Freestone County, Texas Reflections Freestone Past/Present J.R. “Sonny” Sessions Mrs. Anderson’s Ledger #13 Mrs. Anderson wrote about the Southern Pacific railroad built thru Texas and Dallas got to be a little city and had an annual Fair, she told in her own words “some of us hicks in the Sticks would go and have a good time. She wrote about San Antonio having a Fair with John Philip Sousa Band as an attraction. She told of a group from Fairfield attending. She tells of she and Julia Roller going in her buggy to Buffalo and catching the train to Hearne where she met others from Fairfield and had a “Jolly good time” on the way to San Tone.. Several shared the same hotel room after first visiting the Fair grounds. They toured the Alamo, San Pedro Springs and the Zoo At the monkey cage one reached out and snatched Mrs. Lillard’s hat, the hat was retrieved with the monkey keeping the flowers. They also visited Fort Sam Houston. On their return train trip they had a lay over in Austin so they visited the Capital went to the Governors Office but he wasn’t there so they all wrote him a note and signed it. They arrived at Hearne at daybreak, then caught the train to Buffalo where they took the horse and buggy back to Fairfield. She remarked they had a wonderful time but there no place like home to rest. ****** Whisky Days Mr. Will Hancock served in several agencies during his 22 years of law enforcement experience as a Deputy Sheriff, Teague Chief of Police and Special Texas Ranger appointed in 1927 by County Attorney Harold Williford by the authority of the Governor. Two other Special Rangers Tim Willard and Boone Anderson were also appointed due to the lawlessness of the time As Teague Chief of Police it was during these lawless times with the city reported wide open, he reported putting nine men in Jail the first night including the mayor’s brother, a fighter and dangerous man but didn’t give any trouble. Hancock lived in a two story house which he reported so many stills and vats confiscated they stacked higher than the house chimney . One time while raiding a still on a creek they got close enough to hear the bootleggers talking, the whisky makers drove his wagon and team up on the bank of the creek. A gun was fired close to Hancock with shot hitting the brush next to him. Hancock returned the fire hitting one man but not killing him, Hancock said he never killed a man though had the opportunity several times. The horses on the wagon broke and ran with old Ranger Captain Wheatley telling Ranger Mc Mortis “Stop that team” who threw up his gun and fired breaking one of the horse’s neck that turned a somersault there in the harness. During his first 30 days they worked as Rangers they got 38 stills in three miles of one little village. (More on Ranger Hancock and the murder of Ranger Tim Willard next week.) ****** Grandpa’s Report Loss of several special friends during holidays, possibly some not known about. These include Polygraph/Investigator J.D. Williams, former Deputy Judy Robinson, Rev. Glenn McCollum. Our prayers are with these families. ...