Freestone County, Texas Reflections FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS SHERIFF 1965-2001 WOODS CHAPEL PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH 1874-2009 Organized in 1874 over one hundred thirty five years ago in the Grindstone Community in Freestone Co by Rev. George W. Woods and a few members. Located several miles east of present day Kirven in a rural area, the entrance to the church was on a dirt road surrounded by tall trees. The building was elevated off the ground with wooden blocks and faced the north, oil burning lamps furnished lights at night and was heated with a wood burning iron stove. I feel sure there a small school nearby as was the custom then. There is not a lot of the early history available. I feel sure this organization was part of the Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church Association. In April l945 the membership of Woods Chapel Primitive Baptist Church purchased land in the City of Kirven, LOT #6 in Block 30 from T.E. and Eula Poindexter where the church building was moved shortly after the deeds were filed in April 1945 and is located today. The front of the church building faced the Burlington Rock Island Railway which located on the east. With the renovation of the building and construction of FM Road #1449 through the community the front of the building was changed to the west facing the Farm Road. This is still how it appears today. The building was painted white. The outdoor toilet facilities were still used and no running water for the membership In September 1956 electricity put in the building. The wood burning stove was used to heat the building until gas installed in 1975 for heating the building. Further renovations were made in 1981 with indoor toilet facilities and running water by my friend Deacon Aaron Butcher. A dining area purchased in Oct. 1980, new benches obtained in 1987 and partial carpeting was added in 1988. Name plates were placed on the benches in 1988 by some church families. Air conditioning was obtained in 1989. During this time, two large pastoral chairs were donated to the church in memory of Mother Mamie E. Williams and Sister Aggie Bertha “Pigg” Williams by Sister LaJuana Barton. They adorn the pulpit today. In l990 the pastor’s study was added to the building and additional carpeting installed. The interior of the building was sheet rocked and painted three times during the 1970’s-80’s and 90’s. A Church marquee was donated by Bro. Gary Pelton. Patrica Barton who furnished much of this information advised that through all the structure changes God has continued to Bless this membership in its endeavors. Through the years there have been continued improvements to the building. Benches have been acquired for the dining area and many more improvements. The landscape is tended to seasonally and the ground is always accessible to the congregation. And last but not least in April 1999 a Cornerstone was laid by the Masonic Lodge of Dallas, Texas. Today work is being done on a new building located next to the old one. Much of this being done by the membership and looking good. I am sure I knew many of its members, some that come to mind are Mattie Palmer and her descendents. Mattie worked hard and did whatever necessary to survive, wild rabbits were a big part of her menu, when she went hunting if she wanted two she carried two shells for her single shotgun. Others that come to mind are Mamie and Bertha Williams and their families. The pastor today is Rev. Charles Kelly and services are the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month. Again thanks to the Melvin Johnson’s and Patricia Barton. *** From the Original Sheriffs Report 1976 Started quiet last weekend and nearly ended with tragedy. Had sleet, ice and blizzard like conditions with plenty of problems for Thanksgiving holiday travelers, several wrecks at one time with deputies assisting THP. While near Streetman hears THP in pursuit on US 84 west of Teague that drove thru fences topping near home where husband in hospital and believed went into house ad shooting at tem. All confusion when arrived Shortly as no one really knew what going on, restraint by officers and direct Teague telephone line probably prevented a tragedy. I personally knew the family living in the house and called on the phone and told the wife frightened by all the activity opened the door and fired her gun in the air, lady advised the subject fleeing not in the house but someone outside calling for them to come out with their hands up. Subject found to have fled on foot. Coffield Tracking Dogs followed the track for several miles but lost in frigid weather and frozen ground. The search called off about 5am the new Coffield Warden and I were the last to leave. I had pulled off the highway on the frozen ground and when started to move couldn’t. I asked the warden to pull me off. The warden replied he didn’t pull anybody with his State pickup and drove off. I then had to call for assistance. Friend Dewey Morgan who retired from and well respected by TDC heard about this (I did not tell him) and within a week the warden was back as farm supervisor and a new warden appointed. (This my only bad experience with TDC in 36 years.) The pleasure of using the TDC dogs was staying up all night and then next day trying to find and repair fences cut by the Dog Sgt’s. The first thing most officers want to do in a chase is call for the Dogs; don’t remember any being there for fence repair. Deputy Brown off one day called in to drive ambulance Sheriffs Office and Navarro College completed Certification classes with those awarded Certificates were Bob Wilson, Dewey Morgan, David McCurry, Houston Flowers, Buck Bonner, Barry Moore, Paul Spence and Constable elect John Y. Bonner Suspicious man reported hiding in trees behind woman’s house, pipeline walker with too much to drink and lost. Youth with bad criminal history unable to make bond tried to make deal with Judge McCain to put him in trade school where government paid him Enough to hire lawyer. Torso man with head, arms and legs cut off found near US 79 in Booger Co. Another first in New Jail, hunger strike that didn’t last too long. Thought about letting get taste of life in old Jail. Bad Friday for Co. Att. Gage, awakened 4am thought house on fire or gas escaping, just loaded pole cat caught in trap set for possum. Fan pulled air in house by then well fumigated, rest of night spent trying to correct. Still shook up tried DWI case and lost. Man jailed that went to café and parked vehicle, said he knew he too drunk to drive, jailed. Last rites for friend Raymond Davis, peace officer for 35 years as Teague City Marshall and Constable, about the last of the old time officers known in my father’s time.