Freestone County, Texas
Reflections


Freestone Past/Present
J.R. “Sonny “ Sessions

Trinity River

  Named in early 1700’s by Spanish Explorer Alonza De Leon who crossed  
the river on Trinity Sunday. This river has played a big part in Freestone Co. 
history; it was the western boundary of East Texas settlements. The area 
between the Trinity and the Brazos Rivers was primarily hunting grounds for 
various Indian tribes of the area. The only white resident of Freestone Co. 
prior to the l840’s was Halls Trading Post on the River where the only 
known Indian hostilities in the County occurred. A large Tawakini 
(Tehaucana) Indian settlement was found near the River by French 
Explorers in the l700’s.
  Prior to August l927 traffic crossing the Trinity depended on Ferry’s or 
boats. At this time a one-way bridge was opened at the Bonner’s Ferry 
location on US84 & 79 today. This the only crossing in the area and such a 
big event Gov. Moody, US Senator Mayfield, Congressman Luther Johnson 
and many other dignitaries attended, it was not replaced with a two way 
bridge until the early l950’s. 
  There were numerous Ferries on the River in Freestone Co.; old County 
Court Records indicate they were given permission by the Court. Some that 
existed were Bonner, Wortham and Cook. Have heard of others including 
the Bootleggers Ferry used to transport illegal whisky and stolen livestock, 
mostly hogs.
  Before the many lakes of today on the Trinity and its tributaries, bad floods 
were common. Farming in the River Bottom a big gamble, often crops that 
promised much were wiped out overnight. Hogs were a big thing in the 
River Bottom depending mostly on the Mast (acorns and such). Weather 
reporting and predicting was unreliable and unavailable. If a big rise on the 
River was suspected some of the larger livestock producers would drive to 
Dallas and check it there. Some could predict when and where it would crest 
and arrive in their areas, if needed they usually had a few days to return and 
move livestock out of danger. 
  Attempts to navigate the River were never very successful. A Lock and 
Dam were built in Leon Co. that did not prove successful and still stands 
showing mans futile attempts. The old Ships Bell at the Freestone Co. 
Museum came from a wrecked River Boat. I have been told of a wrecked  
Boat where Catfish Creek runs into the Trinity that could be seen in very dry 
years. Troy one of many river towns that did not survive.
  There was once a swinging bridge across the River from Anderson Co. to 
the High Ridge oil patch in Freestone Co.; Amarada Oil Co. maintained a 
crew that sometimes could not cross the Bottom to the Ridge by boat, 
horseback, or Dodge Power Wagons and the swinging bridge was used to 
reach it.
  During Prohibition lots of moonshine was manufactured in the River 
Bottom. The water was good for making whisky, a sand point driven down 
about l8’’ and water was accessible. Some of these manufacturing camps 
had electric generators, were big operations with around the clock crews. I 
would guess many thousands of gallons of whisky were hauled over the old 
Wildcat Road going to Dallas. Oscar Lee Gragg who owned the old Goode 
Ranch with several thousand acres told me that in cleaning up this property 
he found nearly l00 old whisky still sites. There were probably hundreds of 
others, even today it not unusual to find an old location.
  In days gone by before the River became so contaminated by Dallas and 
Fort Worth many area families would travel to the River at least yearly for 
fishing, hunting, berry picking for a week or so. Many on the way down 
would stop and get a half-gallon or so for snakebites and such.  One of the 
most frequented was Board Pile and a few others. A few called these areas 
home and lived here fishing, hunting and trapping all year.