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

St. Patrick’s Day----------Mr. George Fryer

  Every time St. Patrick’s Day comes around always reminded of its 
strongest local supporter Mr. George Fryer. Mr. Fryer served Freestone Co. 
as County Judge when the present Courthouse was built in about 1916.
I have been told shortly after this women’s right to vote became law. Mr.
Fryer a graduate of Texas University and bachelor running for re-election 
promoted the first County Home Demonstration Agent. At a large political
Gathering he said this not done for more cooks but better cooks this caused 
him to lose the women’s vote and was defeated.
  Mr. Fryer left his lifelong home Freestone Co. and lived and practiced law 
in many areas, mostly Arizona and Alaska. After fifty years he returned to
Freestone Co. as the Delinquent Tax Attorney for Freestone Co. He was 
elected County Attorney and served I think two terms. He was serving in 
this capacity when I was elected Sheriff and I served with him for four years 
which really an experience and we became close friends. Once we attended a 
Texas Attorney Generals Conference in Austin, arriving about 8am, I missed 
him shortly and located him in the lounge of the hotel having a cool one. He 
did not have a drinking problem but enjoyed an occasional beer or glass of 
wine.
 Political defeats dint seem to bother him in the least, after defeated for 
County Attorney when he was the oldest Prosecutor in the State he later ran 
for County Judge and I believe County Attorney again. He was a very frail 
man and until his death maintained an office in the Courthouse. I never 
knew him to own a car or drive and walked wherever he went or rode with 
someone else, on very windy days he would take three steps forward and the 
wind would blow him back two but he kept plugging. His office was on the 
third floor of the Courthouse and there was no elevator back then and he 
could go up them with less effort than those half his age. 
  Mr. Fryer loved to travel and attended all big functions once planning a 
long trip by bus I asked him to fly, he told me quickly two things he wasn’t 
going to die from was smoking cigarettes or flying in an airplane. His 
lifelong desire was to visit Ireland where his family came from and he was 
very proud of this. Every St. Patrick’s Day he wore the green and 
encouraged everyone else to do it too.
  When at least 90 years old he decided if ever going to Ireland it was time.
He was going by ship, I asked him about round trip passage, he told me just 
purchased a one way ticket as there might be two coming back a s they 
married late in Ireland. I was truly hoping there would be two but he 
returned alone. He brought Peggy and ladies in the Courthouse beautiful 
Irish Four Leaf Clover pennants that she wore often, especially St. Patrick’s 
Day, this was stolen when our home was burglarized and never recovered. 
He had a small home a few blocks from the Courthouse and ordered and 
planted every thing possible, drivers referred to his street corner as Jungle 
George’s; on his house roof he had an observation deck where he could lie at 
night and study the stars.   
  With his death a number of years ago at about l00 years Freestone Co. lost 
one of its true characters and its strongest supporter of St. Patrick’s as he 
very proud of his Irish heritage and ancestors. Until his death he was 
interested in learning all that going on, he never stopped being involved if 
possible.

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Whisky Days  
  It is my belief corn whisky was distilled from beer formed by the 
fermentation of chops (chopped corn), sugar and sometimes yeast to make it 
work faster. A product of the times was “Choc Beer”, not sure if this what 
distilled.
  Beer was also made, bottled and sold illegally> Much of it  “Home Brew” 
which often made strictly for personal use. Home Brew much higher in 
alcohol content than the beer today, more like ale or malt liquor.
  In hot weather where ever this beer stored if not cooled would build up 
pressure and explode or pop the cap. Often sounded like a gunshot.
Could sound like a gun battle when this happened in the old Jail storeroom, 
sometimes several would go off at same time. The smell in the room could 
nearly intoxicate you.

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