FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT
J. R. (Sonny) Sessions

Chancellor CSA Military Markers

	Many years ago friend Fritz Chancellor whose ancestors early Freestone Co. 
settlers asked my help in setting Confederate markers at his grandfather and uncle’s 
graves.  He died more than 30 years ago and this still undone. He lived in the beautiful 
old Stubbs house on Fm Rd 27 in eastern Wortham, the house was sold and no one 
seemed to know about the grave markers.  
	Some years later Hudene Graham bought the old Chancellor home across the 
street after moving back from California.  For some years this the home of Fannie 
Chancellor, visiting her she gave me and old metal lock box that had been in her family 
for generations. Fannie and Fritz were siblings but she knew nothing about the 
Confederate markers. Several years later Hudene while cleaning out found an old trunk 
and asked me to look at the contents as didn’t know what all of it was, it was the lost 
markers which I carried home with me.  After gathering dust here for several years I 
finally promoted their set up.  
	William H. Chancellor 10/11/1827, 7/30/1905 is buried in Cade Cemetery while 
Henry Green Chancellor 8/23/30, 2/14/1914 is buried in Carter Cemetery.  Both came to 
Freestone County with their parents Gilbert and Phoebe in 1852 from Wilcox, Co. 
Alabama purchasing 340 acres from Simon Kellogg and later 640 acres in the area we 
know as Israel.  William, Henry and a brother Thomas J. all served in the Confederate 
Army under General Kirby.  All participated in the siege of Vicksburg where Thomas 
lost his life and Henry was shot in the arm.  At the close of the war William and Henry 
rode one mule which they took turns riding.
	Israel at one time had a school, store and post office, also a cotton gin and grist 
mill where mostly corn was ground usually brought by young boys riding bareback. 
Oliver Burleson had a store here which he moved to Wortham, Burleson Furniture and 
Mortuary.  Dr. Chumney practiced medicine in the area; he lived across the road from 
Caney Church... I have been told about a room he used for surgery that had mirrors that 
reflected the sunlight inside as the only lighting available was candles or kerosene lamps.  
Many moved away the post office and stores closed, the gin was sold.  The grist mill 
today is displayed in the Teague Railroad Museum.
	Walter Fredrick (Fritz) served in France in WWI and suffered from inhaling 
poison gas.  The Chancellors a prominent family in Wortham and other areas they lived 
close and were friends of mine.
	***
Sheriffs Office 1967
	Streetman youth drowned in area pond.  Utley store burglarized and safe damaged 
when tried to get into. THP Kellum arrested two. . Friend shot live in, told her next time 
just get a switch.
	Subject jailed for series of cattle thefts Freestone, Limestone and Navarro 
Counties name George Washington but all called him Rex, due to being such a liar.
	Several months of store burglaries in Fairfield, Teague and Wortham with nearly 
every business in each.  Special watches were set up in all, on top of Courthouse and 
other places, this the longest continuous thefts experienced with everyone suspecting 
somebody and none right.  After several months of this Teague City Marshall arrested a 
subject in an alley about 2 am, knew it was our thief as had biggest foot ever seen and 
this seen in the past thefts.  Subject admitted he had done it all and mostly by himself.  
Living in Dallas with the stolen property and leave the stolen vehicles on the streets.  We 
tried, convicted and delivered him to the pen, little did we know we would be dealing 
with him many times over the years until he wrecked out in stolen vehicle and killed.  
Sent to the pen several times, each time he released he came back and burglarized places 
in Freestone Co.; last time handled Grandma and I were headed to Christmas Party in the 
Teague area and heard on police radio of attempted break in near us, I had seen subject 
walking and knew who it was.  I held him until deputy could come for.  This about the 6th 
time to handle Alfred Campbell; and slept better after his death. Never knew what he had 
against Freestone County.

Grandpa’s Report
...
	Kirvin, Streetman area lost one of it true characters Homer Paul Bonner who all 
his life and since big enough to talk, never known him to be without words.  He and 
Margaret and family close friends.