FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT J.R. “Sonny” SESSIONS FREESTONE CO. SHERIFF L965-20001 “Observations and Opinions after 96 Years” A.M. “Buddy” Beene Every area has its characters, believe old time Winkler/St. Elmo had more than its share, two special one’s to me were Buddy Beene and his nephew Body Hagler. Had privilege of being involved with both over the years, strictly on a social basis. In 1971 Buddy published a small book “Observations and Opinions after 96 Years”. He brought me several copies which I found interesting and enjoyable, he wanted he and myself to write one together which would have been fun but we never got around to it. Buddy and Body from old time Winkler/ St. Elmo family’s and not much difference in their ages... While Buddy traveled and did many things Body more settled and lived in downtown Winkler just in Freestone Co. Buddy lived numerous places including Streetman and Winkler. Buddy traveled as a “hobo” in freight wagons and such into Indian Territory that later became Oklahoma. Buddy told of spending several years as a hobo traveling over much of the country riding the rails (freight trains) and by wagon and doing different jobs. Buddy Beene had little formal education, as attended school in early years in a log cabin sitting on a hewed log that still had the bark on it and ants in the bark. He ran away with Molly Baileys Traveling Show and Circus for a year. In his youth saloons were everywhere until prohibition voted in with illegal whisky taking over. Never a serious drinker he had quit completely when I knew him but never criticized anyone who did. He worked in the Mexia-Wortham oil booms. Married only once to the same lady for 53 years until her death. There not much Buddy hadn’t seen or done. When 80 years old Buddy moved to Mexia, said his church people said he moved to throw himself away. Buddy kept himself well informed on local and world events and free with his opinions and advise which usually good. Always popular with the women as treated them like ladies even the honky tonk and bar maid girls who basically dealt a bad hand in life and trying to support themselves and family’s. At his 80th birthday party he recited a little poem to a lady who befriended him and often cooked for him: I started out hoboing and honky tonking when I was young, I thought I was having lots of fun. I started when I was fifteen, Since then I’ve struck up with women both fat and thin, of all the women I ever knew, I never loved but two-my wife and you. After he lost his wife people started giving him advise, he told of l6 men he buried who advised him to go to the old folks home where he said all there to do was wait on the undertaker. He went somewhere nearly everyday with some one for company as a good traveling companion. He spent some day’s just visiting the girls at the honky tonks and clubs which enjoyed by all Always enjoyed visiting with his nephew Body Hagler who told me lots of history and stories on Winkler and St. Elmo along with our friends Clyde Walker and Jester Neale. Body was for many years Tiler of Winkler Masonic Lodge which put on numerous fish fry, squirrel stews and such where friend Rob Pillans Secretary. Remember one occasion ready to close the Lodge and the Tiler missing, Body found outside visiting with friends. Body’s uncle Buddy traveled a lot with Roger Steward doing oil leases and such. Roger told about someone asking Buddy how Body doing, Buddy said he thought he was slipping and might have to put him in old folks home. Both true characters. *** Taken from the Original Sheriffs Report 1970 Wortham Police reported in Wortham Journal that rats half big as house cats taking over some homes in Wortham, also worked family disturbance where husband advised he wasn’t going to hit wife until she laid a monstrous sweet potato up side his head. Jailed couple my drinking friends who came visiting and in no condition to go further, when released advised they not coming anymore while drinking. Scenic trip to Shreveport to return two youths waiving extradition, both found much ready to get out of Caddo Parish Jail. Dedication for new Boggy Masonic Lodge #739 in Teague; Grand Maser Hal Burnett guest speaker, originally a funeral home and chapel. Wooded area in County full of campers and deer hunters in extreme cold and rain, didn’t know so many folks needed testing. Seventy year old man jailed by THP on traffic, advised he never had any license and too old to get one now. Assisted pretty young thing having car trouble on old 75, en route to Houston to get married and this twice she broke down. Told her to stop and reconsider all this might be trying to tell her something. Deputy called on Baby Sisters sister creating problems over truck keys. Rusk late afternoon with mental patient carried to doctor and not wanting to go, told she packing a pistol making it hard to get any assistance, pistol information found correct. Nine freight cars derailed north of Wortham. This Labor Day weekend should be our last bout with long weekend holidays on old 75, off to good start with couple jailed consuming too much orange vodka. New I 45 should be open soon. Emergency Corps and deputies assisted in Sunday morning search for man missing Comanche Crossing on Lake Mexia, Man had used straight razor on another requiring 150 stitches, crowd turned on man with razor with him going into lake, nothing found until he floated to surface of lake drowned. Call on man hitting wife in eye when she refused his amorous advances. Letter from convict in the Walls, Huntsville concerned about not hearing from the wife, suspected foul play, assured him by return mail she doing fine but spared the details as he will find out soon enough. Thomas Grocery, Dew, Gibson’s Bar BQ and Fairfield School burglarized. Hurricane “Fern” in news brought story of storm back in 60’s, refugees came to County and stayed until over, one couple in local church several days thought to be man and wife but departed going separate ways as didn’t know each other until arrived here. *** Grandpa’s Report Rev. Don Johnson Wortham and Kirvin Methodist Church Pastor who raised in the Mildred area tells of his farmer father taking battery out of car on Saturday nights back in early 50’s to listen to Grand Ol Opry as many others in that time did. Grandma and I with James and Sara to Sara’s girls fast pitch softball game in Corsicana. Sara pitching in a tight game which they won; Kenzie also pitches but out temporarily with knee injury. James and Ken coaching this team. Devin pitched in boy’s baseball tournament in Groesbeck, hot that afternoon pitching numerous outs. Grandma’s dinner and bridge party, so took all Hams bunch to Pizza Place in Teague where not so crowded, good place for large group, Freestone Co. Historical Comm. monthly meeting at Training Center with Chairman Brad Pullin giving program on Davis Blake Carter author of historical novel on Woodland and Freestone Co. during so called “Reconstruction” following War Between the States, interesting and informative. Originally held in Wortham at new home of Juliette and Uel Davis. The June meeting will be at the Freestone Co. Museum on Tuesday evening June 3rd at 7:30pm all invited. Fairfield in charge of refreshments.