Freestone County, Texas
Reflections



FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT
J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS
SHERIFF 1965-2001

COTTON DAYS #1

  During Freestone Co’s. first 100 years “King Cotton” reigned supreme.
The economy was based on Cotton production, gathering and ginning. I was 
recently asked what part the Cotton Gins played and what they did, many 
today have heard of them and seen the remains but didn’t understand their 
importance. There  have probably been more than one hundred Gins in the 
County over the years. In early days the lint from the picked cotton had to be 
separated from the cotton seed by hand, this very slow and time consuming 
and costly. With the invention of the Cotton Gin which very crude by todays 
standards 
this changed the whole industry. The first Gins were powered by mules or 
horses going in circles. Later they were replaced by the steam engine and 
still later petroleum driven or electric motors. Kirven had at least two, 
unknown how 
many small private one’s in area. Gins were in every area as means of travel
usually the wagons and teams to the Gin with the picked cotton.. The picked 
cotton  was seperated from the seed by the saws in the Gin Bins.. This was 
dangerous work and many Ginners lost an arm or other limb.    
  Basically our whole economy was base for many years on cotton, before 
the boll weivel came in the early l900’s I have been told by past generations
they never really finished picking the cotton just replanted in the spring. The 
boll weavel caused many lost crops and financial ruin for many farmers. I 
have been told when there a good crop of cotton and the price good 
everybody had money, the farmer who grew it, the pickers who harvested it, 
the ginners and traders and especially the merchants. If the weather like that 
we experiencing today with a  long wet spell it could spell disaster for many.
  The last big crop in Freestone Co. was in l953 when many planted ore to 
increase their cotton acerage allotment which going back into effect in l954.
As l life long  cotton farmer Tom        told me we would never see another 
like it and haven’t. I had one friend who had never made more than 20 bales 
of cotton before and made over 70 bales with his family doing all the work, 
he told me he would never see another broke day, I told him he would have  
to borrow money for Xmas and he did. This man bought 5 vehicles that year 
and shut down completely the next, this also the last year he ran the show as                  
wife took over then. More Cotton Days to follow.   ***
      From the Original Sheriffs Report l976
    With Co. Att. Gage and Deputy to area disputed by landowner and deer 
hunter leaser over use of old road still officially open and hunter camped on, 
trailer had to be moved .
  Had to get plumbers out to unstop sewer linejail birds stopped up with 
litter.
  Deputy answered burglar alarm call to Teague Bank, found “Fox” done it 
again, forgot to cut off after cleaning.
  Overheard trusty and hippy prisoner discuss being around cattle, hippy 
advised he around them while out in pastures picking mush rooms from cow 
droppings to get high on.
  Deputy Brown and wife made trip to Bowling Green, Ky. after man wanted 
here.
  Joined Slap on call that couple topless dressed women around truck stop, 
didn’t locate as Go-Go girls done gone
  Slap got him paint sniffer whose face turned gold from sniffing out of 
paper sack.
  First wedding in Teddy Bears new Holiday Inn, couple wanting to mess to 
New Jail with license but couldnt find preacher Rev Dewey Morgan to 
rescue.
  Slap on 4am waitress call out of town man preoopositng her, sent down 
road.
  Night call from Deputy had wanting know if DWI with 8 kids could be 
released on cash bon, sounded good to me.
  William E. Syers author of “The Devil Gun” a historical novel on Val 
Verde Cannon speaker at meeting.
  Near Buffalo Creek east of Donie where mans bull found dead tied to tree.
  Fine Thanksgiving Dinner at Methodist Church.
  Man jailed driving stolen vehicle found to be escapee from Federal Pen.
  Let prisoner attend sisters funeral with family..
                                    ***
              Grandpa’s Report
  Memorial services for longtime friend Frank Ward who came from one of 
the old County families noted for its intelligence, humor and abilities, all 
mechanically minded. Frank had little formal education but I believe could
build nearly anything or figure it out. He left many things to be remembered 
locally he constructed or helped with. I enjoyed he and his familys 
friendship for many years. Hammond and Karla’s children along with other 
grandchildren also enjoyed him.