News of 1855 - 1857

 

NEWS OF 1855

Texas State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - April 21, 1855 edition - Page: 270

Temperance in Freestone - Rev. Mr. James Young addressed the people at Fairfield on the 10th ult., in favor of the Legislature passing a prohibitory liquor law. A vote taken at the close stood 59 for, to 11 against such a law. It was resolved to secure the election of "high minded, competent and honorable men, to legislative and executive offices--giving preference to those who will advocate and procure the passage of a prohibitroy [sic] liquor-law by the legislature."


Texas State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - May 12, 1855 edition - Page: 292

     We learn from the Leon Pioneer that Waco Edwards, an old Texan, a citizen of Freestone county, was killed a short time since by a young man, by the named of Horn. It seems that Edwards had made some remarks derogatory to the honesty of Horn, which coming to his ears, he rode up to Edward's home, called him out and asked him if he said so and so, on Edwards answering in the affirmative he shot him down in his tracks with a double barreled shot gun. This is rumor - we do not vouch or its correctness. Report says that Horn has been arrested."


Deseret News (of Salt Lake, Utah) - May 23, 1855 edition - Page: 5

     Elder Benjamin L. Clapp, when last heard from, was in Troy, Freestone Co., Texas, and expected to take a company, mostly composed of his relatives, through to Utah this season.


Texas State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - May 26, 1855 edition - Page: 307

A Man Buried Alive in a Well - A most horrid circumstance of this sort occurred a few days since at West Point landing, on the Trinity River, in Freestone county. A stranger, who represented himself as a well digger, and whose name was afterwards ascertained from a letter to be Wilson, went down to clean out the well of Mr. Gill, a merchant of West Point. -- The well was 60 feet deep and curbed with wood. Wilson descended in a bucket, and when at or near the bottom stepped upon the curbing, which gave way and kept failing until he was covered to a considerable depth with timber and dirt. When the curbing commenced falling he caught the rope, but the weight of his body and the falling dirt and timber, broke it. The curbing seemed to have lodged above him, and left him in a sort of vault. Every effort was made to rescue him by those above. He could be heard talking, and urging in the most pathetic accents his rescuers to hasten, as the timber and earth were fast settling down upon him. Every effort to rescue the poor man was without success, and in a few moments after the falling in of the curbing, the walls of the well gave way and filled it with earth for about 30 feet, literally burying the wretched man alive, and destroying every hope of his rescue. At the last accounts, our informant says, the body still remained in the well. What an awful death. What must have been the feelings of the wretched man as he felt the timber and earth slowly pressing around him, cutting off his breath and pressing out his life, in awful impenetrable darkness, beyond the possibility of human succor. -- Leon Pioneer

NEWS OF 1856

Dallas Weekly Herald (of Dallas, Texas) - May 10, 1856

     The editor of the Pioneer is descanting on an inspiring theme - Man's inhumanity to - hogs. According to the editor, all the hogs of the flourishing village of Fairfield are mercilessly left without any better shelter from sun or storm than afforded them underneath the Masonic Hall, where they are so crowded as to be uncomfortable, and he fears, unhealthy. In proof of their bad situation, the young ladies of the academy say they "squeal incessantly," and the inference is irresistible too, we think, that they are much bitten by fleas, and haven't room to scratch. The editor c??????es the changes of these fleas going off on the aforesaid young ladies and church-goers who assemble at the Hall on Sundays; and conclude that though a great his humane and kind-hearted article by recommending that sheds be built about the lodge, church, and other fit places for such things &c., for the neglected hogs.


Cherokee Sentinel (of Rusk, Texas) - June 28, 1856

Sad Accident - On Saturday morning, says the Fairfield Pioneer, of the 3d inst, a Scotchman by the name of McDaniel, descended the well of Mr. Williams, when he came in contact with carbonic acid gas which soon ended his earthly career. He had. however gone into the well the day was taken out breathless. After he had recovered he boasted that he had taken negroes out of such wells before, and intended to clean out that one. He recently came to the county, but we did not understand from whence.


State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - June 28, 1856 – Page: 4
[Also July 19 and August 9, 1856 – Page: 1]

TAKEN UP AND COMMITTED

    TO the possession of the undersigned, Sheriff of Ellis county, Texas, on the 3rd day of May, 1856, a slave, who says his name is Allen, and further says he belongs to John A. Wynn, a citizen of Freestone county, Texas said slave is of a very black complexion, five feet seven inches 1/4 high, supposed to weigh 145 pounds, quick spoken, said slave says he is twenty-eight years old, and left home this Spring about the second week in April, A.D. 1856. The owner or owners of said slave are requested to come forward, prove property, pay charges and take him away or he will be dealt with according to the law.
    JOHNATHAN E. PRINCE, Sheriff  E. C.
June 7th, 1856    no 42.


State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - July 5, 1856 - Page: 2

The Condition of Texas

               1855 Slaves   1855 Bales [of cotton]
Freestone     2,167            4,517


Cherokee Sentinel (of Rusk, Texas) –
November 29 and December 6 edition, 1856 - Page: 2

Writ of Publication

Thomas A. Scurlock
   vs.
Julia Ann Scurlock

District Court Cherokee County

THE STATE OF TEXAS, COUNTY OF CHEROKEE : To the Sheriff of said county --
  Greeting:

  To Mrs. Julia Ann Scurlock; you will please take notice, that after this notice shall have been published thirty days, I shall issue a commission to take the depositions of S. B. Pharis and William Pharis, who reside in the county of Freestone, and State aforesaid, which depositions, when taken are to be read as evidence on the part of the plaintiff, in a certain suit, now pending in the District Court of said county; wherein Thomas A. Scurlock is plaintiff and you are defendant.
  Test: Frank M. Taylor, Clerk of said Court.

  {L.S.}   Given under my hand and official seal at office, this November the
           twenty-seventh, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven.
           Frank M. Taylor, Clerk

    Issued November 27th, 1856
        F. M. Taylor, Clerk

         ---------------        

   Received in office November 28th, A.D. 1856, and handed to the Editor of the
Cherokee Sentinel
, same day, for publication.  James T. Bloomfield,
                                               Sheriff C.C.
    By John F. Williams, Deputy
    November 29, 1856                  n50-30d


State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - August 9th, 1856 edition - Page: 4

Serious Charges

...Public Debt Bill...

     Resolved, That the Committee just appointed by the House to proceed to investigate the difficulty, touching the Public Debt question, between Hon. Isaac Parker, of Tarrant, ad Hon. Busby, of Freestone, and report all matters relative to same to the House.
  ...


State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - Sept. 6, 1856 edition - page 4

  BUSBY'S STATEMENT
     City of Austin, August 7th, 1856

Gentlemen of the Investigating Committee:
     The statements which I submit to your honorable body, in relation to a letter handed to me in January last, and the conversation between Mr. Isaac Parker and myself in relation to the Public Debt bill, are as follows:
     On Thursday morning, the 23th of January last, in a conversation between Mr. Parker and myself on the Public Debt bill, at his desk in the Hall of the House of Representatives, he advised me to vote against the bill, giving as his reason, the fact that I had taken grounds against it before my constituents while I was canvassing for a seat in the Legislature. - Late on the afternoon of Saturday the 26th day of January, 1856, Mr. Parker came to Mr. Cook's, where I boarded, and asked me to meet him at the Capitol on the next morning, to assist him in writing to some of my acquaintances in Freestone county, to notify them relative to a horse of his that had escaped from him in Austin, which he supposed would pass through Freestone on its way to Anderson county....


State Gazette (of Austin, Texas)
November 12th, 1856 (Volume VIII   No. 14) - Front page

Freestone Democracy.
    Freestone County,    }
    November 11th, 1856  }

Messrs. Marshall & Oldham,

     GENTLEMEN-Enclosed you will find $3 for continuance of your valuable paper, which all must acknowledge is doing yeoman service in the great constitutional cause of the country.
     I learn, unofficially, that the Democratic party are near 600 ahead in this Representive District, composed of Freestone, Limestone and Falls. Limestone about, and Freestone over, 200 ahead!
     At Cotton Gin, where the writer votes, and the K[now] N[othing party] stronghold in the District, "Buck and Breck" were five ahead! to the great disappointment and consternation of Messrs. Busby, Wills & Co. I can assure you K. N'ism is at ebb tide here.
      A political discussion came off at Cotton Gin on Saturday, 1st inst., between Messrs. J. S. Wills and John Manning, (former K.N., and latter Democrat,) which was kept up after night by Dr. J. B. Wills and S. H. Wills, Esq., K. N.'s, and Dr. J. L. Means and Col. Perry, Democrats. -- Some fine speeches were made, and in the writer's opinion, it was a complete Democratic triumph.
        Yours,
       [name or signature missing from paper.  Seems it was not printed.]

 [Notes:  K. N. = Know Nothing party]


Texas State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - November 22, 1856 – Page: 1

Freestone Democracy.
                                            Freestone County,
                                             November 11th, 1856

...
     I learn, unofficially, that the Democratic party are near60 ahead in this Representive District, composed of Freestone, Limestone and Falls. Limestone about, and Freestone over, 200 ahead!
     At Cotton Gin, where the writer votes, and the K. N. stronghold in the District, “Buck and Breck” were five ahead! To the great disappointment and consternation of Messrs. Busby, Wills & Co. I can assure you K. N.’ ism is at ebb tide her.
     A political discussion came off at Cotton Gin on Satuday, 1st inst., between Messrs. J. S. Wills and John Manning, (former K. N., and latter Democrat,) which was kept up after night by Dr. J. B. Wills and S. H. Wills, Esq., K. N.’s, and Dr. J. L. C. Means and Col. Perry, Democrats. – Some fine speeches were made, and in the writer’s opinion, it was a complete Democratic triumph.
             Yours,  …


[About a political rally at Cotton Gin. Original is heavily damaged.]

State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - December 20, 1856 edition – Page: 3

Democracy of Freestone.
  Cotton Gin. Freestone Co. }
  Dec. 9th, 1856            }

Messrs. Marshall & Oldham:

     On the 4th inst., the Democracy of Freestone and Limestone had a grand rally and Convention Barbecue in the vicinity of Cotton Gin.
     Arrangements being made, committees appointed, &c., a general invitation was extended to all parties and every body. The sky was quite cool-Terra Firma wrap[p]ed in snow? white icy mantle-a chilling blast blowing down from the north, and thick ??? clustering around and obstructing the rays of the sun.
     As the morning wore away, however, the sun burst forth in all his native Bril[l]iancy, ??? as if by the magic wand of some...

  ... and most elegantly expressed by Dr. T. L. C. Means. Despite the ???? of the weather, at an early hour, a large concourse had assembled, a large portion of whom were ladies, adding their exquisite grace and matchless beauty to the ??? scene. The meeting was organized by Dr. T. L. C. Means, moving that John Manning be requested to pre???, which was seconded and carried. Up-????ing his seat Mr. Manning made some remarks explanatory of the object of the ?????ing, and after music (by a band composed of three Messrs. Church, Wood and ???? of Fairfield, politically opposed to the democracy, and who did great credit to themselves on the occasion,) Mr. W. D. McClure, of Limestone, was introduced, who spoke eloquently for half and hour. Music …ed, and Col. A. Perry, of Limestone, took the stand ...

NEWS OF 1857

Texas State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - January 24, 1857 edition - Page: 3

      Fairfield, Freestone Co., Texas, }
      January 14th, 1857               }

MESSRS. MARSHALL & OLDHAM:

     GENT -- If I may presume upon your acquaintance with me as a Democrat and a friend, I trust you will spare me a small portion of the columns of the Gazette while I endeavor to set forth my views of the true policy of our party at this time. The first object of importance is to know where we stand on the merits of the many plans for building our railroads. I am a railroad man, and desire to see the time when I can come to your city and go to the coast and to New Orleans by Railroad; but I desire also, that the State shall not be involved and her credit ruined perhaps by the selfish scheme of men who are seeking only to carry out some favorite plan by which they expect to accumulate fortunes for themselves and the party with which they are connected. I know this is a danger that we are likely to be in a the next session of the Legislature. A desperate attempt is to be made to control the monies of Texas, so as to build up the fortunes of certain railroad speculators, instead of building the roads themselves. I am willing for the State to give all the aid she can to railroads. I am not only willing but desire to see this done. I have always been in favor of the corporate system and always expect to be so, but like all monied bodies they must be watched and guarded against. It is in their power frequently to control legislation. I believe honestly that they were successful in carrying their measures at the last legislature by means of a lobby influence; otherwise how was it that a bill passed, over the veto of the Governor, giving to Mr. Butler King's road, privileges which no other road in the State enjoyed? How was it, I ask again, sir, that at first it failed to get a constitutional majority and then, without being changed or altered, a reconsideration was moved and a constitutional majority voted for it? I want to see that vote explained. It never yet has been explained to the people of Texas. I would be willing to see the State aid railroads so as to get a trunk road and branches to Eastern and Western Texas, and would favor the amendment of the Constitution and make the State a stockholder for one half of the stock, if necessary; but I am opposed to favoritism and to the elevation of any man to a State office who has been connected with the financiering and engineering of the particular views of any private corporation; and believe that the people of Texas have determined to put only such men in office who are known to be advocating the general good of the State without being bound up to the destinies of a particular corporation.
               Yours, truly,                            T.


Texas State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - March 14, 1857 - Page: 1

Our Lands and Stock

  The Editor of the Pioneer, has been visiting that portion of Freestone county in the vicinity of Butler. The editor says:
  "Suffice it to say, that that portion of our county offers the greatest inducements to the farmer, who is seeking a home among us, than any other we have yet witnessed. It is healthy, rich, and romantic. Good water, and wild game in abundance; and affords a munificent harvest to the planter, to the stock and to the cattle; and it just the place to enjoy "the comforts of a pretty wife and a happy home."
  "A life in the woods for me"
  Butler is a small but pleasant place - containing one dry-goods store, an M.D.'s office, and several work-shops."
  Mr. Hillery Manning has erected quite a tasteful structure for a dwelling.

-------------

  [Same issue, same page]

  Flour is selling at 5 cents per lb. at Fairfield, Freestone county. Here we pay much more.

-------------

  [Same issue, page #2]

Our State News

  FREESTONE - A correspondent of the "Pioneer" lectures the citizens of Freestone upon their want of public enterprise. He says that they have a fine commodious Court House, but hints that it is the only public edifice to boast of.
     "We have the exterior of a fine building, originally designed for the two-fold purpose of a Masonic Hall and Female Seminary, but it has been standing for years in an unfinished condition, and we believe the building erected for a Male Academy stands in a like condition. We have also the hall of one church, without stove or chimney; and with our bleak northers piercing through the crevices of the bare walls, it is unfit for use, at least during the winter month. Again, some of the "older inhabitants" have told us that in by-gone days, an Artesian Well was being bored in our public square, designed to furnish a plentiful supply of water, pure and tepid beverage, but like our Female Seminary and Church, it progressed for a time and then stopped."


Texas State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - March 7, 1857 edition

...
Bidders will state the distance and propose a schedule of departures and arrivals.
From Anderson, by Kellum's Sulphur Springs, Lee's Vassbaiders?, Wilson, and Joseph Hinson's to Fairfield, 100 miles and back, once a week.
Leave Anderson Monday at 6 a.m.;
Arrive Fairfield Wednesday by 6 p.m.;
Leave Fairfield Thursday at 6 a.m.;
Arrive Anderson Saturday by 6 p.m.

6100 from Bonham, by Kentucky Town, to McKinney, 50 miles and back, once a week.

 ...


Texas State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - March 28, 1857 - Page: 1

     Several wagon loads of sweet potatoes have been purchased in this county to carry to McLennan, for seed. Freestone has furnished several counties with produce during the last year, and particularly with corn - Pioneer


Texas State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - April 18, 1857 - Page: 3

Our Advertisers

     Runaway negro in Freestone co. See advertisement Benjamin Mayo, agent offering $150 reward.


Texas State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - May 2, 1857

EVANS, A. J. - Attorney at Law, Waco, McLennan county, Texas. Will practice in the counties of McLennan, Limestone, Freestone, Falls, Milam and Bell, and in the Supreme Court of the State. Prompt attention given to the securing, valid, and perfecting controverted and claims. Office east of Waco Inn.


Trinity Advocate (of Palestine, Texas) - May 6, 1857

  SUNDAY, 3 - Julius Oppenheimer, Palestine; W. T. Mitchell, Henderson county;
Rose, Galveston; E. Hobbs, Fairfield.

            T. D. HUDGINS, Proprietor


Trinity Advocate (of Palestine, Texas) - May 13, 1857 – Page: 2

[Original is in fragments. Tried to piece together best as I could.]

Letters from the Junier.
  Horn Hill, Limestone Co. }
         May 2d, 1857      }

 ???  - As you know, I left Palestine on the 30th ult. in company with Hon. John G. Stuart, en route for Waco, for the purpose of attending the State Democratic Convention. Thursday night we stopped at the hospitable mansion of Col. Shelby Crawford, where we were well entertained for the night.
     The next morning we got an early start for Fairfield - Crossed the River at Bonner' Ferry at about 9 o'clock A.M. The banks were in a most miserable condition, and it was with great difficulty that we got through at all. At about 11 o'clock we reached Butler, Freestone county - this is a little village eight miles from the Trinity River and fifteen from Fairfield. The country immediately around is well settled up with thrifty and industrious planters. We got dinner at the house of Mr. Manning, where we received a cordial welcome from the gentlemanly proprietor and his lady.
     That evening at 5 o'clock we drew rein in front of Love's Hotel, Fairfield. This Hotel is one at which the weary traveler may stop with the full assurance that his every want will be promptly attended to, and we would advise all of our friends going that way, to give the Dr. a call. We called on some of our friends and acquaintances in Fairfield, among whom were the Proprietors of the Texas Pioneer. These gentlemen have had to struggle with many difficulties in publication of their paper, but are still in hopes that they may yet overcome the prejudices of some and the positive ill will of others. Fairfield now boasts one of the finest Court-House in the state. It is built of brick, is forty-eight feet square, two stories high, well arranged and finished inside, and is surmounted by neatly executed balustrades, running around the entire building. When we were here before the then Court-House was a 12x16 slab-by, frame concern, squatted down in the centre of the Square. We noticed many other improvements of an equally substantial character....

[another fragment of the article:]
...we ever saw, reached Springfield at about 1 o'clock. Here we found a Convention in sessions, composed of Delegates from Freestone, Limestone and Falls counties. They had assembled for the purpose of nominating a suitable Democratic candidate to represent those counties in the State Legislature, this work was accomplished by the selection of Thos. P. Aycock Esq., of Falls County, upon the first ballot. Mr. Aycock is said to be a young man ...

[another fragment of the article:]

...of Springfield, and we understand that a contract has been let out to erect a Temple of Justice about 400 yards East of the old one, on a beautiful eminence. It is to be forty-eight feet square, two stories high and will cost about $8,000.
...


Texas State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - May 16, 1857 - Page: 1
         $150 REWARD
     FOR the delivery of the following described negroes, to-wit:  George, about 28 years of age, brown or copper color, 5 feet 8 or 10 inches high, weighs about 150 or 160 pounds, one leg rather short from having been broken. Larke, a boy about 22 years of age, some little lighter color about the same height round shoulders and heavy built, weighs 165 to 180 pounds, very heavy forehead, when looking at you looks near under the brow, he has a scar on one of his checks, and the bones on the top of one of his feet has been hurt so as to leave some marks. George and Larke belong to Reuben Manning. On the same night one boy by the name of Mingo belonging to Wm. Carter, said negroes were all seen together the next day, they took with them 1 horse and 2 mares belonging to Wm. Carter the horse was a bay. One of the mares was a sorrel and the other a dun or clay bank color, the sorrel has had a fistula and is crest fallen. The negroes belong about 5 miles North East of Cotton Gin P. O., Freestone county. On the delivery of the above negroes one hundred and fifty dollars will be paid a prorata reward will be paid for the horses according to value.
     Address Reuben Manning or Benjamin Mayo, Cotton Gin P. O., Freestone co., Texas.
                  Benjamin Mayo, Agent for
                  Reuben Manning, and William
   April 1857  n35 tf


Trinity Advocate (of Palestine, Texas) - May 20, 1857

       WAGONS WANTED!
TO HAUL COTTON to Houston or Liberty, for which a fair price will be paid.
Apply to:
             F. WARD, Parker's Bluff.


Democrat & Planter newspaper [of Columbia, Kaufman County, Texas]
26 May 1857 edition

Texas Newspapers

     There are more newspapers in Texas in proportion, than any other State in the Union, and consequently more than any State in the World of the same population. A goodly number of these papers are established on a permanent basis, and a majority of them are conducted with decided ability. But many of them are short lived, and are changing proprietors, editors, name and sometimes locality, once and twice, and even oftener a year. Notwithstanding the great number of newspapers in the State, there seems to be a sad scarcity of names to call them by. In other States we seldom hear of two newspapers with the same name. It creates confusion in a great many ways. One paper frequently receiving mails due the other, &c. - This evil prevails to a great extent in this State.

Thus we have three Gazettes--the State Gazette, at Austin; Liberty Gazette, at Liberty and Eastern Texas Gazette, at Jefferson.

Two Times--State Times, at Austin and Corsicana Times, at Corsicana.

Three Heralds--Jefferson Herald, at Jefferson; San Antonio Herald, San Antonio, and last but by no means least, Dallas Herald, Dallas, besides the Lavacca Herald, just demised, and the Daily Herald, just projected at Galveston.

We have three Democrats--the Democrat & Planter, at Columbia; Upshur Democrat at Gilmer, and Henderson Democrat, Henderson, with perhaps another Democrat in Washington county, if it has not recently died out.

There are two Messengers, one at Clarksville, the other at Woodville.

Two Zeitungs (German), one at San Antonio, the other at New Braunsfel, and possibly a third at Castorville.

Two Enquirer's--the Lamar Enquirer, at Paris, and Texas Enquirer, at Rusk, and a third with "a slight variation"--the Gonzales Inquirer.

Two Flags--American Flag, at Brownsville, and Harrison Flag, at Marshall.

Three Advocates--Trinity Advocate (of Palestine, Texas), at Palestine; Texas Christian Advocate at Galveston, and Victoria Advocate, at Victoria.

Until recently we had two Texians, or rather one Texian Texan--the Central Tex(i)an, at Anderson, and the Western Texan, at San Antonio.

And before the "great American party" became defunct we had any number of "Americans"--The Palestine American at Anderson County; the True American, Goliad, and other Americans too numerous to mention.

Among the few Texas papers that glory in the monopoly of a patronymic to themselves, we may mention the News and Civilian, at Galveston; the Telegraph, at Houston; Item, Huntsville; Ranger, Brenham; Intelligencer, Austin; Ledger, San Antonio; Valley, Corpus Christi; Southerner, Waco; Mercury, Seguin; True Issue, La Grange; Advertiser, Bastrop; Watchman, Lockhart; our neighbor of the Express, Birdville; Patriot, at Paris; Standard, Clarksville; Republican, Marshall; Free Press, at Quitman; Sentinel, at Rusk; Star Spangled Banner, at Henderson; Reporter, at Tyler; Pioneer, at Fairfield and Printer, at Crockett and a few others that do not now occur to us.

The newspaper business is over done in Texas. At least half the country papers are starving. The subscription list of most of them does not reach 500, and unless they are so situated as to command heavy legal advertisements, or job-work, they go down in six or twelve months.-- Dallas Herald.


State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - May 30, 1857 – Page: 3

  [original has problems with left side]

     Rev. Charles Sexton, a printer, barber and layer, died at Fairfield on the ??th ult., after exhibiting symptoms of illness. The editor of the Pioneer, says he was employed in that office but nothing was ????? of his previous history, further than in ??? statement that he had published a paper in Kansas.

[same issue]

     We take great pleasure in noticing the progress of Texas mechanics. The Fairfield Pioneer in referring to a notice we lately made of the manufacture of a Derringer pistol of fine workmanship by a mechanic of this city, says:
     "It is due our excellent gunsmith, Mr. A. L. Davis, to say he can show a specimen that will do credit to any Southern or Northern manufacturer. We were shown some pistols and a rifle, of his make, which were as good and which displayed as much taste of workmanship as any we ever saw."


State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - June 6, 1857 - Page: 2

Sam Houston on the Stump

     The following list appears officially in the Huntsville Recorder; it is from Houston himself:

...
Fairfield, Freestone Co. Tuesday June 29
...


State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - June 13, 1857 - Page: 3

     Freestone.
Fairfield, May 22d, 1857

     "We are ready now to go to work and will roll up a big democratic majority for the nominees."


Trinity Advocate (of Palestine, Texas) - June 17, 1857 edition - Page: 4

J.M. PERRY              A.T. RAINEY
    PERRY & RAINEY
Attorneys and Counselors at Law,
    PALESTINE, ANDERSON CO., TEXAS

Will practice in all the counties composing the Ninth Judicial District, in Freestone, and in the Supreme and Federal Courts at Tyler.
  March 26, 1856            39:1 y

-------

WILLIAM ALEXANDER
ATTORNEY AT LAW
     PALESTINE - TEXAS

WILL Practice in the several courts of the 9th Judicial District; also, in the counties of Leon, Freestone, Limestone and Cherokee, in the Supreme court of the State, and in the U. S. District courts. Office, North-side of the Public Square, formerly occupied by Mallard & Alexander.
  July 2, 1854          25-1y

-------

J.A. FORMWALT
RECEIVING, FORWARDING AND COMMISSION
   MERCHANT

WEST POINT, (TRINITY RIVER)
                FREESTONE CO., TEX.
Sept 17, 1856         10:6 m


State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - July 4, 1857

The Eastern Texian and Mr. Green's Views of Convention

     What has opened the eyes of that class of politicians, and brought the conviction home to them that conventions are wrong - that they should even abandon their State Convention appointed for the 16th, ins., at Fairfield? The fact is easily explained. A nomination by a K. N. convention would be equivalent to a nomination to stay at home; consequently they must resort to other expedients, and chicanery, to break down the party which has been so successful in detecting their schemes, and thwarting their designs. They must run an "Independent" candidate professing to be "a Jackson Democrat," (save the mark!) yet voting with the opposition when opportunities ...

[K. N. = Know Nothing party]


Trinity Advocate (of Palestine, Texas)
July 8, 1857 edition (also appeared September 2 and 16, 1857) - Page: 3

  LOVE'S HOTEL
(North-East Corner of the Public Square)
   Fairfield, Freestone County, Texas

     This large and popular Hotel, formerly the Walker House, has become the property of, and will hereafter be conducted by A. C. Love, who will endeavor to make it one of the first hotels in the State, by keeping a good table and making his guests an boarders comfortable.
     Travelers, and the public generally, will find it greatly to their convenience and pleasure to give him their patronage.
     The Stables will be attended to by experienced ostlers, who will give their attention exclusively to the stables.
       A. C. LOVE. Proprietor

     The best and most direct route from the counties of Henderson, Cherokee, Anderson, Panola, Harrison, and all the eastern counties, to Waco and Austin lead through Fairfield.
  May13, 1857               42: 6m


[This is Andrew Samuel Bonner]

Sunday Delta (of New Orleans, Louisiana) - July 12, 1857 edition - Page: 2

Texas Items

     The Texas Pioneer, (Freestone County,) of the 27th ult., says Mr. Andrew S. Bonner sent us, on Monday last, a cotton blossom plucked from his plantation.
     He says there were blossoms in his field on Saturday previous.  Mr. Bonner is ahead of all the planters, in this county in this respect, so far as we have heard.
     Since the above was written we have received from a friend another cotton blossom, taken from the field of Mr. John R. Henry of Limestone County. It was plucked the same day as Mr. Bonner's. Our correspondent say that the cotton in Mr. H's field looks very fine, being about two feet high from the bed on which it grows, and frequently having from twenty to forty squares on a stalk.


Trinity Advocate (of Palestine, Texas) - July 22, 1857

THE OSCEOLA HOTEL FOR THE WEEK
ENDING SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 1857:

...
Thos. P. Whitt, F. J. Taylor, ??? Cockrum, Clabore McGee, Fairfield; Sam Nesbitt, ???; J. B. Streety, Jas. Nesbitt, Freestone County;
...


Trinity Advocate (of Palestine, Texas) - July 29, 1857

     The present opposition to conventions from the Know Nothing or American party, is too flimsy and too inconsistent with their own recent acts, and the history of all political parties in this country for the past forty years, to require much in reply to their assaults. But two years ago that party had its secret county conventions throughout the State, to promote their success in all county elections - a State convention, held secretly at Washington, in June, 1855, which nominated a full ticket for State officers, even including Capt. Crosby for Commissioner of the Land Office. And again, in January, 1856, they held another State Convention at Austin, nominating for all State officers then to be elected. In the present canvass, they have held several county conventions, selected candidates for the Legislature, and in that of Harrison county, they nominated Gen. Houston for Governor, and proposed holding a State K. N. convention at Fairfield, on the 13th of June, which was only abandoned at the bidding of certain wily traders, who thought it better policy to let that matter pass, in order that the might play on the harp "of a thousand strings" - "no convention!"


State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - August 22, 1857

Horse Thieves

     Henry D. Russel, the murderer of John Blackmore, of Washington County, has been arrested at Fairfield. He is about 40 years old.


Trinity Advocate (of Palestine, Texas) - August 26, 1857 edition - Page: 2

ELECTION RETURNS

Freestone   Runnels: 357; Houston: 242; White: 300; Crosby: 280


State Gazette  (of Austin, Texas) - August 29, 1857 edition - Page: 4

Our Lands and Stock. the West

     FREESTONE - The prospects of Freestone county are better than anticipated by our friends some time ago. Some farmers are making full crops of corn, but there are others who will fail to make more than half a crop. Cotton looks well and must produce a good crop. Mast is not abundant, but in some part of Freestone the hogs will not have to be fed on corn.


Trinity Advocate (of Palestine, Texas) - Sept 2, 1857 edition - Page: 4

Nacogdoches and Waco Stage Line

The undersigned take this method of informing the traveling public that they have obtained the contract for a tri-weekly line of four horse Mail Coaches, from Nacogdoches via Rusk, Palestine, Fairfield, Springfield to Waco, and will put the same in operation on the FIRST DAY OF JULY next. Connecting as this route does, at Nacogdoches, with the Alexandria and Shreveport Stages and at Waco with the Dallas and Austin line Stages; and being too the shortest and most direct route from Red River and Eastern Texas to Austin, gives it superior advantage over any other route from Red River, or Eastern Texas to Austin. We have procured good NINE PASSENGER Coaches, good teams and shall have none but the best and most reliable kind of drivers on the route. And hope to receive that patronage which the locality and accommodations of the route justifies. Our days of departure from each end of the route, price of fair, &c will be made known in a short time.

  The Stage Office at Palestine will be kept at the Osceola Hotel.
     H. M. BLACK
     MURPHY VAUGHAN
  Palestine, May 27th 1856.          44:if

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[same page]

LOVE'S HOTEL
(North-East Corner of the Public Square)
Fairfield, Freestone County, Texas

THIS large and popular Hotel, formerly the Walker House, has become the property of, and will hereafter be conducted by A.C. Love, who will endeavor to make it one of the first hotels in the State, by keeping a good table and making his guests and boarders comfortable.
     Travelers, and the public generally, will find it greatly to their convenience and pleasure to give him their patronage.

The Stables will be attended to by experienced ostlers who will give their attention exclusively to the stables.
   A. C. LOVE, Proprietor

   The best and most direct route from the counties of Henderson, Cherokee, Anderson, Panola, Harrison, and all the eastern counties, to Waco and Austin lead through Fairfield.

  May 13, 1857              42:6m


State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - Oct. 15, 1857 edition - Page: 2

A theatrical corps formed from the young men of the place, is playing in Fairfield