FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT
J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS
SHERIFF 1965-2001
 

  At the Woodland Cemetery Annual Memorial where for several years 
programs have been presented on different families. This year it was on the 
Sessions family. The following information was presented and prepared by 
family. This the first of several parts and was presented by Grandson J.R. 
Sessions III. The next portion was presented by Grandson Daniel Sessions.
  The Sessions family is mentioned often in early English and American 
History. When British General Cornwallis surrendered at York Town, 
Virginia ending the American Revolutionary War it was in the home of 
Thomas Sessions. 
   Gustavus Adolphus Sessions was the first member of the Sessions family 
to settle in Freestone Co. The son of John Sessions and Elizabeth 
(Browning) May Sessions; he was born in l829 in Lowndes County 
Alabama. After the death of his father in l835, he and his mother and a 
younger brother came to Texas, settling in Polk Co. in l849. His mother and 
brother died soon after having contacted cholera in New Orleans on their 
way to Texas. Both are buried in Cold Springs, Polk Co. Also buried here is 
Asa Thomas May, half brother and veteran on the Mexican War who died 
while visiting his mother and brothers. (This is now in San Jacinto Co., 
Peggy and I tried unsuccessfully to locate their graves, we found there two 
cemeteries here a Baptist and a Methodist.)  Left alone, Gustavus bought a 
piece of land and farmed. In l853 he sold his land and came to Freestone Co. 
where he bought a thousand acres and became a substantial cotton planter.
   Gustavus (Gus) married Miss Martha Carter, Dec. 10, l857 at Woodland,
 Texas. Martha was born in l837 in Butler Co., Alabama. She was the 
daughter of William and Lucinda (Luckey) Carter, both of whom were born 
in Georgia. The William Carter’s first migrated to Alabama and later Texas 
in l852. 
We visited William Carters home built in 1825 in Pineapple, Ala. some
 years ago that still belonged to family. William and Lucinda Carter are 
buried in the Carter Cemetery east of Kirven.
  Martha inherited her parents beautiful plantation home known as “The 
Carter Place”. Merging her interests with those of her husband, this country 
place then became known as “The Sessions Place” located on land near 
where the Grace Skibra home is now. This home was the social center of the 
Woodland Community, with many of the weddings, funerals, soirees and 
season- long visiting of the kin folks and friends taking place here. Nothing 
remains today as it burned about l890.
        More Gus and Martha Sessions will follow;
                       ***  
   Recent publicity on subject Ballentine who coldly murdered husband of 
young couple and sexually assaulted the wife after they stopped to assist 
them traveling I45 well in l984 remembered. Convicted with life sentences 
received one released in 2006 on parole tried on recent offenses with another 
life sentence given. There may have never been an arrest without the quick 
attention given it by THP David Eldridge who had a specialty in response 
and involvement in serious situations. Information from Eldridge the first 
and most involved led to several hours of intensive search with many units 
including DPS Helicopter and TDC Tracking Dogs. The murderers finally 
walked to a road block and gave themselves up. I got home after 3am the 
next morning. When TDC Dogs used there always cut fences to be repaired 
with the Sheriffs Office expected to correct, I had lots of fence repair 
experiences. One of the offenders a big baby said we didn’t treat him right 
and he gonna to tell his momma.
                                 ***
              From the Original Sheriffs Report 1976
   Report airplane making some kind of drops Cotton Gin area found to be 
sterile male screw worm flies used in eradication program (this changed the 
cattle business).
   Complaint dude on Interstate with no clothes on riding with his seat out 
the window, 
  Mans complaint his momma not feeding him right.
  Deputy Nicholson attacked while trying to arrest DWI on bicycle, man 
jumped off bicycle, jumped fence and tried to hit deputy with pole.
  Deputies jailed man 4:30am threatened to kill girl friend and her children
shot hole in floor of trailer house with shotgun.  
  Conducted complete investigation for City of Fairfield in l973 concerning 
questions on city finances nothing found wrong.
  Religious group burned mans furniture to rid house of demons.
  Call man shooting at wife, wasn’t but probably should have.
  Received first civil papers ever on child support where mother on the 
paying end.
  Criminal Court recessed for final rites of friend and probably oldest 
practicing attorney in State Mr. George Fryer who 96 years old. This old 
gentleman had more interest in current events than many half his age, got 
out of hospital to go vote then returned to hospital. I once suggested he fly to 
convention in El Paso rather than go by bus, he replied “My friend, there are 
two things I am not going to die from one is smoking cigarettes and the other 
is flying in an airplane. Though he traveled over the world in last few years 
he didn’t either.
  Man being arraigned before District Judge asked if he married who replied 
he was there for having too many wives,
                           ***
          Grandpa’s Report will be in next week’s edition.