Texas Family Land Heritage Registry 1st Edition, 1974 by Texas Dept. of Agriculture Freestone County Fulton Ranch - 1861 - Two miles east of Donie Founder: Robert L. Fulton of Smith County, Mississippi 1974 Owner: Henry Fulton, Donie The original log house is used as a barn on Fulton Ranch. There is an old feed trough hewn from a log which was later used to store peanuts from the grandchildren. Another trough made from a cottonwood tree was used to salt down fresh pork from hogs raised on the farm before packing plants were in existence. Cotton, corn, peas, and all kinds of feed were produced on the original farm, which included 234 acres of the Texas G. Diaz Survey. Now 110 acres support the ranching operations of the third generation. Hogs, cattle and feed for livestock are produced there now. Grizzard Farms - 1835 - Seven miles northwest of Fairfield Founder: Hopson Burleson of North Carolina (See also Pullin Ranch, AP Ranch, and Todd Acres this county) 1974 Owners: Mr. and Mrs. John W. Grizzard, Houston Hopson Burleson was given a Spanish land grant in 1835 which included a league and a labor, for his participation in helping restore law and order in this section of the state. He also served in the war with Mexico in 1836 and saw many skirmishes with Indians. Burleson was one of the Freestone County commissioners that built a jail in Fairfield in 1857, which has now become the Freestone County Museum. Cotton, corn, and feed grains were planted on the land in the early days; now cattle and hay are the products of the remaining 123.75 acres owned by these heirs. Knight's Ranch - 1861 - Near Luna Founder: Edward Ezell, Sr. of Tennessee 1974 Owners: Mr. and Mrs. Herbert D. Knight, Dallas Edward Ezell began purchasing land at 50 cents an acre in 1861, and by 1874 owned 1,165 acres. Ezell served in the Civil War for the South. Cotton, corn, wheat, cattle, sheep, hogs, and horses were raised on the farm then. Now cattle is grazed on the two ranges of 77 and 175 acres left of the original land bought by Ezell. The house where Edward Ezell Jr. lived is still standing, but is in need of repair. Pullin Ranch - 1835 - Seven miles southeast of Streetman Founder: Hopson Burleson of North Carolina (See also Grizzard Farms, AP Ranch, and Todd Acres this county) 1974 Owners: O. C. and R. A. Pullin, Streetman Still remaining on the Pullin Ranch is an underground cistern built with slave labor. The cedar logs of the barn were destroyed when IH 45 was built, the only time any of the land had been sold outside the family. In the early days, deer, wild turkey, buffalo, quail, doves, ducks and geese -- even a few wild horses -- populated the 317 acres of this part of the Burleson grant. Cotton and corn were staple crops then, but now only cattle is raised on the ranch. AP Ranch - 1835 - Seven miles southeast of Streetman Founder: Hopson Burleson of North Carolina (See also Grizzard Farms, Pullin Ranch, and Todd Acres this county) 1974 Owners: Ure Burleson Pullin, Streetman Four generations have worked the land that composes AP Ranch, and four generations now live on the land. This portion of the Burleson grant is 154.5 acres. Cotton, corn and feed grains provided cash crops and feed for livestock in the early 1800's; now cattle and hay are the principal crops. Thompson Farm - 1867 - Two miles west of Donie on Hwy. 164 Founder: Miles T. Devine of Gadsden, Alabama 1974 Owners: Mr. and Mrs. F. D. Thompson, Donie Miles T. Devine and his family left Alabama in 1865 and settled in Texas in 1866. An abadoned log cabin on the land was renovated and became the home for the Devines until 1883. This cabin is still in use as a part of the barn today. The third generation owner now runs cattle on land that once grew cotton and corn. Through the years 180 acres were added to the original 100 purchased. Todd Acres - 1835 - Northwest corner of Freestone County Founder: Hopson Burleson of North Carolina (See also Grizzard Farms, Pullin Ranch, and AP Ranch this county) 1974 Owners: Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Todd, Fairfield Three generations live on this ranch which is 129.25 acres of the league and labor granted to the founder. The son-in-law of Mrs. Todd, a direct descendant of Hopson Burleson, makes the fifth generation to maintain agricultural production on the acreage. Cattle, corn, and feed grain are still the major interests. Yeldell Ranch - ca. 1850 - Eight miles northeast of Mexia Founder: George Washington Ross of Alabama 1974 Owner: Jack E. Yeldell, Mexia Ross came to Texas when the Civil War was threatening; however, he supported the Confederate cause and fought at the Battle of Mansfild in Louisana. J. P. Yeldell married Sophie Ross, daughter of the founder. Yeldell brought three of the freed Yeldell slaves to Texas from Alabama. Cotton, corn, hogs, sheep, mules and horses were raised on the farm, which included more than 2,000 acres in the beginning. Now hay, small grains, cattle, and horses mark the agricultural production on 292 acres.