FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS ABE BARNES & NAN On our family land Roy (Monk) Edwards working for my father built a small two room shotgun type house with unpainted and uncured lumber from a local hardwood saw mill in the early 1930’s. There was a living-bedroom on the front and kitchen on the rear. Monk stayed here doing other jobs and I loved to stay with him when my parents would let me. Monks cooking was limited to greasy eggs, bread toasted in melted butter, chili and such. Over the years several families and others lived here. Not sure who the worst about taking in misfits and those needing help, me or my Daddy. This like taking in stray dogs with most of them biting you in the rear. Our boys got a good education from the variety they exposed too as I did before them. When I returned from overseas after WW II an elderly black man named Abe Barnes and his mentally challenged wife Nan living here. Abe very tall man very bow legged and crippled up from breaking horses and cow boy life. He was also one eyed from some injury. About all he could do was check cattle and goats for screw worms and ride fences on his horse Dan, don’t ever remember Dan when he wasn’t saddled or tied up but still in fair condition When Abe changed clothes the old one’s were usually thrown away including the long johns he wore year round. Other farm hands accused him of going to the pen which he violently denied. My Daddy let him milk a cow which he did early in the morning, hung the bucket on the fence until he came in for dinner. The bucket which he carried in the house would be littered with house flies and the only ill effects were there not enough of it. Once dead rats found in the water well where he got his drinking water and Daddy told him to draw the water out, as soon as Daddy left Abe quit drawing water and told me those little rats couldn’t hurt that much water. He had an old oil drum in the yard I asked what it used for and told this was how Nan got on Dan behind him when they went to town or somewhere. Abe a big talker and had stories to tell, don’t think I ever heard Nan speak. During this time my friend Roger Davis Steward taking flying lessons thru the GI Bill, we would rent a small plane kept at the little Fairfield airport belonging to Son Lott, Morris Sneed and Dr. Bonner as I remember. We would tour the country and I was allowed to do a little of the flying, if cotton pickers found in the fields we would buzz them and most would leave the area, wonder some farmer didn’t take a shot at us. While we were out one day we saw Abe sitting in a chair on the small front porch and started buzzing him, he never even looked up or seemed concerned, the next day I saw him and was asked-why didn’t you get out and come in. Shortly after this our flying days were stopped when Roger David and Billy Theo Glazener buzzing farmer B.I. Smith and his team of mules near Kirven and hitting an electric high line crashing with fortunately no injuries. Abe, Nan and Dan later moved to Wortham and I never saw them again. Our Boy’s used the old house some as a camp house. The recent high winds destroyed it. *** From the Original Sheriffs Report 1971 Requested by wife splitting the blanket to be present while she got her personal things out of house, thought it would take about 30 minutes, I left four hours later and she still hauling. Sunday dinner interrupted by mother of my Jailhouse Poet asking me to come get him as wined up and trying to burn the house down, found passed out on front porch in hot sun, later complained about being jailed for sleeping. Open bed truck hauling intestines from slaughter house lost part of load at red light in Fairfield, happened in past leaving the scene this time one called and waited until removed, wonder what this world coming too. Friend Homer Tomlin better known as (Cuz) by for short visit, Homer a former bartender and bouncer at Mexia’s Star Club, he also worked for me as police radio dispatcher. I was a pall bearer in his funeral with him weighing well over 400#). Left our boys at Rayford’s for shearing while assisting short time wife having problems, recovered most of her personal possessions and two out of her three cows. Husband notified to come up with other cow and wife’s purse with papers. Truck hauling cattle stuck in ditch assisted out by Dick Emmons and load of Hound Dog dog feed. Requested by wife splitting the blanket to be present while she got her personal things. Went thinking it would take about 30 minutes, I left 4 hours later and she still hauling things out. Sunday dinner interrupted by mother of my Jailhouse Poet asking me come get him as wined up and trying to burn the house down, found passed out on front porch, later complained about being jailed just for sleeping. *** Back in Shiloh’s hey day with Jeremy Jones coaching this little black school near Kirven they set many records for its size, been told Coach Jones used his horse and/or old station wagon to set the pace for his athletes and runners. One who had lots of abilities Howard Williams in later years was a sparring partner for World Champion Joe Lewis, it was speculated he would make the big time but something happened and he faded from sight. *** Grandpa’s Report Had recent surgery on my wrist and elbow, enjoyed visit with longtime friend Aldessa Bass whom have experienced several medical problems with over the years and always glad she there. Unable to use one of my hands received special attention from Grandma who waited on me hand and foot, helped me dress and undress, even tucked in at bedtime and washed my back which hadn’t been done since my mother. Thanks to all. Being put to sleep brought back memories of earlier days when ether and chloroform used which usually not a pleasant experience, many today don’t know about this.