Freestone County, Texas History & Reflections The Fairfield Recorder - Thursday, December 13, 1934 Page: 2 ANOTHER "OLD TIMER” IS LED TO REMINISCENSE OVER THE GOLDEN PAST Palestine, Texas Dec. 3, 1934. The Recorder, Fairfield, Texas, Dear Editor; In the fall of 1876 1 moved from Troy, Alabama, to Fairfield, and begun the practice of law. 1 had been admitted to the bar in Alabama the year before, and was a little over 22 years old when I arrived in Fairfield, but looked more like I was only twenty. In order to get my Texas license I rode horse back from Fairfield to Corsicana and back. I have a copy of a group picture taken a short while after I came to Fairfield, of L. D. Lillard, Brice Robinson, Frank Gullette, A. I. Roberts and myself, I was the youngest of the group and the only one now living. Roberts was a young lawyer who located in Fairfield a few months before I did, and he was the first to die, being drowned in a swollen stream in Montgomery County while there on some land business for Capt. L. D. Bradley. Gullette was a member of the law firm of Seeley & Gullette and was elected County Attorney in 1878, and died with consumption the early part of i860 and I was appointed his successor. In those days there was no District Attorney for that district. Brice Robinson was a lawyer, and several years after this picture was taken, moved to Palestine and with Dr. Bonner formed a bank in name of Bonner & Robinson, and it is now Robinson State Bank. Brice Robinson died about 30 years ago while he was on a visit to Fairfield. Mr. Liliard, the founder of the Fairfield Recorder, died some years after the death of Robinson, but I cannot now recall the date. After I had been in Fairfield about ten months I was offered a partnership with an ex-District Judge in Bryan and move to that city, but moved back to Fairfield in January, 1879. The main purpose of writing this letter is to explain the letter to me from Mr, Liliard, a copy of which follows: Liliard, Roberts, Brice and myself were all supposed to be "on the carpet" and ran with the same young ladies. I had not met Carrie Bonner who later became my wife, and Lillard's mind was not settled on Martha Watson who afterwards became his wife. I edited The Recorder the week before leaving Fairfield for Bryan. I wrote several locals about the young people, including Liliard, Roberts. Felicia Peck, and a Miss Wood, visiting in Fairfield, and to these Liliard refers in his letter. Fairfield, Texas, Sept. 14, 1877, Mr. B. H. Gardner, Bryan, Texas, Dear Friend: As 1 did not get to see you again before you left, I will write you a few lines, at my first opportunity, to thank you for getting out the Recorder for me, in my absence. Not to be particularly complimentary, I will say, nevertheless, the paper suffered not a bit at your hands. Well, I returned to Mexia Thursday night, and was in town all Friday morning when you were, but did not know it until after the train had left. 1 was so vexed with myself when 1 found it out. I would have liked so much to have had one more chat with you, especially to get some dots on the last party, and know if you discovered anything. You hit it exactly in your local; I did have a most “Felicitous” time. By the way, I am glad you accompanied Miss F. to that party. I was afraid that If A. L. R. did, he would do some serious talking. But then, I may be only "swapping the devil for his witch” (excuse the expression), in preferring you for a rival. However this I may be, I had the last "say”, and made eyes, tongue and action, all I talk. The boys run me pretty high on "change cars for Waco", but since the Captain did not seem to think it too pointed, of course, I did not. A. L. R. did not seem to relish his local so much. He thought I "to lay in a winter's suppy of wood" was rather ambiguous. Well, since you have had time to look around a little, how do you like your new home, partner, prospects, ^c? I trust nothlng has fallen under your expections so much as to discourage you. Fairfield is extremely dull now, since so many of its sweet birds (I mean female birds) have flown. You are not here to realize it, as we, shall I say unfortunate ones? No, "every cloud has its silver lining and vacation will come again next year. Brice, Roberts and I miss you pethaps more sensibiy than most of tho other young men. We miss you also in the Sunday School. Mr. Fred Earner has taken your class. I send you today's Recorder, and as an appreciation of your kindness will put you on my complimentary list for a year, until the girls you are interested in most, have all married. Write, now and then, at your convenience; I would be pleased to hear from you, and will promise as prompt answeres as existing circumstances will admit. Wishing you much success, I am. Very truly your friend, L. D. LILLARD.