Freestone County, Texas
Reflections


Freestone Past\Present
By J. R. (Sonny) Sessions

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph H. Bennett
Army of the Republic of Texas

	A few miles east of Streetman and north of FM 3059 lay the remains of a hero of 
the Texas Revolution Battle of San Jacinto, Colonel of a regiment defending its frontier, a 
Representative in the Congress of the Republic of Texas, was involved in the Somervell 
Expedition and other early events.
	Colonel Bennett’s head rights were located in Freestone and Navarro Counties. 
More than 25 years ago I became interested in Col. Bennett and the small cemetery he 
and family members were buried in. At that time Miss Sally Epps and Mrs. Stella Jo 
McCowan, two lovely elderly ladies living in Streetman who were grand daughters, 
became concerned the little cemetery had been destroyed.  This was found to be true as 
Constable Robert Lee Cherry and I walked to the area and found brush piles pushed by a 
dozer with grave markers in them.
	The land owners were contacted but denied any knowledge of the act.  Constable 
Cherry returned to the scene some months later and found nothing remained, he believed 
the brush piles and markers had been buried as nothing found.  We did not see Col. 
Bennett’s marker which said to be large and impressive.
	The last known burial here was prior to 1900 and not positive what county it 
located in, it should have been prosecuted but nobody including myself really pushed it, 
all believed involved lived in Navarro County.	
	At that and one later time a Texas Historical Marker was mentioned and pursued a 
while but never was approved.  I hope to pursue this for a marker, for a man so involved 
in early Texas.
The following is found in “The Heroes of San Jacinto”,
        Bennett, Joseph L. Arrived in Texas in the spring of 1834, settled in what is now 
Waller County.  He received Bounty certificate # 3067 for service in the army from 
March1 to June 1836.  On about March 1, Captain Bennett’s company set out to join 
Travis at Bexar, but upon reaching the Colorado River had heard of the fall of the Alamo 
and discontinued the march.  Shortly afterward they fell in with the main army at 
Beason’s Crossing.  On April 8, when the army was re-organized, Captain Bennett was 
elected lieutenant-colonel of the second regiment of Texas volunteers and he acted as 
such at San Jacinto.
	On May 27, 1837, President Houston appointed him colonel of a regiment of 
mounted gun men fro the defense of the frontier.
	Colonel Bennett served in the house of representatives of the 3rd and 4th 
Congresses of the Republic November 5, 1838 to February 3, 1840, being elected from 
Montgomery County.
	In 1842 he raised a battalion for the Somervell expedition.  Most of his men 
becoming displeased with the conduct of the expedition returned home soon after the 
expedition reached the Rio Grande. Colonel Bennett then joined the battalion 
commanded by Major Bartlett Simms.  He did not become a member of the Mier 
expedition.	
	Colonel Bennett had the contract to carry the mail between Houston and 
Montgomery.  On January 14, 1840 President Lamar signed a joint resolution of 
Congress requiring the treasurer to pay him $697.00 for extra service rendered in the 
work.  He was living in Walker County at this time.  He moved from Walker County to 
Navarro County in 1848 and settled on his head right survey.  His head right was situated 
in parts of the present counties of Navarro and Freestone.
	Streetman, Freestone County, is about three miles from where his home stood.  
There he died in 1848.  His will was probated in Navarro County, October 30, 1848.  
Surviving him were his wife Elizabeth Bennett, one son Seaborn, and four daughters, 
Julia Ann Clark, wife of Joseph Clark, Frances F. Dyer, wife of H. F. Dyer, Lillian and 
Adaline.  Lillian afterward married Kenneth Murry, Adaline married Henry Epps.
	The date of Mrs. Bennett’s death has not been ascertained.  She was buried in the 
family cemetery about three miles from Streetman.
  Short visit in County Attorneys Office for first time since retiring. County Attorney 
Gage and  I worked together for some 24 years, at times we didn’t always agree but 
always able to find middle ground. Have been involved with Freestone Co. prosecutors 
for 70 years going back to Verlo Geppart, Renfro Speed and Bowlen Bond in the l930’s 
and early 40’s, also many across the State and without hesitation put Bob Gage as overall 
best, he could many times make it very interesting.
  Also pleased to learn the Freestone Co. Jail recently certified again by the Texas Jail 
Commission.. Always proud before retiring this Jail  certified longer than any other Jail 
in Texas.