brakes not working right

I cleaned out the reservoir, which somehow did have some grit in there, and refilled the thing, and so far, the brakes are no longer sticking. They seem to work better. so I suspect at this time, there was some gunk in the lines, that somehow worked its way to the cylinder.

Oh, it absolutely did. Rust is heavy, it falls down to the wheel cylinders. It sounds like you didn't bleed each wheel cylinder? Brake fluid should be freshened every two-three years.