Freestone County, Texas
History and Newspapers


  [Freestone Herald newspaper of Cotton Gin, TX on June 23, 1877]

The Teague Chronicle - Thursday, June 7, 1945 Page: 1
  Freestone Herald Gave People Late News Of Every Description In Early Days

  A copy of the Freestone Herald, perhaps the first newspaper to be established 
in Freestone county, is in possession of Albert Gault, life long resident of the 
county, and a citizen of Teague, and was found among other papers belonging to 
his father, Thomas J. Gault, who came to Texas from Tennessee in 1876, and settled 
two miles north of Fairfield. The copy Is No. 12 of Volume III, and published
at Cotton Gin, one of the oldest settlements, and at that time one of the largest 
towns in the county. The issues bears the date of June 23, 1877.
  The proprietors named in the sub-head are Anderson & Story with Geo. K. Anderson,
editor and publisher. The paper claims to be the "Official Organ of Freestone 
County." It is a six column four page publication, neatly printed, and though 
somewhat yellow with age, is rather well preserved. The subscription price was
$2.00 per year, postage paid. The publication had a number of agents to solicit
subscriptions, among them was Capt. G. W. Ingram and W. C. Day, both of Brewer
Prairie, the site of the present city of Teague; A. G. Anderson, Fairfield and
G. W. Everett, Woodland.
  The Herald carries this statement of weather conditions existing in Freestone
during the month of June 1877: "Reliable parties showed us evidences of the work 
of frost on sweet potato vines and rose leaves in this county, but no damage 
resulted to crops. Perhaps no more than one individual in a hundred, in the
county, was aware of the presence of frost at the time stated.”
  Among the items covering state news, is one stating that “Lou Smith, the white 
woman who married a negro named Warner at Waco last Sunday, has been arrested and 
is now in jail. The negro she married and the man who married them have been 
arrested." Another informative item states that Governor Hubbard has issued a 
proclamation, declaring Parker county is no longer a frontier county, and not
subject to incursions of hostile Indians.
  Others are:
  “Capt. L. D. Bradley of Fairfield, returned last Wednesday from his trip to 
Virginia, accompanied by a daughter, who has been attending school in that state.
  "Mr. Millard Storey has so far recovered from his recent attack of rheumatism 
as to be able to walk about with the aid of crutches.
  "Mr. DeSpain last brought us a quantity Irish potatoes”
  The advertising columns of the Herald are well patronized, and carry announcements 
of almost every variety of merchandise from glass calling cards, Pink Pills for
Pale people to threshing machines. From the number of physicians whose professional 
cards appear, would lead one to believe Cotton Gin was the medical center of the
Lone Star State. H. P. Strain, M. D., announces his permanent location there, 
and Dr. W. P. Means, practicing physician, also maintains an office in the city.
Dr. J. S. Willis, in addition to the practice of medicine, operated drug store 
where "fancy and toilet articles, paints, oil and dye stuff, as well as patent 
medicines” could be obtained. James Daniel, an energetic and wide-awake business 
man of Mexia, informs the public that he “manufactures and keeps on hand, all 
kinds of coffins, from the cheapest wood coffins to the finest rosewood.”
  J. W. Storey advertises a complete line of drygoods, boots, shoes, groceries 
and hardware. C. A. Kennedy and C. J. Loader advertise as dealers in sewing 
machines, while washing machine manufacturers are represented by Wm. A M. C. 
Echols. More than half a column is used in advertising stray livestock that had 
been ‘taken up” by various individuals and impounded. The official notice is 
published by T. W. Sims.