Herbert Bilbrey

Herbert Bilbrey (Oct. 25, 1897 – July 21, 1973) was a sheriff of Scott County in the 1930s.

See Also: Sheriffs of Scott County
Preceded By: Esau Laxton • Succeeded By: Esau Laxton

Biography

Herbert Conrad Bilbrey was born Oct. 25, 1897, the son of Jessie Vernada Bilbrey (1858-1939) and Masouria (Missouri) A. Sexton (1869-1936). He was one of eight children. His siblings included brothers Jessie Herman (1908-1961) and Thurman Edison (1910-1976), and sisters Irma Catherine (1903-1966) and Perna Ethel (1907-1958).

The Bilbrey family was originally from Overton County. Herbert’s father moved to Scott County between 1880 and 1900, where he married Masouria Sexton. She was the daughter of Christopher Columbus Sexton and Nancy Phillips.

Herbert married Myrtle Julia Sexton, the daughter of John Sexton and Elizabeth Sexton, on October. 30, 2022. They had four children: Imogene (1924-2014), Herbert Kenneth (1926-1988), John Victor (1928-2020) and Paul Edward (1931-2012). They lived in Oneida and were members of the Baptist church at Cherry Fork.

Sheriff

Herbert Bilbrey was elected sheriff of Scott County in 1934, defeating two-term incumbent Esau Laxton and William Hughett. He served a single two-year term before Laxton was elected again in 1936.

Prior to and after serving as sheriff, Bilbrey worked as an auto mechanic. He worked for Terry Motor Company in Oneida. He also worked as a coal miner, and later in life owned his own coal-mining business.

Death

Bilbrey died on July 21, 1973, at age 75. He was buried at Marcum Cemetery, where his wife had been buried 13 years earlier.