Freestone County, Texas History ============================================= Trinity Advocate February 3, 1858 edition Page: 2 An Alabamian in Texas The January number of the Cotton Planter, published in Montgomery, Alabama, has been placed in our hands by a friend and our attention directed to the following paragarph, which appears in a communication from Mr. D. W. Bozeman, of Coosa county. The paragraph reads as follows: "I will now return to Harrison county May 15, 1857. From this county, I went in a South-western direction to the Trinity River; this portion of Texas, is a poor county generally; the citizens brag on the water, but I think it the most inferior water for use, in the State; it contains iron, alum, sulpher, &c., making it a sour water, which is productive of serious bowel affections. Lands here are of but little durability, though free while fresh; it will wash, and a Southern sun will kill its production, being sandy and light. At Pine Bluff, in Freestone county, the Trinity River is a nasty, sickly little stream, of no value to the country for navigation, though warehouses are standing there for storing Cotton; but the last was transported from that point on wagons, and the ware-houses, no doubt willrot down before any more Cotton is handed there for boats." We propose to notice, briefly, some of the statements made above, as we think they do gross injustice to the portion of Texas, to which he alludes, and without farther ceremony shall proceed to apply the scapel to his argument: 1. "This portion of Texas, is a poor county generally," ============================================= Trinity Advocate May 26, 1858 edition Page: 2 A Card. --to the Public In a late number of the Fairfield Pioneer, an editorial notice appeared, stating that two of my Stages had been detained at Fairfield, by the Sheriff of Freestone county, to satisfy a claim from Waco; that the mail west for one trip, was detained at that place, and the mail east, sent on horseback, &c., which I see has been cpied into other papers in the State. Such as statement, uncorrected, is calculated to do me a great injury, and is, therefore, unjust. I will state the facts: I owed a Mr. Drury, of Waco, $4070, for the purchase of a House and Lot in that place; the title proves not good, as the property was encumbered by a debt of Drury's, (and is now levied upon to pay his debt,) in consequence of which, I did not pay the purchase money when due; but, Mr. Drury, and many others, well knew, I was at all times, ready and willing to pay it, according to my contrct, whenever a good title was made to me for the property. But, not withstanding this and my residence well known to him, and my responsibility and pecuniary ability amply sufficient Mr. Drury, by some means obtained an attachment against me, under which, there is now levied and bonded $10,000 worth of my property, and a Garnishee served for $1500, to pay the $4070. I leave it to all highh-minded honest men, to say whether I have acted wrong, or been badly and ungentlemanly treated. The laws of the county will settle the matter. I think the Editor of the Pioneer, to say the least of it was hasty in his remarks, and did me great injustice; and hope his sense of right, and justice, will prompt him to give this Card a conspicuous place in his paper. H. M. BLACK Palestine, Texas, May 18, 1858 ============================================= State Gazette published in Austin, Texas June 5, 1858 edition Page: 3 FREESTONE - A planter of Freestone county has rye with 8" matured heads from one grain; bearded wheat with 143 stalks from one grain. ============================================= State Gazette published in Austin, Texas June 26, 1858 edition Page: 3 FREESTONE - They are building a magnificent structure at Fairfield, for a female academy. We congratulate this young county on so valuable an acquistion. ============================================= Texas State Gazette published in Austin, Texas July 3, 1858 edition Page: 3 Freestone, Fairfield, June 23, 1858 "Maj. Marshall will be gratified to learn that Freestone will give her usual Democratic majority. Buckley will run with the other Democratic nominees." -------------------------- [same issue, same page] FREESTONE - The Pioneer says that the cotton is young and small but looks healthy and is rapidly growing; corn looks well and rye has yielded well. -------------------------- [same issue, same page] FREESTONE - The Pioneer thus speaks of Fairfield, the county seat: "Fairfield deserves a more extended notices for it we are to believe the report of travelers, we have one of the handsomest towns in the interior. Our Court-house of Brick is a large imposing building, costing at its erection some $10,000. Our Jail is made of brick, and for strength and durability, is perhaps unsurpassed in our State -- One huge and commodious church, erected chiefly by the Cumberland Presbyterians, is seen as you pass along main street. A famed Male Academy and large Masonic Hall, bespeak a liberality towards public edifices which are wanting in many elder towns. Three Hotels, offer to the weary traveler a comfortable place for repose and refreshment. Various Mechanic shops strike the traveler’s attention as soon as he looks at our villages: Wagon, Carriage and Blacksmith shops abound." There are also several villages in Freestone, Butler in the East; Troy or Pine Bluff on the Trinity; Cotton Gin in the West; and Personville situated near the Southwestern part of the county. ============================================= Dallas Weekly Herald July 3, 1858 edition The 'Pioneer' of the 22d publishes a sermon, delivered in Fairfield by the Rev. Joseph Friend, on the sinfulness of dancing. We regret that we cannot subscribe to the gentleman's doctrine, and from the moral ... among people with the least pretensions to decency. As well conquered the use of food and dress, .... of their occasional abuses - What would our French and German friends - the nations of the dance - say to the assertion that the dancing hall inevitably conducts ... ============================================= Houston Telegraph July 21, 1858 edition The Fairfield Pioneer wishes those c????ing prophets, who said the Central road would stop at Hempstead, may be proved false by the Board of Directors, just as soon as possible. ============================================= State Gazette published in Austin, Texas July 24, 1858 edition Page: 3 [Politics] Freestone. Fairfield, July 8, 1858 "Bell will not have a corporal's guard in this county. The slanders heaped on Buckley having enlisted the sympathy of the respectable portion of the opposition." ============================================= Trinity Advocate August 11, 1858 edition MARRIED: On the 1st inst., at the residence of the bride's father, by the Rev. V. H. Hey, Mr. William H. Green to Miss Mary M. Lane. All of Freestone county, Texas. We congratulate the young couple upon lauching their barks on the matrimonial sea. May they float down the stream with a smooth unruffled current, ever realizing, in each other's society, all the feliciity that follows a union of congenial souls. May life's choicest blessings be showered upon them. ============================================= The Weekly Telegraph published Houston, Texas August 11, 1858 edition The Fairield Pioneer says that two months have passed there since a general raing. The cotton crop still looks healthy. ============================================= The Weekly Telegraph published Houston, Texas August 18, 1858 edition Page: 3 The Fairield Pioneer says that Freestone is both well wooded and well watered. It is a very desirable county to settle in. ============================================= The Weekly Telegraph published Houston, Texas August 25, 1858 edition Texas Items The Fairield Pioneer says that there is some sickness in Freestone county but not of a malignant type. ============================================= The Weekly Telegraph published Houston, Texas August 25, 1858 edition Page: 1 Texas Items The Fairield Pioneer says that there is some sickness in Freestone county but none of a malignant type. The Pioneer mentions the want of rain on the cotton fields. The Pioneer reads the road overseers a lecture on the importance of keeping their roads in better repair. People do not realize how much they are injured by bad roads. Strangers looking out for a location are immediately prejudiced against a county where the roads are in bad order, and there is no appearance of public spirit. ============================================= The Weekly Telegraph published Houston, Texas October 6, 1858 edition Page: 2 Letter from Freestone County. Freestone County, Sept. 22d, 1858 To The Senior- MY DEAR OLD BOY: Some considerable time has elapsed since I communicated with thee, but now, that the dog-days are over, and my head cooler. I feel more like writing. And, firstly, it is not my intention to commence by puffing, either the one-horse towns or three-legged taverns, as L.K.P., of the News does enough in that line. Neither do I intend puffing the people, as red-eye does enough of that. I will simply say that, as a general thing, the people have treated me as well as they were able, and charge me as much as they could afford, therefore no oligation. I last wrote thee from the frontier, where I made considerable stay. On dit there, that from the best and most reliable information that can be obtained, we are now on the eve of an Indian war, provoked by Ford's victory over the Commanches, a few months ago, and which victory was unfortunately not followed up. The settlers of the frontier counties have mostly combined and organized as Rangers and minute men, for the purpose of resistance. At the same time, they are loud and bitter in their curses on those parties, through whose representations the embodiment of Rangers was superseded. On dit that some even proposed fetching the Governor and giving hi up as hostage to the red men, and placing him in the van of the attack, a pretty warm place, for his Excellency. But Imerely give these sayings to show how the excitement rages. Reports of Indian outrages are floating over the country, and something will speedily have to be done, or out frontier will be partially deserted. Splendid crops have been made and saved, so that, at all events, the people are prepared for fighting if necessary. Whether any blame is to be attached to the State Government, I know not, I merely report what I do hear. .. [same issue] MIDDLE TEXAS The Fairfield Pioneer is about to put on a new dress. ============================================= Daily Columbus Enquirer published Columbus, Georgia October 21, 1858 edition Page: 2 The Freestone, Texas, Pioneer says a large lion was killed recently on Noland's river, in Johnson county. It had killed 9 horses in that vicinity. They call panthers "lions" in Texas and Louisana. ============================================= The Weekly Telegraph published Houston, Texas November 3, 1858 edition Texas Items. the East MIDDLE TEXAS The Freestone, Texas, Pioneer says not more than half a crop of cotton has been made in that county. The mast in excellent and the pork crops great. ============================================= The Sun published in Massachusetts November 4, 1858 edition ...The Freestone (Texas) Pioneer says a large lion was killed recently on Noland's river, in Johnson county. It had killed 9 horses in that vicinity. They call panthers "lions" in Texas and Louisana. ============================================= Trinity Advocate December 8, 1858 edition MESSRS. EDS: - Owing to the inclemency of the weather, I was delayed several days. But left the scenes of my childhood, on the 16th ult. Leaving Fairfield, I passed through some low, flat post-oak country, in the direction of Corsicana, until I crossed Tiwacana creek, near which are several good bodies of land; and a number of good farms. Leaving the bottom, I struck cut into the prairie, where I exerted my organs of sight; "gaze into illumitable space and could see no beyond." Saw nothing more of note until I reached Corsicana, a beautiful little town, situated in the edge of timber, containing some six or seven hundred inhabitants. It is remarkably pretty location for a town. The buildings are mostly of wood and of rather inferior king; they do not exhibit the spirit and taste in their buildings that the location merits, and by all means should have. I noticed some signs of improvement among which is the re-building of the Court house. Here I met our friend R. Q. Mills, who, not withstanding the cares of a family, fights the battles of life cheerfully. Left Corsicana and traveled in the direction of Porter's Bluff - a ride of three hours brought me to Charfield's Point or Muskeet ... ============================================= Dallas Weekly Herald December 8, 1858 edition The merchants of Fairfield have published a written agreement in the 'Pioneer,' to close doors and suspend business on Sundays, from and after the 1st January next. We point this as a wholesome example to our merchants. [same issue] The Texas 'Pioneer' has commenced publishing simultaneously at Fairfield and Springfield. Both edition are served to subscribers at the same time - A novel arrangement. ============================================= The Weekly Telegraph published Houston, Texas December 22, 1858 edition Page: 2 MIDDLE TEXAS The Fairfield Pioneer says that Mr. Yarbro's store was robbed the other night of two bolts of cloth. The cloth was recovered but the thief is yet at large. The Pioneer mentions the advent of emigrants to Freestone couny. ============================================= The Weekly Telegraph published Houston, Texas December 29, 1858 edition Page: 3 SOUTHERN NURSERY Washington, Miss. Dec. 3, 1858 E. H. Cushing Esq. - My dear Sir - [discussion about tubers of Japan yams] [discussion about improved postal system] .... Capt. Sterritt passed down with his new boat, the Diana, on the morning of the 24, and as she took on board for me at Natchez that morning quite a large stock of trees plants &c, I am doubly anzious to hear of her safe arrival at Houston. Our roads and ferries are crowded with emigrants on their way to Texas, and almost universally with good forces of negroes. But this cold wet weather must cause much suffering amongst them. The Messrs Bonner passed through here on the 29th ult., on their way to Freestone couty, well equipped and getting along well. They took a lot of fruit trees and ornamental plants with them from me; and had strong teas and a fine flock of sheep. Yours truly, Thomas Affeck