Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/734

 644 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI selection. Thus in all kinds of activities in the county Mr. Sexton is a leader. He was born in Kennett, January 28, 1859. His father, Lafayette Sexton, was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and was brought up in Kentucky and ^Missouri, coming to Mis- souri with his mother in 1840 and settling then in Bollinger county. His father had died in Kentucky about —. In 1858 La- fayette and his mother came to Kennett. She died at Hot Springs, Arkansas, whither she had moved. Lafayette lived one mile from Kennett, on land that he received from the Government. He spent almost all the rest of his life on the farm, which he used for the purposes of stock raising. He en- listed in the Confederate army when the Civil war broke out and after seeing con- siderable service came home on furlough. During this time he was stincken with the cholera and died October 30, 1863. Soon after he came to Kennett, he had married Nancy G. Evans, nee McCuUougli, a widow, born in Frankfort, Kentucky. Her parents, Benjamin W. and Mary (Glasscock) Lle- Cullough, came to Missouri in 1832. They settled one mile south of Kennett and ob- tained Government grants of land. He be- came a land owner in the county that yas then known as Stoddard's county and died on his farm at the age of fifty. His widow survived him many years, living until she was eighty years old. Only one of their children is living still, William JlcCullough, living in Breckenridge county, Kentucky. Nancy JlcCullough had married John H. Evans when she was a young girl and had borne him four children, Franklin, Ellen, Callie and Kate, all of whom are dead. Mr. Evans was a native of Kentucky, of Welsh descent, but the marriage took place in Mis- souri. After she married Lafayette Sexton she became the mother of two children, J. W. and R. E., the latter a merchant at Maiden, Missouri. Mrs. Sexton had practically to raise the six children alone, as her first hus- band had died when his four children were small and Mr. Sexton, too, died young. She died in 1900, having lived a life of useful- ness for her children. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sexton were members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. When J. W. Sexton was only four years old his father died, so that he never re- members having had a father's care. His mother, however, did all in her power to take the place of both parents and in his turn J. W. Sexton cared for her until the time of her death. When he was twenty- one lie took elmrge of the farm and con- tinued a farmer for many years. In 1888 he was elected county treasurer, which office he filled for the term of two years. At the expiration of his term he went back to farm- ing, devoting most of his farm to stock rais- ing. On November 2, 1910, he was elected to the office of clerk of the circuit court, assuming the active duties of the office Jan- uary 1, 1911. He was nominated by the Democratic party, for which lie had always been an active worker, in conventions and elsewhere. He devotes himself to his office, fulfilling the duties involved in an exemplary manner. In 1885, wlieu he was thirty-six years old, Mr. Sexton married Mrs. Anna Floyd, a young widow in Dunklin county. She was the daughter of W. T. Meredith. Two chil- dren have been born to the union, Kate and Ruth. Mr. Sexton is a member of the Mutual Pro- tective League and of the Modern Woodmen of America, standing high with the members of both those organizations. As a relief from his strenuous duties he spends his va- cations either hunting or fishing, being an expert in both of these sports. Mr. Sexton is a thoroughl.y capable man and besides that is conscientious, a combination which can- not fail to result in success. He is very pop- ular both socially and in his business rela- tions, as he has the ability to command love as well as respect. Jesse M. Elvins. With the history of St. Francois county the name of Elvins has been long and prominently identified, and the sub- .jeet of this memoir well upheld the prestige of the same through his sterling character and large and worthy accomplishment. The thriving little city of Elvins, this county, was named in his honor and he was long numbered among the influential citizens of this favored section of the state, where he did much to further civic and industrial progress. Jesse Mahagan Elvins was born in St. Francois county, on the 12th of May, 1841, and he died at his home in Doe Run, this county, on the 25th of April. 1910, secure in the high regard of all who knew him. He was a son of Moses and Sarah (Flan-