Goodspeed’s Biography of William Robert Sexton
Source: Goodspeed’s History of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Hickman, and Lewis Counties Tennessee, published 1886
William R. Sexton is one of six children of John J. and Elizabeth A. (Yeager) Sexton, and of English and German Descent. He was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., November 6, 1843, and attended the common schools in boyhood. He learned the tanner’s trade and followed that occupation many years. He served in the Confederate Army in the Thirty-second Regiment Tennessee Infantry, and was captured at the fall of Fort Donelson, and kept prisoner at Camp Morgan, Indianapolis, Ind., for seven months, when he was exchanged at Vicksburg, and was afterward at Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Moulton, Athens and Johnsonville, and was severely wounded on the march to Nashville, which disabled him from further service. January 1, 1865, he was united in marriage to Mary E. Sparkman, daughter of James G. and Delany M. Sparkman, and to them were born the following family: Alice J., born April 15, 1868, Edward H., born July 27, 1870, and Lewis A., born March 25, 1874. Mrs. Sexton was born in Williamson County, Tenn., June 11, 1844, and she and her husband and daughter are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Sexton is a Mason and a Democrat, and is the owner of 225 acres of fertile land. His father was born in Tennessee, in 1820, was a farmer by occupation. He moved to Arkansas in 1851, but soon returned to Tennessee, thence to Alabama, and in 1861 return ed to Tennessee, where he resided until his death, October 23, 1868. His wife was born in Lincoln County, in 1824, and is still living on the old homestead. She and her husband were active and useful members of the Primitive Baptist Church.
FamilySearch Tree profile: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LYZR-D31
This biographical sketch was transcribed by Reita Jones Burress and posted on-line by Jane N. Powell on September 10, 1998, with the following caveat:
Not having a hard copy to proof read, errors will probably occur in the following document. Reita and I will correct them to the original Goodspeed from time to time. Thank you for your patience.
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