our friends and passed a few pleasant hours in their society. The health was represented to be very good indeed, much better than usual. The town of Springfield is rapidly filing up with a civil and industrious population. They have a handsome Court House, and a level Square. If their Court yard was enclosed, it would add much to the appearance of the place. But there must be time allowed them, and from the general character of the people, we think they will see the propriety in adopting this suggestion. The "Henry House" is a well kept Hotel, indeed we risk nothing in saying that it stands in the front rank of Hotels. ... [also same issue] REFERENCES: ... W. L. Moody & Brother, Fairfield, Texas Yarbo, Gorden & Co, " " Peck & Boyd, " " ... ================================================== The Weekly Telegraph published in Houston, Texas September 28, 1859 Page: 3 [Original has faded lettering making it hard to read.] Fairfield, Sept. 18th, 1859 E. H. Cushing[?], Esq. -- Dear Sir -- A fine rain is now falling here, and not one moment too soon, for the streams hereabouts are all dried up. The grass has the appearance of fire having passed over it over it [why repeat?], the cattle had all gone off in the large streams some distance off, and, in general everything in nature began to weary a most woeful appearance, but the long dry spell at last broken, and nature is bestowing her favors with a copious hand. For several days past it has been raining North of this, enough even to set the creeks to running. It has been the driest summer ever known, and as an instance of it, I would mention that a creek near Weatherford, Parker county, never known to go dry before, has this year ceased running for more than a month. No rains for four months. However, it is a long land which has no turn. The farmers in Navarro and North of that where it has rained, have all, been busy breaking up their lands for their wheat crops, and some are ready to sow. May they live to reap an abundant harvest, even more abundant than the present year. Team after team is passing by, some with cotton others with flour, all for Houston. Although the cotton crop has been measurably cut off, there is still more than a half crop made here. Wherever I have been I have seen the farmers making molasses from the Chinese sugar cane, it has become one of the staple products of Northern Texas, the molasses sells readily at 75 cents per gallon. It is remunerative, a gentleman near Corsicana informed me he made a barrel per day with five hands and two mules. Every farmer has his cane mill, and some few have been trying to experiment of making sugar, if any person could give a receipt for that purpose it would be very thankfully received by them, besides, that he would be conferring a public good. This place, Fairfield, is beautifully situated in a small sandy prairie, some ten or fifteen miles South of the prairie country. Its buildings are among the neatest I have seen, mostly two stories, there are two hotels, both well kept, and the Planters Hotel is one I take pleasure in recommending to the traveler, who wishes his horse well cared for and attended to. It has a home appearance, and air of comfort about it, and has beside a good ostler, good and clean beds, and is kept by the widow. From appearances there is not as much business done here as formerly, there being four empty business houses and a vacant Hotel. It is a pity the last should be so, as it is a good substantial brick house, convenient and roomy. The health generally appears to be good. The Court House is a brick structure, large and commodious, the court room is in the second story and is very well finished; altogether the county seat bespeaks a thrifty and enterprising people. There is a subscription on foot to sink an artesian well, and about seventeen hundred dollars are already subscribed to it. An effort was made about five years since, but the lack of funds in the then sparsely settled county caused it to be abandoned after reaching a distance of near four hundred feet. There is also another evidence of the energy of the citizens of this county, they have erected a splendid building, about three quarters of a mile East of town, for an Academy, which is in full and successful operation, under the supervision of Professor Graves, the school numbers some sixty young ladies, and forty-three boys, all residents of this county, save one. Two lines of stages pass through this place, three times weekly, crossing North and South, East and West, giving mail facilities equal to any in the State. The soil, so far as I have seen of it, is of a sandy matter, but I do not speak for the county in general, as I have seen but little of it as yet, some other time I may give you a fuller account. C. F. H. ================================================== Texas State Gazette published in Austin, Texas October 15, 1859 Page: 2 FAIRS - An Agricultural and Mechanical Fair is to be held at Dallas on the 26th, 27th, and 28th of this month, and at Sherman on the 18th; and at Victoria on the first Wednesday of November. There will also be a Fair at Cotton Gin, Freestone county, on the first of Nov. The inauguration of Agricultural and Mechanical Fairs is a new era in the history of Texas, and we hope to chronicle an increase in the production of our prosperous State. [same issue] A Theatrical corps formed from the young men of the place, is playing in Fairfield. ================================================== Dallas Weekly Herald October 19, 1859 The Fair at Waxahachie ...and a general feeling of euthusiam seemed to burst from the assembled crowd. On this day, the annual address was delivered by Dr. Wm. B. Moores, of Fairfield, editor of the Pioneer at that place. The address of Dr. Moores was replete with interest, appropriatemces and facis which every farmer and stock raiser would do well to study. He was attentively listened to, by the assemblage, and it is hoped that all who heard will profit by his words - The society design solicting a copy for publication, and the public will thereby be enabled to enjoy the rich treat that we listened to. The pride of this day was an impromptu trial of skill as equestriennes, ... ================================================== Trinity Advocate October 19, 1859 Page: 2 THE NEXT LEGISLATURE Below we give the names of those elected to the legislature, as far as we have been able to learn: SENATORS Freestone, Limestone &c. Marion Martin ============================================= Trinity Advocate November 16, 1859 edition ATHENS, TEXAS. Dr. P. S. Bethell, Col. R. F. Burnes Dr. Kerr, Col. A. B. Norton Dr. D. M. Marby, Rev. Robt. Hodge Science Hill Col. Ben. Bussey, Mound Prairie. Messrs. Cravens & Gooch, Palestine. Judge Harrison, Vanzant Co., Dr. S. G. Parsons, Kaufman. Col R. Q. Mills, Corsicana. Rev. G. W. Murray, Fairfield. Athens, Aug. 1859 ============================================= The Weekly Telegraph published Houston, Texas November 23, 1859 edition Texas Items. the East MIDDLE TEXAS The Fairfield and Springfield Pioneer comes to us in a new and handsome dress, and looking as nice as a new pin. Glad to see it so prosperous. It is an excellent paper. ============================================= Weekly Ledger and Texan December 31, 1859 SUICIDE - We learn from the Texas Pioneer that a Mr. John D. Sims committed suicide, in the town of Fairfield, on the 25th ult., by taking landmum?. His age was 23 or 24years - he was a native of Georgia, where his father now lives, near Columbus.