FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS Sheriff 1965-2001 HAYBALING Been many changes and improvements in agriculture during my life time, none more dramatic than in hay baling. My first experiences with this was with the old mule/horse press that went in a circle usually a child rode or drove the mule or horse power driven presses that hand fed and very dangerous. It required tremendous labor, first the mowing done with a mule pulled sickle mower, raked with a dump rake, moved to the press with a bull rake and fed into the press with a pitch fork (this very slow and many injuries trying to hurry the process when fed with a pitch fork, some used feet to press down and caught in baler. It took two to tie off the bales with baling wire, one pushed wire thru and other tied it. There one person used to drag the finished bale off. It was then usually hauled to the barn with a wagon and team, many barns then had lofts used to store the hay and bales had to be lifted and thrown up. A couple of hundred bales a day was a big accomplishment. I doubt that it possible today to get enough help to run one of these. Next came the presses powered with stationary gas motors or tractor take offs. It took a little less labor and could bale several hundred bales a day but still very hard work. Then came the Allis Chalmers small roll baler which not too successful, Also balers pulled behind tractors that picked the windrows up an fed into the baler, this still required two people to tie the wire on the bales. Wasn’t long till they made presses that self fed and tied the wires automatically which a great improvement. About 40 years ago a large roll baler introduced that been improved yearly with little labor required and could be stored outside. This could be fed by one man with a tractor or left in a roll. This probably doesn’t sound like much to a drug store cowboy who never spent all day in the cold feeding Some times hay stacks were used that required a lot of labor putting up and feeding. I like the new ways best. *** From the Original Sheriffs Report l971 Heard that dude at bar in Limestone Co. honky tonk cut off at bar, left and returned shortly with his loaded 12 ga. Shotgun getting better service until police arrived. Deputy Sue Gregory handled bike thefts during week, youth on stolen one ridden to rodeo. Another deal with upset wife where message delivered and hubby not returning call. Fellows please call the old thing and get her off our back. Deer hunt promised my Boys taken care of Tuesday in spring like weather. Lucky enough no contact made with any of little critters but all had a ball. Don’t always get to do all things with them intended but sure try as well remember when mine also didn’t have the time. West of Mexia to search house for escaped fugitive, much embarrassed when found that Tombstone done took us to the wrong place. Called to home where family gone a few minutes and returned to find Piggy Bank gone and small foot tracks on chair. Wife’s Aunt Francis will be firmer believer in this column as in office soliciting a ride when DPS brought in man DWI, drunk woman and poodle dog, all jailed, Deputy Sue seen later waking the dog. DPS on report man on highway badly beaten with no shoes in cold, man’s car and friends made the night before missing, money lent victim to get bus to Huntsville. At Emergency Corps fund raiser wife of member tried selling cup cakes in crowd, only one sold and it paid for with a slug. Early Sunday morning call form man giving couple ride into town delivered to trailer house with man coming out shooting, little misunderstanding over the wife, nothing hurt but big truck tires husband cut with knife. Professional Wrestler Nick Kozak up once, wanted to ride horse, found better in ring than on range as young filly Punkin won the match with him on the ground. Fritz Von Erick at most of our matches. *** Grandpa’s Report Buffalo Comm. Co. on Pre-Conditioning Calves Program and information on such and coming sale presented by Russell De Cordova and Sons. This something that has been needed for some time in the Cow/Calf business. Really don’t think it as complicated as it can sound. Might be in your interest to check into. New Methodist preacher said he letting Sara and friend baby sit their dog while gone on short vacation after seeing poster in Post Office she and friend put up for such. Last year it the Sno-Cone business. Freestone Historical Comm. August meeting at Training Center with information on the Burleson area Davis families presented by Larry and Varita Davis. Not sure what the September program going to be. Will also be at the Training Center on the first Tuesday evening. Fairfield in charge of refreshments, all invited.