FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT
J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS 
OLD FREESTONE COUNTY LOG HOUSES
  In the early l850’s a number were built in the Dew area. Col. B.A. Philpott, 
his brother J.P. Philpott, Judge W.B. Compton, Major J.H. Blaine and Major 
H.A. High acquired the Durham-Avant survey. They divided this into five 
parts with lots drawn to determine who got which part of the land. 
According to Mr. Notley at least two of the cabins were Confederate Soldier 
homes a place where they get lodging and food while traveling through, the 
County reimbursed the homes.
  When I went in office in l965 the only one being lived in was the Compton 
House which still standing but unoccupied located next to the Compton 
Cemetery west of TX 75 north of Dew. At the last the Blaine House was 
used as a hay barn, nothing is left today. The Philpott log house was moved 
to the Teague Railroad Museum. A Compton descendent Mrs. Wilton Ayers 
and her children lived here I visited in this home on numerous occasions and 
always awed by its history and condition. Family history says all were put 
on high ground where each could see the other for emergencies, this before 
telephones and such. These were not log cabins but homes of prominent and 
early Freestone families.
  The David Carter log home was moved to the County Museum in Fairfield 
where it on display. I visited here as a child as this family kin folks and 
occupied by Cousin Alfred Carter and his wife. This log house originally 
south of FR27 between Fairfield and Kirven. If you have never visited these 
log houses in the Museum’s you are missing a treat.
                                          ***
                Original Sheriffs Report 1969
  THP Ray jailed drunk woman and man, other prisoners reported she not 
talking very nice to Charlie, if never handled a drunk woman you ant really 
appreciate this. Deputy Gregory and THP Kellum on report man with 
shotgun looking for man with reputation as woman molester after complaint 
from wife, suspect hard to find. Three out of state youths jailed on vagrancy 
charge, only time remembers using vagrancy as courts outlawed it. Later 
hauled all to County Line and pointed south.

  Well attended meeting of Freestone and Corsicana Emergency Corps. 
Large check given to transit man for cheap reducing machine. 
Drunk removed from Continental Bus Station.
 Oakwood boy slightly injured by Butler student after basketball game. 
Mental patient carried to Rusk State Hospital for annual visit.
  DWI jailed after running over man on motorcycle after earlier problem. 
Child support case heard in District Court, man $4000 behind let off for 
$600. Area Highway Patrol meeting and pistol shoot at Freestone Co. Gun 
Club. Memorial services in Athens for Ranger Ben Krueger’ wife. Gov. 
Smith
Issued permit for man in pent to attend fathers funeral here.
  Reds Lake caretaker reported house broken in, arrested four Dallas youths 
for this and theft of auto, couldn’t tell boys from girls as hair so long, came 
down on “Love In”, boys held for sometime, finally got haircut with 
Rayford closing shop and moving.
   Son Ken 5 years old with me to Groesbeck early to pick up man on child 
support, on job but already drunk. Heard Navarro Co. Deputy friend Harold 
Pitts involved in pursuit of 3 Mexia State School escapees that been 
terrorizing the area, on way to help Harold found 30-30 rifle left by suspects, 
saw what looked like horse standing on top of old barn, really standing on 
tank dam, man with us drunk started shaking his head in disbelief. Chase 
ended with capture after subjects seen by friend George Pittman with State 
School runners catching others on foot.
  Local jailed by Deputy Sue Gregory who called wanting be locked up until 
sober. Mental held in jail several days tore up all mattresses and stacked the 
furniture several times looking for boogers, handled several times with 
weapons, this  time had long butcher knife, one time shot at brother.