Freestone County, Texas History News of 1922 Dallas Morning News Jan 4, 1922 Section: Part 1; Page: 11 Freestone County Coming to Front Future Looks Brght in Face of Oil Field Development OLD TOWN OF TROY People in Fairfield Whose Parents Have Always Read Galveston and Dallas News Fairfield, Freestone Co., Texas, Jan 3 -- The beginning of the new year brought many changes to this old "near East" Texas town. Designated in 1852 as the county seat of the newly organized county of Freestone, few people now looking upon the tickley studded post oak, black jack and hickory timbered county immediately surrounding Fairfield would believe that before it was designated as the county seat it was known as Mound Prairie. At that time, as the old settlers often were fond of telling, this was one of the most beautiful rolling prairies for miles around. Luxuriant grasses covered the earth waist high and large herds of deer, and other game animals and fowls roamed the county in every direction. Many of the old pioneer families that settled here in the '50s and '60s lived and died in their original homesteads and their descendants are now here helping make history. The Weavers, Watsons, Sneeds, Johnsons, Childs, McIlveens, Bradleys, Cobbs, Bonners and others are scattered through the community and their names have been activately identified with the life of the community in every generation since the Civil War. Town of Troy Recalled In the old ante-bellum days seventy years ago some of them settled at the old river town of Troy on the Trinity River, no trace of which now remains. During those days the river was navigated by small boats and rafts from Galveston and there are people in Fairfield today whose parents received The Galveston News at that time and who have been regular readers of The Galveston News or Dallas News to this day. One of these is Mrs. H. C. Childs, whose parents, Dr. and Mrs. E. Winter moved to Freestone County in 1855. Mrs. Childs has lived here since that date, being now about 75 years old and very active. Six months ago Fairfield was just a little sleepy county seat town ten miles from Teague, the nearest railroad point, and had a population of a few hundred persons. Some of its people would go over and look at the Mexia oil fields, witness some of the deals made for leases and oil royalties, shake their heads at the big prices and then come away. Occasionally some would lease a few small tracts at nominal prices, in different parts of the county, but nothing startling was looked for. Then, like a clap of thunder out of a clear sky, came the bringing in of the Meador well near Wortham, a good showing of oil in wells near Cotton Gin, Kirven and Streetman, all in this county, and immediately Fairfield was overrun with abstract firms and their employees, numbering scores. Every available inch of the handsome new courthouse built last year- and it is one of the most modern and handsome courthouses in Texas- was seized by the abstract companies, some half dozen in number, and they are busily at work in abstracting the titles to practicall all of the lands in the county. Oil Wells Being Drilled Oil wells are being drilled in every direction from Fairfeild, which itself is twenty miles east of the big Mexia field, and some of them are reaching the stage when they must soon either show as producers or dry holes. One of those now at the critical stage is the Lanely well on the R. M. Edwards ranch about twelve miles Southeast of Fairfield. This well has now reached the depth of 3,064 feet with a rotary rig. The last few days, the drillers have removed the rotary and are substituting a standard rig with which to complete the well and by Tuesday or Wednesday of this week, expect to be ready to begin drilling with the new rig. A good showing of oil and gas has been found in this well, and leases nearby have been active for some time. Another well that has aroused much hope is the one at Steward's Mill, eight miles north of town on the Mrs. Irene Kirven lease. This well is now about 2,000 feet deep and day and night crews are to rush it to completion. The drillers have reported oil and gas showings several times in this well. The well on the Perrylease four and one-half miles northwest of town is now at the 1,500 foot level, with good prospects. The Lunawell, fourteen miles southeast, being drilled by the O. K. Oil & Gas Co., has passed through several statas of oil and gas, and is now drilling after several delays. Have Had Large Acreage A thorough test in the Young community ten miles northeast of Fairfield will be had. This well has started with a standard rig and has now reached a depth of about 500 feet. The contract calls for a well 3,500 feet deep, to be drilled all the way with standard rig. For several years some of the big oil companies have had a large acreage in the [article clipping abruptly ends] ========================================================================= Daily Herald May 8, 1922 Kirvin Quiet after Burning of Negroes Kirvin, Tex., May 8 - Kirvin was quiet today following rumors last night that armed bands of negroes were marching toward the town to avenge the burning of three negroes here Saturday who were accused of attacking and murdering a 17- year-old white girl. [same issue] Texas Governor Orders Troops ------------- Sheriff Advises Executive of Threat to Avenge Death of Negroes Burned at Kirvin Saturday ----------- Austin, Tex., May 8 - Governor Neff today ordered two detachments of state rangers sent immediately to Fairfield, the county seat of Freestone county, to prevent an uprising of negroes which the sheriff said was imminent. The sheriff's message said the negroes were threatening to avenge the death of three negroes burned in Kirvin Saturday. ================================ Fort Worth Star-Telegram June 3, 1922 No Further Trouble Expected at Kirvin; Negroes in Hiding Staff Correspondent KIRVIN, June 3 - Racial feeling which has been at a high pitch since Friday afternoon, when two negroes were killed in a pitched gun battle with seven sheriffs near Simsboro, was subsiding Saturday morning. "Everything is quiet this morning." he says, "and I expect no further trouble. All day Friday I was cautioning people not to do anything rash, but they came here for trouble and are ready for it." Fifty or 60 armed men are parading the streets of Kirvin, apparently looking for a fight, but they are without a leader. Negroes in Hiding Negroes who participated in the battle Friday are reported hiding in a swamp. Citizens are undecided on whether a posse will be formed to search for them. armed men were on the streets and on the road between this place and Simsboro. The negro settlement was completely surrounded by the mob Friday night, but no trouble occurred. Women Flee ================================ Dallas Morning News June 3, 1922 Three Negroes Burned Recently at Kirvin farm, three miles southeast of Kirvin, instituted a search and found her riderless horse at 6 p.m. A general alarm was sent out. Posses gathered quickly and the surrounding country for miles around was searched. Snap Curry, the confessed ringleader party had nearly overtaken the officers. The car was abandoned, and, with their prisoner, the officers plunged into a cotton patch on foot. Every road was guarded by armed men. all pursuers, and, recovering his car, landed his man in jail at Fairfield. In the meantime, Jones had been arrested on suspicion in Kirvin. The third negro, Cornish, was picked up in Kirvin streets following a telephone message from Wortham. [same issue] 500 Armed White Men Leave Teague in Autos Special to the News Teague, Freestone Co., Texas, June 2 (7:25 p.m.) - A crowd of white men estimated at 500 left this place at 7:25 tonight for a place near the town of Kirvin, where it is said between seventy-five and a hundred negroes are preparing to march against the white residents of that section. It is reported here that several persons have been killed. One white man is known to be Deputy Sheriff John T. King and City Marshal Otis C. King of Kirvin, with a posse of men, arrested Leroy Gipson, a negro, this afternoon at the home of Mose Gipson, about five miles north of Teague. The officers reported that when leaving the house with their prisoner, three negroes in the house opened fire with army rifles of high power. The prisoner clinched one of the officers when the firing began and during the battle Leroy Gipson was killed. [same issue] Two Negroes Are Dead in Freestone County; More Trouble Feared Gibson, an aged negro, at 3 o'clock ... negroes were killed. The dead: ALLIE GIBSON, about 24 years old. LEROY GIBSON, about 19 years old. Both are grandsons of Mose Gibson, who lives about three miles southeast of Kirvin. Hundreds of armed men hurried to Kirvin and Simsboro, near the scene of the trouble in answer to appeals for aid, expressing fears of a negro uprising. The "uprising", however, failed to materialize, and late today Sheriff H. M. Mayo of Freestone County was turning all arrivals away, declaring no serious situation existed and that Freestone County officers were able to handle the case. First reports were that .. negroes were surrounded in a house all heavily armed ... [same issue] Rangers Not Requested, Adjutant General Says Special to the News Austin, Texas, June 2 - State rangers have not been requested to aid in suppressing the reported race riot at Kirvin, Adjutant General Barton said at 10 o'clock tonight. He has heard nothing of the trouble except newspaper reports, and expects no call from Kirvin tonight. He said that the local officers evidently had the situation in hand or they would have notified him. Neither State rangers nor troops [same issue] Score of Blacks Fire on Officers Close to Simsboro Get Direct Information While squads of officers from Mexia and Corsicana were hurrying to Kirvin a representative of a local newspaper went directly to the scene of the trouble, about three miles east of Simsboro as he can, said Maco upon his return at 8 o'clock tonight. The dead are: ALLIE GIBSON, about 24 years old. LEROY GIBSON, about 19 years old. ...