Freestone County, Texas
Reflections


FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT
J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS
SHERIFF1965-2001

COTTON DAYS II

   During the days of the Share Cropper if the landlord furnished everything 
but the labor (plowing, planting, harvesting) they received 1/2 of the income. 
If Share Cropper furnished everything they received 2/3 of the income. Most 
good farming land had been abused and along with the insects
these very hard times. Many Share Croppers just survived from year to year 
some never getting out of debt to the land owner or lenders.
   During the Depression the government restricted the amount of cotton that 
could be planted and harvested and this based on your history of cotton 
planted. In the early l960’s much of the cotton acreage sold to West Texas
 Farmers and moved out there. I sold my cotton acreage and it was moved 
there.
  Finally all the cotton acreage left Freestone Co. with none planted except
a little for show. Saw one of my friends at Jess Young’s Livestock Sale in 
Angus along with his son who on the way passed a cotton patch and asked 
him “Daddy what is that”?
  Cotton was bought on its staple and condition and like the Stock Market 
millions were made and lost here. My Daddy Jim Sessions went to a Cotton 
Grading School in Dallas and bought cotton for his father. My Grandfather 
Dr. Claude Batchelor bought cotton in Kirven before moving to Teague.
  Cotton Days were the best of times and the worst of times. In l953 the last 
big cotton year locally I was involved in planting some, one field hadn’t 
been worked in years, I planted it and never plowed it. That fall it turned to 
cotton, along with a good crop of grass burrs and nobody wanted to pick it.
A large family I knew in dire need after Xmas came wearing rain suits and 
wearing rubber gloves and harvested it.
  My Cotton Days were mostly fun days but would hate to depend on it for a 
living. I made many friends during these hard times especially with the black 
women. I learned to really respect them as all had families to take care of 
and worked 10 hour days chopping cotton for $3 a day
  At one time there two gins in Kirven, at least one at Woodland, Wortham 
had several, Teague had several including a cotton seed oil plant, there were 
cotton yards in many areas, Fairfield had several gins. Dew and the Lanely 
area had gins. Feel sure there gins in Donie and Freestone. Along with many 
private gins in many areas. There many times a reward for ginning the first 
bale of cotton for the year.
 The last gin in Freestone Co. was located in Streetman and operated for 
years with cotton from joining areas. There was so much short staple cotton 
ginned in Streetman and exported to Japan after WWII a group of Japanese
business people visited here to see it.
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From the Original Sheriffs Report l976
    Crime Prevention) Program sponsored by the General Federation of 
Women Clubs and locally by Fairfield History Club and Wortham Study 
Club. Citizenship Chairperson Harriett Williford Whatley gave summary 
and objectives of the program. Main objective was to cut down on this report 
which suited me fine.
  Joined large group in night search for elderly man with heart problems deer 
hunting, finally found deceased. Home after search with Cuz calling on 
woman shooting at husband with shotgun after he got after her with butcher 
knife.
  Let prisoner out of jail to go cut woof for elderly mother during bad 
weather.
  Got one good used (do mean used) jailhouse for sale. Anyone in need of 
such submit bid to Commissioners Court before Oct. 25. Gonna try to keep 
old gallows though haven’t been used since Jan. 19l6 when Sheriff George 
Burleson performed last legal execution here.
  DWI jailed wife and told her I ran him off road and put him in Jail, hadn’t 
even seen till next morning.
  Wortham Police told that during quiet spell in West Texas he and other 
officers caught a Bobcat, put it in a suitcase and set it out besides hiway. 
Wasn’t long before four dudes took the bait, only got short ways before 
opening it and all except the Bobcat going out the car windows.
  Judge McCain gave curb service divorce.
  Drunk jailed by TPD that passed out between tracks and train crews poured 
off tracks.
  Cattle left penned overnight for testing with 11 pair missing.
  Pair of out of staters walking I45 looking for beer or marihuana jailed, one 
carrying claw hammer in belt.
  Man fatally injured from knife wounds.
  Relative and preacher I wanting criminal l chares on youth dismissed
and be sent to church home and school, too late on this one.
  Annual Coon Hunt here with report 3 blue tick puppies and one gyp and 
one male dog stolen during night.
  Let elderly man traveling thru let sleep in Jail over night as raining and 
very cold.
  Pee Wee Reed’s fancy reception at new Mexia Tank Builders facilities on 
County Line, had phone in rest room, said this the only place he really 
knows what he’s doing
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