Freestone County, Texas Reflections Freestone Past and Present By J. R. (Sonny) Sessions Davis and Mary Carter FREESTONE COUNTY, September 21, 2006 - Grandma and I recently visited friends Mary and Davis Carter in Aberdeen, Mississippi. Our relationship started more than 20 years ago when I received an inquiry from a stranger in Maine about ancestors of his living in my area. Though I was born many years after their deaths I felt familiar with them due to my mother’s and other locals recollections over the years. The person calling was Davis Carter a native Texan living in Maine who was a grand nephew of Minyard Harriss who lived in the Woodland community. Mr. Harriss a merchant with a small store here until moved it into Kirven with the coming of the railroad. His family home was still in existence in my childhood along with the largest horse/mule barn in this area. There were stories of his racetrack and racing horses raced locally and at the State Fair in Dallas. This racing was with gaited carriage horses not thoroughbreds. Mr. Harriss a Confederate Veteran very involved also in the yearly Confederate Reunions. Mr. Carter visited here several times and we began what I later described as a “Quest For The Holy Grail”. Mr. Carter did very intense and extensive research with the intent of a historical novel on his uncle (Minyard Harriss) and family for several years. Peg and I visited in their home in Maine and he and Mary visited here with us, a very strong friendship developed. They’re too many things to try and tell it all as quite lengthy. Davis and Mary Carter led such an interesting life it really should be recorded. During all this Texas Historical Markers were dedicated at Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church with unveiling by Deacon Aaron Butcher and Deacon H.P. Foster, and Sessions Cemetery on Saturday Oct. 1, 1994 with unveiling by Arthur Foreman Carter and Hobart Carter, both in their 90’s. A Texas State Marker was also approved for Woodland and Minyard Harriss but refused by us locally when their wording was “politically correct” not historically. A historical Marker through the Sons of Confederate Veterans was dedicated with all the trimmings on Sunday afternoon Oct. 2, 1994 with good attendance and participation. Started with church services, a noon meal served at the Kirven Fire Dept. The Confederate Band from Hill Co. College preformed along with Confederate re-enactors and cannon firing. The Commander of the SCV who had local roots the speaker. This was a very big event along with Sessions Cemetery (local black cemetery where many former slaves were buried) and Shiloh Church, which was founded in 1853 with a white pastor. The historical novel done by the Carters “ The Story Uncle Minyard Told” was made available for the first time. Copies of this publication are hard to come by today as in much demand. Anyone knowing of available copies please advise. The Carter’s move from Maine to Aberdeen, Miss. where they researched and published “Stars in the Southern Sky”. A biography of the life of Confederate General John Gregg, who left Fairfield, was killed in action in Virginia with his body recovered and returned to Aberdeen by his wife Molly. It is Mr. Carter’s opinion that if John Gregg had lived and returned to Texas he would have been Governor at some point. The Carter permanently retired there in Aberdeen. Knowing and being involved with this couple renewed my interest in local history and opened many new doors for us. Thank you Mary and Davis Carter.