Freestone County, Texas Reflections Mexia Daily News - May. 4, 2006 edition [also Freestone "Times" on May 2, 2006, page 3-B] "Freestone Past & Present By JR. ‘Sonny’ SESSIONS-Special to The News TEAGUE CENTENNIAL, 1906-2006 The celebration recently a big success with attendance and participation had a gloomy start with rain clouds early but mild sunny day for the rest. Peg and I visited on Friday, which enjoyed, had to miss Saturday parade due to great nephews wedding on old Montgomery at the old Baptist Church that goes back to Sam Houston days. Lots of had work done preparing for the Centennial by dedicated citizens. Fortunate enough to have know may involved in building the railroad or watching it being built. Mr. Richmond Epps who lived near the construction at Freestone told of as a small child his mother allowing him to sit n their split rail fence and watch the workers, mule teams and steam operated machinery, all a rare sight in those days. Mr. Epps lived will into his 90’s and I think in the same place. Old blacks in the Kirven area told about slipping off and watching when they could. My Grandfather Carter Sessions had some contracts on the work, fencing and cross ties, at one time he had a sawmill at North Zulch and been told this first thing there. Been involved with others who told of their happenings. Teague became a city almost overnight, the first in the County to have electricity and other city utilities, a fire department it also had its own law enforcement with an elected City Marshal and night watchman. The early officers went horseback, this included the Sheriffs Deputies who lived here, and I have been told some had packs of trailing dogs used when needed. One of the most popular officials in the County was J.H. Roper who served 3 different times as Sheriff and several as County Judge and been told he could be elected anything locally, his Teague home was the J.C. Gann’s home and equipment sales on east 84. During the first 100 years my father Jim Sessions served as Freestone County Sheriff 1931-1949, I served 1965-2001, a total of 55 years, much of this was due to the support of Teague and greatly appreciated. Early Teague like others didn’t have Jails but Calaboose’s for local offenders or be transferred to the County Jail, which located in the County Seats. Told that a man’s brother jailed in Teague’s Calaboose by the local Constable had the best team of mules in the area took them after night, tied on to the Calaboose and drug it out of town and broke his brother out. There is also a case where a man killed another over a dogfight, this man fled the County, changed his name and became a famous cowboy rodeo star, he is supposed to have returned for his mother’s funeral dressed as a woman. Dr. Cox told of an early day doctor in Teague being arrested and fined for driving down Main St. too fast in his buggy. Marty Walker in doing research on the old Hotel by the Museum found interesting information on a murder that involved the victim shooting the other’s bird dog, this too long for today with her permission will do something on it later. In a 1911 local newspaper Davis Carter doing research found an article regarding a woman from Teague held in the County Jail on a murder charge tried to escape thru the Jail chimney, got stuck with part of chimney having to be removed to free her."