Freestone County, Texas
Reflections




[SPECIAL THANKS to Linda Mullen for transcribing and Margaret Tolar for locating.]



Diary of Mrs. Frances “Fannie or Frankie” (Noland) Anderson
(Fannie was born in 1850.  She married Judge Asa Green Anderson on May 14, 1868 
 in Freestone County. )

FREESTONE COUNTY HISTORY With J.R. (Sonny) Sessions, Jr.
Freestone County Times, Nov. 2, 2004:  Mrs. Anderson’s Ledger #2

  Our radical governor E. J. Davis after doing away with his Negro police had 
another card up his sleeve, he sent Northern men to a number of County Seats to 
take charge of the most important county offices.  My husband A.G. Anderson had 
been duly elected County Clerk of Freestone County and doing his duty by the 
office as he and others thought.  When a man walked into his office, handed him 
a letter from the governor introducing Mr. Crocker with the statement that he 
was to turn over to Mr. Crocker the County Clerk’s Office.  A.G. said alright 
turned the book over and answered all questions asked got his private papers and 
walked out not knowing what to think.  Mr. Crocker had put up at our hotel, The 
Star and looked to be a nice well-bred man.  There were also several others 
besides myself boarding there and we decided to treat him with every courtesy 
just as we did the other men and blame no one but our governor for that trick, 
of course the men and everyone were nice to him and he seemed to appreciate it.
  Now we don’t remember how long he stayed there, long enough to get acquainted 
with our merchants, lawyers and citizens generally.  Then one day he told A.G. 
he wanted to see him at the office so he walked over with him.  Of course we 
don’t know their entire conversation, then he talked very frankly to him.  Mr. 
Anderson I came here as a stranger, took over this office under the impression 
that Texans were an illiterate people and officers generally incompetent, I have 
found just the reverse, am turning this office back to you who are just as 
competent to tend to this business as anyone.  I am going home to tell my people 
that I have never met more cultured people than right here, they bid each other 
a friendly goodbye leaving A.G. smiling, he was not the only one who smiled 
thinking Mr. Crocker a gentleman and friend, now we never did know how other 
counties fared.  There was rejoicing when Gov. Davis had to step down.