Freestone County, Texas Reflections Freestone Past/Present J.R. “Sonny” Sessions Ray Sealy- Livestock Auctioneer-Limestone Co. Judge Friend Ray Sealy auctioneered for livestock sales for over 40 years, especially the big Groesbeck sale. His lovely wife Molly Richardson a longtime friend also as her family lived many years in Fairfield area. Ray’s first livestock auction was in Fairfield in the late 30’s and early 40’s. held weekly and located on the old Confederate Reunion Grounds in a small building left from the reunions. Livestock pens were built around the building and held the animals, seats for buyers were inside the auction ring. As I remember nearly any kind of livestock could be sold here but basically cattle, hogs, horses and mules. It didn’t last many years, possibly closed down due to its location without permission. Ray says he made $15 to $35 at this and other early sales as on a commission. I remember buying a wild mustang pony at this sale for I think $10; it pitched all the way home In this same period Limestone cattleman and horse trader Franklin Jackson started a livestock sale in his old mule barn downtown Groesbeck. Cotton bagging was used in the auction ring; seats here were also inside the ring. Over many years this sale evolved into one of the State’s largest changing operations over the years. June De Cordova came in the sale with Mr. Jackson and very involved. The first sale barn was located near the Limestone Co. Courthouse, parking in the area on sale days a big problem. This sale barn burned and a new modern one built east of town replaced it. This one of Ray’s biggest sales and he worked here and others over 40 years. Franklin Jackson probably the biggest cattleman in the area (very large man physically too). It is estimated he ran about l000 momma cows on his 6,000 acre ranch and leased pastures. He was known to have a remarkable memory on any livestock he ever saw if seen again. After 40 years Ray retired from auctioneering, friends influenced him to run from Limestone Co. Judge, which he did and was elected and served well for 8 years. Now retired he lives in the Mexia area near his children. At the early livestock sales when you drove in to unload you were approached by shady traders similar to buzzards after a fresh carcass, These traders would try to buy your livestock by hook or crook, anytime you sold to them and not thru the sale you were beat, some made a living just doing this. At today’s markets I don’t think this allowed and shouldn’t be. Shortly after WWII another sale operated in Fairfield for a while but wasn’t successful. Whisky Days To most in earlier days whisky was the only medicine available. It served many purposes; it took the place of doctors and medicine they didn’t have. Even those opposed to illegal whisky and condemned it as a drink kept it for medicinal purposes In June l921 Teague lades formed “The League to Enforce Prohibition”, its purpose o create a strong sentiment against the illegal sale of liquor in Freestone Co. and collect funds to aid officers in running down bootleggers and moon shiners” In Feb. l921 Gov. Pat Neff declared, “ there is sweeping over Texas as never before in her history, a wave of crime, the spirit of lawlessness has become alarming.” With the Mexia oil boom in l921 a town of 3000 grew to 30,000 in a few months, Ranger Captain Frank Hamer reported, “within a few weeks Mexia was one of them most corrupt and lawless cities Texas has ever seen”. Been told by Mexia citizens living this period that dead bodies were picked up every morning on the streets and in the alleys, most were never identified or their deaths investigated there so many of them it was unsafe to go on he streets at night without being robbed or assaulted. There were areas law- abiding citizens didn’t go in day or night. In January 1922 twenty Texas Rangers and a few Federal Officers raided the Winter Garden east of Mexia Freestone Co. and the Chicken Farm north of Mexia in Freestone Co. Little was accomplished due to interference from local law enforcement. Gov, Neff then declared Martial Law in designated precincts of Limestone and Freestone Co. Adjutant Barton, his assistant, Captain Frank Hamer, Captain Tom Hickman and two companies of Texas Rangers moved in. Gov. Neff declared all Freestone Co. under Martial Law Feb. 2nd. 1922. Grand Pa’s Report In recent weeks Grandma and I joined other doting parents and grand parents in various locations around the State for Varsity Hard Ball, Girls Soft Ball, and basketball where Cooper’s boy team and Kenzie’s girl team won Regional and now going to Nocona next month for National Playoffs. Visited Valley Mills, Rio Vista, Eustace, Latexo, Blooming Grove, Itasca, and Dawson. Only game in Wortham was Neches. All did well. JR celebrated his l7th. birthday over weekend with cake and ice cream party. Also has his show pig for coming County Fair. Katy has her lamb named Felica and Anna her goat named snowflake. Daniel and Jacob have their pigs.