FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT
J.R. (Sonny) Sessions

Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church 1866-2006,
Shiloh Public School and Sessions Cemetery 1853-

  All located near present day Kirven and earlier community Woodland. 
Its earliest participants were slaves who walked from their homes in 
Alabama with their masters to a new live in Texas. Descendents told me 
they came with anticipation as been told biscuits grew on bushes and 
molasses flowed from springs.  A white minister Presbyterian Elder 
Jeremiah Seely is said to have been given permission to prepare a place 
of worship and minister to them with a brush arbor built in 1854 and 
worship services began.
  In 1866 the now Freedmen set apart to direct their own affairs. A white 
Presbyterian Board was appointed to organize a Primitive  
Baptist Church. The church was organized, named and the first Black 
minister Elder Moffett ordained who later became its first Bishop. In 
1874 the Zion Rest Assn. formed. Since its establishment there have been 
four buildings the last and present one in 1922.
  In 1994 a Texas State historical Marker was dedicated here and at 
Sessions Cemetery. The site of this church on land donated by area 
citizen Minyard Harriss whose great nephew Davis Blake Carter along 
with his wife Mary and daughters Phoebe and Deborah came from out 
of State to speak. If it hadn’t been for Davis Carter all this probably 
never happened.  During its 150 years it has seen good times and bad 
times, today it maintained by dedicated descendents living in other 
areas. I am proud and enjoyed being involved as my family before me.
  At Sessions Cemetery a Historical Marker was also dedicated on the 
same date in 1994 with many families represented. It is said the first 
burial here was Anderson Carter a slave in l854. The land where it 
situated donated by G. A. Sessions and named after him. Today it well 
maintained with occasional burials. About 30 years ago during a million 
dollar harassment law suit it shown on TV as my family burial ground.
  Shiloh School and Shiloh Church across the public road from each 
other the social center for the black families in the area, both served 
them well and many pleasant stories heard concerning it. The building 
built from the old Woodland College for Boys when the railroad came 
thru and Woodland virtually abandoned in early 1900’s. The school 
closed and moved to Wortham in 1949. Today there’s a small memorial 
maintained by a former student who moved back in later years.
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                 Grandpa’ Report
  For some reason last weeks report was censored or deleted in the 
papers. I hope to find out why so can be corrected due to inquires from 
readers.
  During the WWII years the Sunday night radio reports by 
commentator Walter Wenchel who started program with “Attention 
America and all l the ships at Sea” was listened to religiously by many. I 
was told during this time that he said Freestone Co., Texas sitting on the 
largest natural gas field in the world, I did not hear the program but 
have been told several times then and in later years. If this correct he 60 
years ahead of the times. 
....