Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries


Obituary of the famous outlaw, John Wesley Hardin 

Fairfield Recorder, August 23, 1895 issue  
  John Wesley Hardin, the noted desperado, whose name was a terror in western
Texas about sixteen years ago, reaped the whirlwind of sudden death at El Paso
on the night of the 19th inst., having been killed by Constable John Sellman of
that place. Hardin after serving about fifteen yeas in the penitentiary for
murder, was released about two years ago and it was thought he would be a better
man.  He kept sober and straight for probably a year, but finally drifted back to 
the saloon and gaming table, and finally passed away as nearly all desperadoes do.
He was shot through the head and instally killed by the man he had made threats 
against.  Hardin was credited with having killed nine men, one of whom is known
to have been a State Policeman, during E. J. Davis's administration, and was 
killed in this county. Two policemen had arrested Hardin in Eastern Texas and were
taking him to Austin.  In coming through Fairfield one of the officers stopped in
town about an hour, and sent the prisoner on with the other guard.  About two 
miles west of town they sat on a log to rest, when Hardin slipped his handcuffs,
snatched the officer's pistol, shot him dead and escaped. Hardin's parents once
lived in this county, and John Wesley spent several years of his boyhood in
Freestone. His father was a Methodist preacher and a good man.