Gilbert Sexton
Gilbert B. Sexton was a veteran of the Spanish American War who served as Scott County Sheriff from 1910 to 1916.
See Also: Sheriffs of Scott County
Preceded By: Andy Thomas • Succeeded By: Mitchell Phillips
Early Life
Born Oct. 2, 1866, Sexton was the son of Christopher Columbus Sexton (1842-1901) and Sarah West. He was a second great-grandson of Revolutionary War veteran Timothy Sexton Sr., and a first cousin to Scott County Sheriff Sam Sexton.
Sexton married Eldora Sexton (1873-1959) on Oct. 16, 1890, in a ceremony officiated by Justice of the Peace J.L. Phillips. They had 10 children: Emma, Martha Jane, Mewanee, William, James Andrew, Feauway, Mable, Maude, Marie and Henry Lee.
Sexton and his brothers were accused of gunning down Riley Cecil in 1883 as part of the Cecil-West-Smith feud.
War Service
Sexton served in Co. I, 1st Tennessee Infantry during the Spanish American War.
Sheriff of Scott County
Sexton was elected Scott County Sheriff in 1910, replacing Andy Thomas. Thomas had served one term after replacing Sexton’s first cousin, Sam Sexton, in 1908. Gilbert Sexton was re-elected in 1912 and 1914, serving a total of three two-year terms before leaving office in 1916 due to term limits and being replaced by Mitchell Phillips.
Death
Sexton fell ill late in the summer of 1933. He died at his Helenwood home on Oct. 25, 1933, at the age of 67. He was buried at Marcum Cemetery in Helenwood.
