FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT
J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS
Sheriff l965-2001

THE LOTT HOUSE
 Located east of Fairfield off the County road going into Lakewood, Situated 
on a small hill which always brought to mind something out of the novel  
Gone With The Wind. It stood vacant for many years and is gone completely 
today. During my time there was small airfield after WWII, Bryan Daniels 
had a Registered Angus Cattle Herd and kept a string of rip Rap Rap Bird 
Dogs and handlers here.  Some years ago Hugh Whitaker brought me several 
articles written by his history class students. 
“Miss Pat” (Medical Clinic) Robertson lived here with her family as a child, 
they moved out in l949 and this may have been the last occupants of the 
house. As this before electricity, air conditioning or running water here, they 
had out houses, heated and cooked with wood stoves, fire places and drew 
water from a dug well having to heat the water on the wood stove and bath 
in a wash tub in one of the bedrooms. This was common f or those living in 
the country during these times. She told of her father who not scared of 
anything quite concerned when home alone and the old organ in the hall 
started playing until found the cat walking on the keys. With high ceilings 
the house cool n the summer but very cold in winter, they had kerosene 
lamps but always wanted an Aladdin lamp. On wash days the kids could 
play in the rinse water after, country living was hard but enjoyable as 
luxuries of today not known. She told of  coming in from pulling corn in 
field and mother on porch excitedly waving a towel a them, just learned 
WWII had ended. Pat said this old place “Home” in her mind. I regret not 
having Charles D’s stories.
  This paper done by student Floyd W. Lott who received a well deserved A 
for his efforts. 
                       “The Old Lott House by Floyd W. Lott-l966”
  The old Lott house was built in l847 by Judge Walker (Condia Robertson 
5/9/65- Pat Robertson once lived here with her family). it is now ll8 years 
old. The lumber was hauled by ox cart from Houston or Galveston (Judge 
Willis Young 5/6/65) It is located on the W.L. Moody Estate (Dr. Billy 
Sneed 5/8/65) It has five rooms and a hall. It is believed the slaves helped 
build it. Each room has very high ceilings. An old Grand Piano is in the hall 
way. On the hill behind the house was a water well which the Co0nfederate 
soldiers used to water their horses during the Civil War (Judge Willis 
Young).
  The west side of the house towards town is known as the Walker Prairie.
Billy Watson the great-grandfather of the present Jenny Watson had a 
circular one mile race track. It was known as the Watson Bros. Race Track. 
Dr. Billy Sneed the grandfather of the present Billie Sneed and other 
younger boys then took their speedy horses on weekends and raced them on 
the track. 
The weeds outside the track were very tall and Jack Rabbits were plentiful.
Dr. Sneed’s horse chased the rabbits like a cutting horse would chase a 
yearling (Dr. Billy Sneed).
  North of the house was a cotton gin powered by a horse hitched, going 
around in circles. The man who rode the horse when he was a very small 
child was Mr. Tonahill who recently died in Jacksonville. They generally 
baled about one bale of cotton a day. (Mr. J.E. “Son” Lott 5/13/65).
   Years later Judge Walker moved away from 
Fairfield. Different people have owned and lived in it since then. Mrs. 
Edwards the mother of Mrs. Morris Sneed owned it after her husband was 
killed over a debt he owed a merchant in town. Mrs. Edwards then married 
Mr. Jim Lott, a double first cousin of my grandfather Mr. Floyd Lott, who 
became the owner of the house and property after she did. Mr. and Mrs. Jim
Lott had two sons, Jim and Lloyd Lott, the grandfather of the present Lloyd 
Lott. Little Jim Lott died of diphtheria, a common disease among people 
then (Dr. Billy Sneed). When Mr. Jim Lott died, the house and property 
went to Mr. Lloyd Lott. When he died, the house and property was given to 
his wife who died in l964. It then went to Mr. J.E. “Son” Lott an insurance 
man in Fairfield. That is why it is called the old Lott house because it has 
been in the Lott line since early years.
  Rent houses were along the old road which now goes by the slaughter 
house (Little Dick Keaton’s but is now gone). Judge Willis Young’s parents 
lived in one of the rent houses. Mr. Condia Robertson’s parents also lived in 
one of the rent houses and worked for Mr. Jim Lott. Mr. Lloyd Lott, Son 
Lott’s father had a pet deer named Billy Deer.
  Mr. Jim Lott raised hundreds of hogs. He and the men who worked for him 
drove the hogs to Wortham and shipped them by train to the sale in Fort 
Worth, Texas. He also raised cows and horses.
  Near the house was a very large orchard. They raised apples, peaches, pears 
and other fruits. The old house with all its surrounding’s was almost like a 
plantation or small town. (Mr. C.N. Williford 5/9/65).  
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