Freestone County, Texas Reflections FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS SHERIFF 1965-2001 SESSIONS IN FREESTONE COUNTY #4 This is the last information presented at the 2009 Woodland Cemetery Annual Memorial Meeting prepared and presented by family members/ James R. (Sonny) Sessions, Jr. The fourth child of Jim and Thelma was born in 1926 in Kirvin on the place now owned by Rosa Butcher on Post Oak Street. The family moved to the jail when Jim was elected Sheriff in 1931. Fairfield was just a village at that time. They occupied the bottom floor of the old jail where his mother Thelma was in charge of seeing that the prisoners were fed two meals a day. She hired a cook to help prepare food for the family and prisoners. About 1934 the family moved to a house on North 75 and lived there for many years while the children attended school. Sonny graduated from Fairfield in spring of 1944. Worked at Utley Grocery on Saturdays during the school year. Joined the Navy in Nov. 1944, before his 18th birthday. Went through boot camp in San Diego, then to school in Bainbridge, Maryland. Back to San Francisco on troop train across the US and was shipped out on July 4th 1945 to the Philippines and served aboard the USS LST 666. The war ended shortly, and they sailed to Japan returning their troops home, during this time survived one of the worst typhoons in history. Served in various areas of Japan and Pacific, arrived back in San Francisco, July 4th 1946, and was discharged at Camp Wallace, Texas. After the discharge went to Texas A & M one year and graduated from Navarro Junior College the next. During this time went on night calls with his Dad because at the time had only one deputy who was in poor health. Served papers, help make arrests, preformed duties in the field and in the jail. After the death of his father he and mother moved back to Kirvin and pursued ranching during the 1950’s drought James R and Peggy were married in 1961 and built a house on the Hines Place in the Woodland community; they have three sons, Hammond, James and Ken. After much encouragement from Freestone County citizens, ran for Sheriff in 1964 and was elected. We moved our house from Woodland area to Fairfield and lived there until 1967. Later the family moved back to Woodland to his mother’s house on the Hines Place and she moved to Kirvin. In 1974 we built our home on the place my dad was born on, which is where we live at this time. He served as Freestone County Sheriff 36 years and during that time was elected President of the Sheriff’s Association of Texas by his peers in 1989 and served one year. He and his directors were responsible for the purchase of the offices of the Sheriff’s Association Building in Austin on I-35. The organization had been renting all these years. The building was paid off in three years time with everyone’s valiant effort. He has been a Master Mason since 1963, was District Deputy in 1969, Past Master of Cotton Gin Lodge in Kirvin and received the Golden Trowel Award for his dedicated service. He retired in 2001 and has continued to enjoy his ranching interest and his grandchildren to the fullest. During his younger years he was an avid hunter. His favorite past time now is dominoes in which sometimes he is very skillful and lucky. *** From the Original Sheriffs Report Been justly concerned since decomposed body of murder victim found in Leon Co. that Sheriff Royce Wilson going to push it over he Co. Line as have known him to do such. Armed robbery of Teague Jewelry early one morning with owner (Mr. Coates) and daughter taken hostage, tied in back of store and robbed. Diamonds and jewelry taken along with other property. Area alerted and suspects located and arrested near Leona by THP Ron Wood and most of property recovered. Public meeting Wortham concerning local dog poisonings with more reported and reward money raised. (This never solved with everyone suspecting someone else). Reported DWI found to be tired TDC preacher. Bueford got DWI who advised he close enough to crawl home when picked up. Report black poodle dog named Fuzzy missing. Autopsy of dog poisoned recently in Wortham with strychnine found. Christmas Dinner for Sheriffs Office at the Hugh Whitakers enjoyed and appreciated. Message delivered to man mother had heart attack, advised just his wife trying to get him to come home. Heard story recently concerning one of our favorite area characters of days gone by District Judge Fountain Kirby (known as the Injunction Judge whom supposedly would issue one nearly anywhere in the State on nearly any issue). Seems he was trying a whisky making case here during the moonshine days. The States star witness a Federal Revenuer who on the stand asked if the defendant was caught at the "still". The agent answered no, but close by and covered with mash. The Judge replied "Hell man you can’t walk thru Freestone Co. without getting corn mash on you." The man was found not guilty.