Freestone Past/Present
                              J.R. “Sonny “Sessions

                         Early Cotton Gin Area
  Fifty years or more ago to me visiting in Alderman’s Cotton Gin Store, 
Williford’s Feed Mill and Shop, the area citizens and driving on the old 
roads was to me like going back in time. It was easy to put yourself back to 
its earliest days. Many of the old home sites remains of the early homes were
still there, with a little imagination you could picture them in their hey day. 
Many of the country roads were lined on both sides with  bois d’ arc fence 
lines , don’t think there any today as progress by County Commissioner’s in 
widening and clearing the roads removed all. These bois d’ arc fences were 
planted before barb wire known about and could be very effective in keeping 
livestock in or out. Cactus very common in the area, and on the old fence 
lines. It was most enjoyable driving these roads with the bois d’ arc trees on 
both sides, and at times overlapping above you.
  The stories told me by the Alderman Bros., Joe Max Norris, Jim Boyd, the 
McKinney’s Mrs. Hearon and others helped bring all this into play. A Tom 
Chatham article years ago in the Mexia Daily News tell of following the old 
Stage Coach line from Mexia Cotton Gin, started where Neece  Lumber Co..  
The Stage Coach station at Cotton was one of the places the horses were 
rested on the way to Fairfield; the passengers would get out and pick wild 
grapes. I was also told and shown the last place the wild buffalo stampeded 
tearing down the trees in this area. It all like going back into time to me, the 
Oak Island Cemetery where the first Protestant Church in Freestone Co. 
located and the site of a college. In down town Cotton Gin stood the 
beautiful Joe H. Sims and nearby  the two story log house Mrs. Hearon told 
of her grand mother standing on the second floor porch and watch the boys 
marching off to the Civil War, many did not return, both these houses are 
gone today. Cotton Gin and Woodland were the only places in Freestone Co. 
Union soldiers occupied during so called Reconstruction.
                                            ***
                The Original Sheriffs Report 1969
  Forced to slow down enroute to office early one morning to prevent 
colliding with turkey buzzard having breakfast on creek bridge, made mental 
note some nit-=wit would hit it before noon, one did, my wife. 
Condemnation suits on I45 right of way in progress, tried before jury. Local 
funeral home had difficulty locating someone to take body traffic accident 
victim.
  
  Local citizen and merchants bilked by drifting con man who arrived here 
destitute a couple months ago and departed quietly one night after joining 
local church and getting car repaired and other property on credit. Glad to 
report recovery of Wortham Police Owens wolf hound, according to other 
hunters this the best he had even if one eyed and can’t bark as born without a 
tongue.
  Wortham FFA annual Father’s Day Bar BQ, Roy Latham recipient of 
award made mistake of riding home with me after, advised ex con under 
felony indictment released on bond with agreement he not return to County 
in Teague armed with sawed off shotgun. Subject arrested and jailed with 
gun confiscated drawing a good crowd. (The FFA program held many years 
by Glen Wren a man who influenced many youngsters including our Boys.)
  Assisted GW Bergstrom in search for two Dallas gals canoeing in Trinity 
flood waters and overdue, located with plane camped out and ok, only one 
felt sorry for was dog with them. Early morning call from man that his car 
stolen at country club night before, found where parked it on club parking 
lot.
Harris Store burn3ed completely, bank saved by Teague Vol. Fire Dept. 
Teague man taken for $650 and his wrist watch by traveling pigeon 
droppers, this a very common con game years ago, there many schemes used 
in this and usually used on older people who looking for something for 
nothing, many so ashamed they never reported it. It still true you don’t get 
something for nothing... Weapons or force never used just talk and 
deception.
  Recently talked with visitor to our nations capital on the terrible conditions 
there today, during WWII it a friendly, safe, beautiful city, we were allowed 
to sleep in the large hotel lobbies. Freestone Co. man shot and killed in 
Mexia by friend girl. Woman filed for divorce after 28 years, said going thru 
change and decided to make clean sweep.
                                ***
              Grandpa’s Report
  Regret the closing of the fine restaurant in Kirvin, hopefully someone will 
reopen it….
  Inquires concerning old cemetery’s, the Whitt located near Butler, the 
Philpott located on 489 near Freestone and the Lamb located between 
Streetman and Kirvin next to railroad. Any information on known burials
or other please advise. 
  Bank robberies becoming so common need to return to older days when 
posters advertising $10,000.00 (A smack fortune then) for Dead Bank 
Robbers.
  Not many today know where the name the skimpy little bathing suits came 
from, I probably wouldn’t either if hadn’t seen these little islands in the 
South Pacific shortly before used in testing the atomic explosives after 
WWII, good tour when flown over them several times in Navy plane.
Have wondered it there anything left to see today.