FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS SHERIFF 1965-2001 CENTERVILLE “This information taken from “A History of Leon Co. published by the Leon Co. Times during the Texas Centennial in l936. It is a small booklet with lots of personal knowledge and history that relate to similar times in Freestone Co. The problem of transportation was an important one to early settlers. Houston and Navasota were early trading points for the County. Supplies were brought from these points by slow ox-teams. It took six weeks for a round trip to Houston and three to Navasota. An early chronicle depicts such trips in the following language: “In the early fifties (l850’s) the means of travel and transportation were of the most primitive and limited character. Everybody, men and women as well, rode horseback. Carriages and buggies were almost unknown. The supply of goods and groceries were obtained for the most part from Houston and Galveston. Steamboats navigated the Trinity River during the winter and spring, brought up supplies and carried off the produce of the country. During the low water season, wagons drawn by four to six yoke of oxen hauled the cotton to Houston and brought back necessary supplies. Kerosene was unknown and the saucer lamp and tallow dip were the illuminants of the day. When the Railroad came to Leon Co. Centerville thought it was just about ruined. Coming of the railroad was good news for the people along the northern edge and dejecting news to people in Centerville and to others who put up a stiff fight for the route and lost. Even the welfare of the county seat was thought threatened. In fact some people claim it took them 60 years until l931 that they came to life again. This exaggeration but true Centerville did take on new growth when highway 75 came through, connecting the isolated place with the world at large and bringing in new blood.” This just some of the history in the little book published in l936 and very similar to the Fairfield we moved to in l931. Fairfield more fortunate as also got US 84. Trucks replaced railroads in both cities. *** From the Original Sheriffs Report 196-72 Two runaway Houston boys on stolen bicycle, armed with .22 cal. pistol headed for Virginia picked up and held for parents. Deputies James and Sue Gregory enroute to Tampa, Fla. Business picked up with armed robbery of Streetman Bank suspect arrested later in week, and burglary of Harris Grocery, in Donie. Dispatcher Ronny Alford helped in office while Gregory’s gone. Fairfield man reported being robbed, assaulted and left barefooted by unknown subjects. Two small children declared dependent and neglected by District Judge were picked up by Mrs. Gregory and placed with Chief Buford Owens who cared for many foster children, especially babies. Man reported wife and guns missing. Located hidden under bed mattress, don’t know if wife found. Oaks Store in Donie burglarized, four subjects who escaped jail in Bossier, La. Arrested in Alamogordo, N.M. admitted doing this. Safe taken in Aycock burglary located broken in and left in southern Leon Co. subjects arrested Houston with Examining Trial held by Judge Willis Young with decision there enough to hold over for Grand Jury rendered between swatting house flies with fly swatter. Houston officers advised they needed more like him in big city. Grand Jury convened with J.E. Sims, foreman, Mrs. Jasper McAdams, sect. and members C.J. Anderson, W.D. Gathright, Ovin Beene, C.W. Bass, C.Y. Bonner, W.A. Carroll, L.P. Awalt, J.H. Massey, C.J. England and H.C. Boyd. Fourteen cases presented. Deputy Gregory checked out youth on hot afternoon walking US84 with heavy coat on, found 4 eggs, bacon, and other food all taken from home nearby. Found to be runaway from California headed to Florida with five hippies that ran out of gas and sent him for food. Youth jailed others given 5 gallons of gas and escorted to Co. line. Youth put on bus back to California. *** Grandpa’s Report Kirvin Homecoming with delicious lunch catered by Sam’s and Kathy. A real good crowd in attendance with good fellowship ... Learned with regret recent death of Dorothy Porter. She and Jimmy longtime true and trusted friends not only to me but the community.