Freestone County History with J.R. (Sonny) Sessions, Jr.:
“Troy and West Point”
Freestone County Times, June 10, 2003

In eastern Freestone County on the western bank of the Trinity River at one time were two river ports, 
Troy and West Point. Troy, the more advanced of the two, was located near where James Hall 
established an Indian Trading House in 1834 for trade with the Comanches, Wacos, Tehaucana, and 
Lords of Freestone County, the Keechi. Nearby landmark Pilot Knob was used by riverboats to know 
their location on the River, I have been told. In 1835 a group of surveyors came to Halls after stopping in 
Anderson County at the Caddo and Kickapoo Indian Villages buying dried buffalo meat and other 
supplies. While surveying, they were taken captive by Keechi's who were upset about incidents on the 
Brazos.  James Hall and the surveyors persuaded the Keechi's they were not associated with the Brazos 
people and their surveying equipment was used to steal land from the Brazos people. After being 
released, the surveyors went across the Trinity; Hall also closed his trading house and crossed the River. 
This is the only reported hostility between the Indians and Whites in Freestone Co.  It was not until the 
early 1840s that whites moved into Freestone Co.  The area between the Trinity and the Brazos Rivers 
were hunting grounds and artifacts can be found nearly anywhere, especially where there is fresh water.  
Back when there was a lot of farming in the area, arrowheads and such were easy to find after a rain.  A 
French Explorer in the 18th century traveling thru this area reported a large Tehaucana Indian Village on 
Tehaucana Creek south of the Tarrant Co. Richland Creek Dam.  Prior to the lake construction I have 
been told a study of the area was done and many artifacts were found including the preserved body of 
an Indian; all were taken to SMU in Dallas, but it is unknown if this correct.
     Much of this history comes from the 1893 Lone Star History concerning, Troy, West Point and Halls 
Trading House.  It was at one time reported as the main town in the County, and Gen. Bradbury was the 
spirit of Troy.  Other merchants were Bragg & Clough and McLain. I visited the site of Troy many years 
ago, and little remains to indicate it ever existed; I did find a few pieces of glass, dishes, pottery and 
metal.  Roger Steward, who was involved in many land abstracts, told me the only "gold claim ever filed 
in Freestone County was filed on the abandoned site, and were determined to be brass dippings from 
the blacksmith shop", which he thought were gold nuggets.
     Overlooking the site of Troy is a small cemetery on a nearby hill. Several early settlers are buried here 
including Benjamin Edwards whom his descendent Homer Edwards contended was a brother to Hayden 
Edwards of the Fredonian incident in Nacogdoches. Homer, a lifelong resident of Freestone Co., lived in 
and ran a small country store in Butler; the store was constructed of lumber out of the old Butter 
College Building. Its stands vacant and decaying today. Troy's life was short-lived as steamboat travel on 
the Trinity was not too successful. During its life, cotton was shipped down the river, and supplies and 
other merchandise were delivered here. The first Masonic Lodge in the County was here, which later 
moved. Most, if not all, the merchants moved to Fairfield. Mr. Davis Carter in his historical research 
found this information in the Montgomery, Alabama Weekly Mail of Nov 3, 1860, "Another Texas Town 
Burned" - The Palestine, Texas Advocate of Oct. 10 says "The town of Troy (Pine Bluff) on the Trinity 
River, Freestone County had been destroyed by fire.  There is no doubt that it was the work of an 
incendiary".  This story appeared in larger context of a number of stories in northeast Texas newspapers 
concerning great unrest having to do with the widespread fires purported to have been the 
responsibility of abolitionists.  Some of the buildings were moved from Troy to Sandtown and other 
nearby locations.  One large log house was moved a few miles and was occupied for many years.  I think 
it is still standing today, but unoccupied.  I have visited the site of West Point but found nothing to 
indicate it ever existed.