FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS SHERIFF 1965-2001 PERRY FARM-PATRICKS Recently Jim Bosley who raised in Richland and I had enjoyable visit with Arthur and Doris Patrick in their Richland home, both longtime friends, and Doris Ivy Patrick a native of the Fairfield area. Been involved with Arthur over the years, and especially relating to Walker Lake Hunting and Fishing Club. On the old Kirven to Fairfield FCR 1080 there is a tract of land known locally as the Perry Farm owned and operated by the Patrick family. I wish we knew more about Mr. Perry who I believe has family buried in Woodland Cemetery. Over the years as Sheriff I was visited by several older black men who said they lived there at one time and made inquires about it, I am ashamed to admit I didn’t get much information from them and never heard from them again. Much of the land located in Caney Creek bottom with slueghs I had fished in as a child with my friend Monk Edwards. Arthur Patrick told us the Patrick Brothers Jim and Walter bought this property in the l920’s mostly for the permanent water supply, before this they depended on old Buffalo wallows for livestock water. Even Patterson Lake and Walker Lake sometimes went dry and livestock had to be driven to the Trinity River for water. There were 18 houses and share croppers on this 1253 acres and the deal called for three more houses. The Perry Farm owned by unscrupulous subject when the Patrick Brothers bought it who would sell it for a good down payment and then take it back and sell it again and very unhappy when Patrick’s paid for it in full with gold. As this the main road to Fairfield for Kirven and Wortham and the road thru the creek bottom impassible in wet weather a narrow concrete slab was poured, this one of first improved roads in County which a big project then with teams, wagons and fresnos. Walter Patrick managed the outside operations and sometimes lived on the Perry Farm until his house burned and he nearly lost his life trying to save his cats. Arthur’s father Jim in later years ran the store in Richland. The Patrick’s an early family in the area. Arthur’s grandfather had a store on Pisgah Ridge near the Belle Starr Cave. Arthur’s ancestors involved in a longtime family feud with the Love family after their grandfather killed. Richland founded with the railroad about l876, John Wesley Harding’s father a Methodist Preacher founded the church that still in service today Walter Patrick cut and stacked cord wood for the railroad when it came thru for 25 cents a cord. At one time Walter worked for the prison system and received threats on his life from some of the inmates; he always carried a gun- rifle and or pistol. Arthur has an old family bed used by Walter with a bullet hole in it when Walter had a bad dream and thought someone after him and fired the shot Arthur’s Dad went to college to be a telegraph operator; he then worked for several railroads before coming back to Richland to run the store. When the local bank wouldn’t stay open on weekends for the Swink’s to pay their hands the Patrick’s opened their own bank with the other one closing down, The Patrick Brothers bought numerous tracts of land and kept the deeds in an old trunk under the bed without recording them, with the oil booms in the area they were forced by the oil companies to record them. In the 1923 Richland Oil Boom there so many people on the streets three year old Arthur not allowed to walk as might get stepped on. Arthur’s book keeping experience enabled him to be in the banking business in Richland and later Corsicana. Arthur and Doris home next to the Cemetery in Richland is located on the old Corsicana to Fairfield Stage Coach Route. There too many stories concerning this historic family to try to tell. *** It was with sincere regret and surprise to learn my friend and author of “the Story Uncle Minyard Told” and “Two Stars in the Southern Sky” passed away on Oct. 5th, 2008 in Aberdeen, Miss. It was a pleasure and education to have been involved with he and Mary. He will be missed *** Loss of longtime Wortham friends W.O. Richardson and Tommy Craig. Tommy started his law enforcement career as one of my early Reserve Deputies before becoming Constable. Appreciate their friendship over the years. *** From the Original Sheriffs Reports l968-69 Local youth who took his mother’s car without permission jailed in Gladewater on armed robbery. Leon Co. investigating case where new born baby found in trash bag on side of road fully developed and possibly strangled. For the convenience of the Sheriffs Office and public the Sheriff’s Office moved from the basement of the Courthouse to a storage room in the old Jail. This made it easier in maintaining and restoring the old Jail to a usable condition. Cracks and holes in walls and floors filled with cement, windows repaired along with other. Three men killed in US 75 wreck, bodies released to Houston for burial as no close family found. Violation of probation hearing on man postponed as evidence depended on wife who mad at him but not that mad. Near tragedy in Teague when city employee Kennedy in open sewer line that caved in on him, rescued by fellow workers. Home north 75 burned taking the life of elderly woman. Family thought there was foul play but nothing to go on. New sulfur plant near Streetman in operation. Woman traveling alone on 75 having car trouble reported being accosted, then attacked when not responsive to two women deviates who stopped. Man reported missing found himself in the Madison Co. Jail. Car windshield kicked out by irate husband with wife in it hasn’t been long since she shot at him unsuccessfully. Dispatcher Ronnie Alford who confined to a wheel chair came to attention when advised on radio a kidnapping and murder just been solved near Teague until found out it a big turkey gobbler a coyote had for supper. Short visit with new Baptist Preacher, first impression didn’t blame them for stealing one so close although it did seem a little inconsiderate.. Man held overnight in Jail to satisfy mother in law. Elderly man jailed by THP on DWI, when released advised it his first time in jail and hoped to h---- it was the last.