FREESTONE PAST/PRRESENT J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS SHERIFF 1965-2001 OLD MILLER HOME #2 I had the pleasure of being involved with this family over the years and visiting in the home while it still occupied. In later years many called this the Burleson House as occupied by Eda Miller Burleson who inherited it and her husband Slathel Burleson. Their children S.A. Burleson Jr. and Mamie Jo Burleson Coates inherited the property and later sold to Tony Miller the present owner. Slathal Burleson built Reds Lake east of Fairfield on Jolly Slough. Slathal and his son S.A. Jr. built Burleson Lake after WWII which located just south of Reds Lake. Slathal had serious medical problems which many of the family doubted. He died in the old house and it was said he had to die to prove he was sick. S.A. Jr. became a dozer contractor in West Texas and dug a few shallow non producing wildcat wells in the Wortham area in the l950’s. This old house always intrigued me sitting on high ground facing the south with a view of much of the property from the porch or dog trot sitting area about 10’ off the ground. The half story above the main house accessible by narrow steep stairs. Unsealed it was sometimes used as sleeping quarters. Sam Craig whose parents to my knowledge the last family to live here in the l960’s told he and brother Tommy thought it was haunted and seldom went there. My family has property across Big Tehuacana Creek from here, fences were hard to maintain and cattle sometimes crossed it. Getting them out on horseback I always tried to ride by the old house and cemetery. This during the big drought and you had to ride carefully as there dangerous cracks in the blackland soil, John Miller very inventive and ahead of the times, he was nearly self sufficient in his operation. He grew some cotton which the main crop in the area but his great interest was in corn production and it is told the only 2nd year he missed harvesting a beautiful corn crop was the year he died. The large barn where the corn stored was constructed where it could be unloaded with little manual labor. This also where “the smoke house” located the meats and sausages cured and stored At one time there a saw mill powered by a steam engine, a cotton gin, and grist mill and syrup mill that provided custom services to the entire area. The last surviving slave was Aunt Classie Banks who was born and raised on the place and didn’t want to leave when slavery abolished. John was a fiddler and fisherman. Many evenings were spent playing his fiddle with “Uncle Jesse Wafer” a former slave who lived across the creek in the bottom. Many former slaves were family to many of us. A three holer (seats) out house served the purpose before modern indoor plumbing and located near the house for convenience. At one time split rail fences separated fields and pastures. This is another place treasures were believed buried and fortune teller Annie Buchanan contacted with no success. I am sure there other things overlooked. *** From the Original Sheriff Report l972 Much confusion Sunday and Monday with several hundred I45 travelers due to the cold and ice on roads. Sheriffs Officers and THP out till wee hours hauling stranded people from vehicles to various places set up for temporary quarters. About 70 spent night in Baptist Church Annex, some in Jailhouse, some in Courthouse and man in all night cafes here and Dew. There were buses loaded with passengers in ditches, cars, trucks and too many wrecks for THP to work. Road blocked for several hours on US 84 at the River bridge. There were young women with small babies, old ladies, sick people, college students, some of these spent night at deputies and helped on way. Game Warden Goff very helpful. Deputy over heard lady spending night on mattress in Jail remark to new husband “Ain’t this a hell of a way to spend a vacation-sleeping on a Jailhouse floor. Nuts wanting Christmas money (happens every year) opened season on area banks. Bank at Trinidad hit, attempt made at Streetman during noon hour and Corsicana robbed late in day. Streetman bank still running scared as haven’t forgot having to get on top of safe in last robbery, strange car seen with man getting out sticking gun under coat, the door quickly locked With subject driving off when couldn’t get in. Told by prisoner he did time in Federal Pen with Indian on reservation doing 5 years for burning the laws teepee down. Retired Ranger Captain Bob Crowder (whom I knew casually) buried during one of old time Rangers, given credit for legend going into boom town on train to corral reported riot, asked if he the only one with answer there’s just one riot isn’t there. Man killed recently in accident with reputation such that no one known to have stolen from while alive even though living and running with the worst. Learned short time after that couple of jackals stole beer in vehicle that wouldn’t have considered such with him living. A Justice of Peace can legally hold court anywhere, thought I had seen it all until recently one in hospital held it in his room. Found out we running a haunted calaboose when three subjects started seeing haints. All three huddled in one bunk in cell block with door closed after sleepless night, took couple out for while and told Freddy who got left threatened to run when left alone. Freddy laying out small fine he involved and left so fast without his shoes. When we returned not sure if Freddy still there so turned off main switch for all lights, nothing heard so went under open window and howled like a coyote. Nothing heard so presumed he had been released. The cell block was found intact with a pile of jail mattresses in the middle and two feet sticking from under the pile with Freddy slowly emerging I offered Freddy the fine money to spend one more night which he hastily refused. This wasn’t the last time had Freddy in Jail but it the last time he was ever in the old Jail. Later Freddy sent to the pen, he wrote me to come get him as he thought it time. *** Historian friend Eric Wood found this in the April 19, l897 issue of The Dallas Morning News. “Wortham, Freestone Co., Tex. April18-Capt. John A. Lilly, a prominent and reliable citizen of this place, a Mexican war veteran, claims he saw the mysterious airship last night at 9:30. He says it was going straight up. The captain is noted for his truthfulness”. Is there anyone familiar with the Lilly family? In the Wortham Cemetery there is a J.A. Lilly 2/22/26-8/4/04 grave marker, no military marker and no family markers. *** Grandpa’s Report ... Friend and former Jailer Steve Johnson and I toured west of Teague to Mexia reminiscing experiences in the area that ranged from capital murders to fun things. Traveled thru Furney Richardson, Grove Island, Point Enterprise, Shiloh, toured what left of the old Grainery where Steve worked years ago. Took Hinchcliff Road into Mexia to join Happy for burgers at Charlie Allens.