FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT
J. R. (Sonny) Sessions

COUSIN FORREST GREEN

  One hundred twenty five years ago this year Forrest Green’s grandmother and
my grandmother who were sisters who became fatherless with the ambush murder 
of Freestone Co. Sheriff James B. Rogers in l872 by vengeant horse thieves. 
There is several years’ difference in our ages but both were born in Kirven, 
his family moved to Tarrant Co. while he was small. My sons and grandchildren 
never had the privilege of knowing Forrest and we both passed the Biblical 
time of three score and ten and our time getting shorter.
While JR home from West Point for Spring Break, he, his dad James and I met 
Forrest for dinner, wanted Kyle to join us but busy running the construction 
company while his Dad and rest of family on vacation skiing in New Mexico. We 
had an enjoyable visit and glad they met, hope Kyle and dad Ken can do this soon.
  Forrest Jr. whose father named by his father honoring Confederate General 
Bedford Forrest has had an interesting varied life. As a youth just prior to 
WWII and as Eagle Scout he toured Europe before it destroyed in the War 
attending the Boy Scout Jamboree in Germany. He served in Army Air Force with 
the Flying Tigers as a fighter pilot in China against the Japanese and other 
areas of the world including “Flying the Hump” over the Himalayas from India to
China, all their supplies came this route and very dangerous with the planes 
used then. After WWII was a Postal Inspector with the US Postal Service 
for several years stationed in Iowa, which he quit because of the severe cold 
winters.  Financially successful in  many ventures he purchased a large tract 
of land in the Emhouse Area where he lives now and has for many years raising 
Polled Hereford Cattle. Although  close to each other seldom visited or had 
contact, kept up with him mainly thru our mutual friends Dr. JD and Ray 
Carroll, local vets. Forrest served Navarro and Ellis Counties for several 
terms in Austin as legislator, heading several important committees’. Involved 
in local events, a strong supporter of the Cook Center and Pierce Museum at 
Navarro College. Some times gets very involved in local politics and issues.
  Always been proud to call Forrest Cousin, sorry we wasted so many years not 
seeing each other more.
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                            Sheriffs Office l965
                      
    Homeless WWII veteran found dead in little roadside park on 75 
frozen to death, buried local cemetery with officers as pallbearers, nice 
family came. During this time every kind of truck and driver on US 
75 carrying surplus mid west wheat to Houston for shipment to 
Russia. Out early morning hours on Baylor students being into 
initiated into club left in  chains and put out Streetman area, while 
here grain hauler ran truck into Mr. John McGilvary home, arrived 
before the dust settled 
   Out 5am on large crap game complaint, carried before local JP, one 
well known came
up missing, came in later with apology, said had to get woman with 
him hone, in those days you could follow him to the action. THP 
jailed local on DWI, I made mistake of taking home. Three Dallas 
youths on way to Splash Day in Galveston didn’t make it with money 
taken from service station, made it to Jail. Assisted friend Deputy 
Maurice Walker in Coolidge with search for subjects who robbed and 
beat elderly Justice of Peace.
  Weeklong Homicide School Austin, lots of contacts made and 
information gained. Had barrel of personal shotgun cut off for use. 
Marshall Whitt deputy for my Daddy visited, first time seen in years 
and last time, a good friend. Civil War Historical Markers dedicated 
on Courthouse Square. Two elderly men going with younger woman, 
one ran into others car, other shot into his house, both lost woman to 
another man.
                                          ***
                             Grandpa’s Report
  Memorial services for friend and domino partner Dorothy McLeod Pecot, quite 
a character who went to Houston during WWII  after graduating from school at 
Cedar and worked in the ship yards like “Rosie the Riveter” in later years she 
and her deceased husband returned and lived in Teague. Pretty sneaky domino 
player who saved Yout McAdams and me numerous times.