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

Mr. Furney Richardson

   When my Daddy became Sheriff in Jan. l, l93l we moved into the old 
County Jail on the Courthouse Square in Fairfield. Mr. Furney Richardson I 
think the kindest and gentlest gentleman I ever knew was the Freestone Co. 
School Superintendent a very important position of those times. A native of 
Dew he had served as an educator and Freestone Co. Farm Demonstration 
Agent prior to this.
  During the time we lived in the old Jail the beautiful pecan trees around the 
Courthouse today were planted by Mr. Furney. I followed him around doing 
this and pulled them all up, instead of doing what should have been done to 
me he calmly replanted them.
  During Mr. Richardson life he became well known as an educator and 
during his l8 years as School Superintendent he instituted many reforms
and improvements in especially the rural schools. The rural black 
community west of Teague known today as Furney Richardson and the first 
class  school  that was there were due to many of his efforts and named after 
him. He not only helped improve the schools but agriculture in the county
His wife Mrs. Estelle Richardson also and educator. As I remember Mr. 
Furney always wore a suit with I believe a string tie. Shelma Carlisle was his 
assistant for many years and followed him as County School Superintendent.
  Mr. Furney’s daughter Fern and I were class mates in all our years in the 
local schools, a dear friend whom always a good student while I struggled 
just to survive. Her father was a gentleman of the  old school and dear 
friend.
     Whisky     Days
  Benny Binion who left Dallas after WWII for Las Vegas, Nevada where he 
made a fortune with his Horse Shoe Casino in downtown  I have been told 
very involved in the Freestone Co. whisky business as it one of his main 
suppliers. I never met Mr. Binion, but always wanted to visit with him on 
these times. Binion ran the rackets and numbers games in Dallas prior to Las
Vegas. Legendary Dallas Co. Sheriff Bill Decker always had some story 
every time I saw him about Freestone Co. Whisky Days.
   Sheriff Decker told about one of our larger whisky manufacturers telling 
him he was hijacked so many times on his way back to Freestone Co. after 
making deliveries that he had to start mailing it to himself as soon as paid in 
Dallas.