My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM SEXTON. The late William Sexton, one of the early and most respected citizens of Westfield, was born at Manchester, Bennington county, Vermont, April 11, 1796. In 1816 he came to Buffalo, and thence on the ice to Westfield, to which place he removed his family during the next year. He soon became prominent in the civil affairs of his town and county. He served as constable and collector from 1825 to 1834, was sheriff of Chautauqua county from 1834 to 1838, and served as postmaster of Westfield during 1841, and again from 1849 to 1853, being removed both times for political reasons by Presidents Tyler and Pierce. In 1853 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he held by re-election until 1880, when he resigned on account of ill-health. He also was supervisor, besides holding other town offices. He served continuously in town and county offices from 1824 to 1880, a period of fifty-six years, and during his shrievalty occurred the first execution in the county for murder. He married, and his wife died in May, 1875. They had six children: George, Charles, William, Edwin, Electa Robbins and Mary S., widow of Hon. Henry A. Prendergast.

William Sexton, after a long illness, passed away at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Prendergast, at Westfield, on October 7, 1881, when in the eighty- sixth year of his age. In the press notices of his death the following tribute was paid to his memory by one who knew him well: “Mr. Sexton always proved himself an honest, faithful and efficient officer. He was a member of the Baptist church, and though he made no parade of his religion, yet by his humble and kindly disposition, and exemplary life and acts, the only true test of Christian character, he gave the best evidence that he was a true Christian.”