FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS Sheriff 1965-2001 COFFIELD-TYUS CEMETERY Originally there about 600 acres of land located west of the Trinity in Freestone Co. adjoining the Coffield land in Anderson Co. This was basically for the deposits of iron ore gravel needed for roads and such. A low water crossing was made on the River capable of gravel trucks transporting the iron ore. This crossing and the guiding lights on the TU generating plant smoke stacks seemed to be an incentive for convicts escape and attempts. Most prison escapees or attempts seemed to be in this area. This land located on Tyus Bluff which locals and whole families usually when crops laid by had used for generations to camp, hunt, fish, and gather wild berries and such. The only time I remember camping out on the River was with my Daddy and a group here in my youth. We fished some and hunted cat squirrels that were harder to bag than the fox squirrel. There a public road to the River and nearby Tyus Cemetery. Due to the increased possibility of prisoner escapes TDC wanted this closed to the general public which many opposed especially the Tyus family. There were several meetings with the County Commissioners Court who had the authority to close these roads. Bill Haynie Tyus and I made some of these meetings where TDC Director Dr, George Beto and other TDC officials made their requests. It was finally agreed upon for the changes with Dr. Beto and other TDC Officials to maintain Tyus Cemetery with prison labor and TDC supervision. As this agreeable with Mr. Tyus (Bill the head man in Teague’s electric power plant) it was approved This worked fine for several years until new Directors and Prison Wardens retired or moved on. After friend Bill Tyus death I contacted the new Wardens that it being neglected and they usually advised they not aware of the commitment and promptly did what necessary. For a few years this land used by the Texas Youth Council to bring big city problem kids where they lived and tried to correct. Putting it mildly it didn’t work. Fortunately it so far removed and luckily about the only real problem was vehicle thefts. I was told by kids they brought back that all they did was “huddle” around a campfire and talk about it was joke to them and us too. Finally the program was abandoned and vacated. A new Director who really an accountant is said to have started using it as a personal recreation area and party house. This all ended with problems and the only remaining building went up in flames. The low water crossing had been abandoned years before. I am told the land has been sold to a private individual with the gate still locked and nobody has checked the cemetery lately. The Tyus family some of early settlers in eastern Freestone Co. early land owners some known as the Tyus Farm which located near the Prison land owned by Dr. L.L. Bonner with the home used as a camp house. There many descendents around the country. The Tyus Cemetery which located on a hill overlooking the Trinity River. I am told the first burial here was in l875 and the last Texan wife of William Tyus in l935. The Cemetery was well taken care of before the Prison came in. I do not know of a list of the people buried here but would like to have one. Vol. II Freestone Co. History tells according to legends of the area “Grandma” Tyus told of a group of Mexicans crossing the Trinity River at Tyus Bluff with 12 jacks loaded with gold they were carrying to Mexico and reportedly captured near Turlington with no gold. Years later a Mexican came to the area and left during the night with evidence found he had dug something up. Another legend is about the Cave some called the Tyus Cave. “Haynie, Bill and Walter Tyus grandfather came to Texas about l812 and settled at Pine Bluff, raising a family and living among the Indians. A Keechi Indian village was nearby. It is said the (Tyus) Cave had seven rooms. There many stories concerning the Cave, the times I saw it only the entrance was accessible and not safe to try and enter. Doc Lee told about his mother and other women doing their clothes washing here with the children playing in the Cave. Some years ago Mr. Will Creel and Gene Lewis gave a group of us a tour of the area-Blount, Rock Springs, Sand Town, the Cave, the Outlaw Rock. There many stories involving the area. *** From the Original Sheriffs Report 1973-74. Received word from Wortham friend Herbert Arch Burleson (Hub) to come see him as had something for me. Did so reluctantly as could be anything bit turned out to be a TDC sawed off double barrel .12 gauge shotgun that should get anybody’s attention. He also gave Peg a sawed off .20 gauge double barrel shotgun which I didn’t let her have at the time. Chase through western part of County when Flat Top Store in Kirven burglarized with owner shooting at him. Thought he had got away until tried to cross TX 14 north of Mexia and sighted Mexia PD Sgt. Huckaby, who stopped and held him. Jailed and stolen property returned to owner. Two prisoners escaped from old Jail that planning on shooting deputy to get a vehicle, ended up taking new Reserve Deputy car. The car driven thru fences in remote area near Rural Shade and left, found by land owner who used our police radio to tell us where it was. Both escapees had long criminal histories. One when tried for the escape said it to get insulin for his diabetes, when he left he knew where it kept in refrigerator and didn’t take time to get it. The diabetic went into a coma and abandoned by other escapee with good Samaritan Navarro Co. citizens taking to hospital where he was treated and left before we heard it. More on escape next week. Special Ranger Tim Willard murdered in l926 the last Officer to loose his life in Freestone Co. Years later Mexia PD Officer Ricky Ward a native of Freestone Co was murdered in Mexia. Both these Officers were Military’ Veterans, both 33 years old, both buried in Lakes Chapel Cemetery and both killed by shots fired from ambush. Both had large crowds at their funerals.