Freestone County, Texas
History


News of 1876


The Galveston Daily News - Friday, May 5, 1876 Page: 2

FREESTONE COUNTY

  Farmers are somewhat apprehensive in regard to chinch bugs in corn and rust 
upon wheat... In Cotton Gin and immediate vicinity, rain is needed, but some 
other portions of the county have been blessed with showers during the past few
days... F. M. Bradley, Sr., in the seventy-fourth year of his age died at his 
residence in Fairfield, on Tuesday, Mr. Oliver Carter on Wednesday. These 
gentlemen has long been citizens of Freestone, and were much esteemed. Being 
possessed of ample fortunes, they contributed greatly to the support of destitute
families of our soldiers in the last civil war.

=================================================================================

[The first issue of The Fairfield Recorder newspaper was on Saturday, September
    23, 1876 (Vol I, No. 1).]

  District Court judge: D. M. Pendergast
  County Court judge: O.C. Kirven
  Commissioner Court judges: 
    O.C. Kirven, Presiding Judge; 
    Dunbar Bragg, Commissioner Prect. No. 1
    T. R. McSwane, Commissioner Prect. No. 2
    Conrad Henry, Commissioner Prect. No. 3
    John Burleson, Commissioner Prect. No. 4
  
  Justice Courts:
    Precinct No. 1 (Fairfield):
        W. T. Watson, Justice
        W. C. Walthall, Constable
    Precinct No. 2 (Antioch):
        W. A. Cobb, Justice
        Cap Cobb, Constable
    Precinct No. 3 (Butler):
        N. P. Keeling, Justice
        B. P. Riley, Constable
    Precinct No. 4 (Rehoboth):
        ?????, Justice
        T. Y. Logan, Constable
    Precinct No. 5 (Woodland):
        D. L. Wingfield, Justice
        Lacy Wingfield, Constable
    Precinct No. 6 (Cotton Gin):
        J. B. Buchanan, Justice
        W. J. Martin, Constable
  
  County Officers:
     O. C. Kirven, County Judge
     H. C. Graves, County Attorney
     A. G. Anderson, District Clerk
     T. W. Sims, County Clerk
     J. P. Robinson, Sheriff
     E. A. McCracken, County Treasurer
     L. G. Sandifier, County Assessor
     T. G. Blackmon, County Surveyor
 
  Muncipal:
     J. R. Seeley, Mayor
     W. C. Walthall, Marshall
     Aldermen: F. Tate, T. W. Sims, Fred Karner, J. C. Anderson, L. G. Sandifier
  
  Churches:
    Cumb[erland] Presbyterian - Serivce on 1st Sunday in every month
      Rev. J. S. Graves, Pastor.
    
    Methodist - Service on 2nd Sunday is every month at 11 o'clock A.M.
      Rev. R. H. Adair, Pastor
    
    Baptist - Service on 4th Sunday is every month
      Rev. S. M. Hollingsworth, Pastor
      
    [illegible rest of church list]
  
  Societies:
     Fairfield Chapter No. 42, R.A.M. meets the last Tuesday night before each 
  full moon.   
        J. P. Cooper, Sec.   L. D. Bradley, H. P.
        
     Fairfield Lodge No. 101, F. & A. M. meets on Saturday night after each full
  moon.
        L. G. Sandifier, Sec.   Fred Karner, W. M.
     
     I.O.O.F. Harmony Lodge, No. 141 meets 1st, 3rd & 5th Monday nights in every
  month.
       C. H. Graves, Sec.    J.J. Cullison, N.G.
     
     Mexia Chapter, No. 131, R. A.M. meets at 3 o'clock p.m. on Friday after full
 moon in each month.
       B. R. Tyus, Secretary
     
     Springfield Lodge, No. 74, A.F.& A.M. meets at Mexia on the Saturday preceding
  the full moon in each month at 7 o'clock p.m.
       B. R. Tyus, Secy         W. F. Starley, W. M.
     
     Cotton Gin Lodge, No. 151, A.F.& A.M. meets at 9 o'clock on Saturday after
  the full moon in each month. 
       H. P. Daviss, W. M.     M. E. Roberts, Secretary
                                                          
=============================================================================

The Dallas Weekly Herald
October 14, 1876
Page: 4

  General Braxton Bragg leaves but one surviving brother. Captain Dunbar Bragg, 
who, for over twenty years, has been a resident of Freestone county, Texas.  It 
is our pleasure to have known him years ago, and to bear testimony to his great
worth as a private citizen.

=============================================================================

The Dallas Weekly Herald
Nov. 18, 1876 issue
Page: 3

  The engineer corps have completed the survey of the Waco, Fairfield and 
Palestine Railroad.  The length of the line is ninety miles.  A number of the 
citizens of Waco have subscribed to the stock of the road.