Esau Laxton

William Esau Laxton Sr. (1884-1956) was a Scott County lawman who served two stints as the high sheriff: from 1928 to 1934 and 1936 to 1938.

See Also: Sheriffs of Scott County
Preceded By: Isham Chambers • Succeeded By: Herbert Bilbrey
Preceded By: Herbert Bilbrey • Succeeded By: Frank Butler

Early Life

Born June 6, 1884, Laxton was the son of Isham Laxton (1865-1941) and Paralee Trammell (1866-1932). He was a great-grandson of Thomas Laxton, the first Laxton to settle in what would become Scott County.

Laxton married Laurah West (1894-1917) and they had four children together: Virgil (born 1913), Wilbert (born 1915), Lester Reuben (born 1916) and Nesby Lee (born 1917). The youngest of their children later served as the mayor of Sunbright, Tenn.

Following his first wife’s death in 1917, Laxton remarried to her sister, Mertie West (1897-1987). They had eight more children: Evelyn (born 1918), Dilbert Roy (born 1920), Thurman (born 1921), Jack (born 1923), Doris (born 1925), Mary Delores (born 1930), William Esau Jr. (born 1932), Mollie and Verlie Jo (born 1938).

Sheriff of Scott County

Laxton was appointed Scott County Sheriff in 1929, following the death of Sheriff Isham Chambers. He was elected in 1930 and re-elected in 1932, serving a total of five years before being replaced by Herbert Bilbrey in the 1934 election. He was elected again in 1936 and served two more years before being replaced by Frank Butler in 1938.

Laxton was a first-generation lawman. His son, Jack O. Laxton, would serve as sheriff from 1962 to 1968, and from 1986 to 1994. His son, William Esau “Bill” Laxton Jr., served as chief of police in Oneida. His grandson, Darryl Laxton (son of Jack Laxton) is currently the chief of police in Oneida, a post he has held since 2010. Several other of Laxton’s grandsons have also served in law enforcement in Scott County.

In all, four generations of the Laxton family have served in law enforcement. Esau Laxton (first generation) and Jack Laxton (second generation) served as sheriffs; Bill Laxton (second generation) and Darryl Laxton (third generation) have served as chiefs of police in Oneida. Jeff Laxton (third generation) served as chief deputy during his father’s administration as sheriff. Both of Darryl’s children, Dustin Laxton and Kendra Laxton Porter (fourth generation) have also served as patrol officers for the Town of Oneida.

Death

Laxton died on Oct. 15, 1956, at the age of 72. He is buried at the Laxton family cemetery on Buffalo Road east of Huntsville.