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

ISRAEL
  In 1976 I visited with Fritz Chancellor a descendent of the Israel 
Chancellors.  This a short time before his death and was 82 years old living 
in the old two story John Pete Stubbs house going into Wortham on FR 27. 
We visited on early Israel which located about a mile or so north of our 
home today where my Daddy born in l891. I recently found my notes on this 
visit. Fritz mother a Winkler Lee a sister to Harry. One of his grandfathers 
close kin to Robert E. Lee who due to family differences said Robert E. Lee 
an old scoundrel. Another grandfather came to Nova Scotia on a merchant 
ship, jumped ship in Halifax and eventually worked his way here Fritz said 
Israel 82 years old in l976. It was named for Iz (Israel) Traweek who had the 
first store here; another was run by Bud Bozeley. There once a post office 
here, Elmo Moseley ran Traweek’s Store and Post Office. One of the early 
schools was here, located across the public road on the west side, it later was 
moved to Otis Young’s and used for his tractor shed, Guy Coleman said his 
father John Coleman started to school here.                                                                      
The roads east/west and north/south crossed here and was a stop for the 
stage coach traveling thru. Oliver Burleson who later a large merchant in 
Wortham had his first store here.  A cotton gin was here and local church 
baptisms were conducted in the gin tank (dug before Fritz born to hold water 
for the gin’s steam engines. The old Traweek house built with a dog run 
through it and near the gin and stores. 
  Mr. Chancellor ran a gristmill on Saturday’s; also told of Fred Marberry 
who later played professional baseball in the major leagues (Washington 
Senators) lived here as a boy and they didn’t have enough boys to play 
baseball and they played “town ball” and took turns batting. Dr. Batchelor 
and Dr. Chumney (who had a room for surgery with windows to let the sun 
in and also used mirrors for lighting) were some of the local doctors.     
  He told of his grand pa and brother coming home on one mule after the 
Civil War ended, they took turns riding and walking  During this visit he 
told he had secured military markers for their graves in Carter and 
Woodland Cemeteries and requested help in getting them put up. He died 
before this done and it several years before the markers located in an old 
trunk in his old family home that been sold to a friend. They are now where 
he wanted them, glad I could be involved as his family and my family very 
close though not kin.
  When the railroad came the store closed in l904. The school had moved to 
a well structured building now called Burleson and located east of Caney 
Baptist Church on FR 833 which my father bought in l947 and we tore 
down. Fritz told of hid Daddy letting his teams of mules work on the railroad 
construction. Fritz’s family moved to Wortham when he was 11 years old 
where he continued his education.  
                                                 ***
  From the Original Sheriffs Report l971-72
  Poor little old lady school teacher out of Oklahoma trying to make it to 
Houston for Easter jailed by THP on DWI, said she just bought a little bottle 
of gin in Big D.
  Deputies to Rusk with man having calling name “Jack the Bear”, fit his 
description not disposition which more like a lamb/
  Attempted break in on family sleeping in vehicle in roadside park north 75.
  Wortham Police jailed who objected saying he under the doctor for back 
injury and just happened to be playing basketball when located.
  Streetman on scene where partially paralyzed man sot and killed wife he 
said was throwing beer bottles and other things at him.
  Civil papers received to repossess casket man buried in but never paid for.
 Man jailed from funeral drunk and causing problems.
  Subject jailed and put in cell block where asked by prisoner already there
What he in for and told he just killed a man, the other jumped out of his bed
and told him to take this one.
  DWI and three baby chicks jailed, tested triple drunk.
  DPS unit following violator into public parking area run over by vehicle 
with 4 year old operator, parked on incline with child pulling out of park and 
it rolled into unit.
  Deputy Teddy Bear to Prison Rodeo with group, found all crooks not 
behind walls down there as got hooked with two bit plastic raincoat for $2
In sudden rainstorm that quit before put it on, just as well didn’t fit anyway.
Freestone Co. well represented in rodeo, one doing time took $50 bill tied to 
horns of wild brahmas turned loose in arena.
  Called back to Cotton Gin’s haunted house where door left open, youths 
left before I arrived.
  Leon Co. after request from Sheriff Wilson man found dead from gunshot 
wound, victim had Freestone Co. address but lived Limestone Co.
  THP Tommy Andrews who been stationed here several years transferred to 
Madisonville his home town, get a good one broke in and this what they do. 
Hate to see him go but glad for he and family.
  Man jailed who shooting at survey crew across the road every time they got 
from behind the trees.
  State Championship Coon Hunt officially started and lasted thru weekend. 
Held at Reunion Grounds with large crowd from everywhere. Some brought 
their mules trained to jump fences.  The concession stand which funds the 
Emergency Corps and Reserve Deputies so busy they forgot to put the meat 
in several hamburgers. This a big thing.
  Little Bud Kitchens report father Buddy trying out hid motor bike, said 
didn’t hurt daddy much but sure did lots of damage to his cycle.
  Teddy Bear and Kent to Jacksonville to ride in parade with Big John on 
Stage Coach, sent word wanted me on it next time.
    Glad to learn Joe Richards receiving Agriculture Man of the Year Award 
as certainly due as had much influence on cattle business in area, he usually 
ahead of the times in this respect. Remember many years ago when both of 
us younger he made many trips to the country with my father, one time in 
particular while working cattle Joe mounted paint pony of mine that much of 
a cow horse and attempted to rope a calf off him. Joe missed the calf with 
the pony coming to a quick halt and Joe continuing over his neck onto hard 
ground. so guess we helped broaden his knowledge a little too.
Grandpa’s Report
   ...
  Judge Dick Black retired recently after several years as County Judge and 
District Judge. When he finished law school he was appointed to represent a 
ruffian in a criminal case and came out to the Jail to visit with and carried 
into the cell area to talk to him thru the bars. This a good lesson for Dick that 
you don’t wear a slip up tie into the Jail as the prisoner not happy reached 
thru the bars and pulled him to the bars and nearly choking him seriously 
until Jailer came to the rescue. I learned early on you wore clip on ties in 
such situations as couldn’t choke you with them...