Timothy Sexton

Timothy Hudson Sexton (1826 – Jan. 17, 1864) was originally from Scott County, and was murdered by bushwhackers in Newton County, Ark. during the Civil War.

See Also: Scott Countians killed in war

Biography

Timothy Sexton was born in Scott County in 1826. The exact relationship isn’t certain, but he was likely a grandson of Revolutionary War veteran Timothy Sexton, who settled in present-day Scott County after the war. He may have been the son of John Sexton and Sarah Hansen.

This Timothy Sexton, born 1826, married Artalissa Betsy Holt (1833-1864), who was from Carroll County, Ark., the daughter of James Simpson Holt (1793-1879) and Elizabeth Fortner (1801-1860). Their children included William Riley Sexton, Levi Sexton, and Allen Sexton.

Civil War

Timothy Sexton enlisted in the Union army and was assigned to Co. F, 1st Regiment, Arkansas Infantry Volunteers. He enlisted on March 1, 1863, and was listed as a deserter on Aug. 22, 1863. His brother, William Riley Sexton, enlisted with him and was also listed as a deserter in August 1863.

Sexton and his wife were at the home of his brother-in-law, Charles Holt, in January 1864 when a band of bushwhackers arrived. Charles escaped, but Timothy did not. There are stories stating that he was sick and bedridden, but those are not confirmed.

The author Bud Phillips, of Arkansas, wrote in Ozark Cousins that Sexton was blindfolded and had his hands tied behind his back, while the bushwhackers busted into a bee hive.

“However, one of them became anxious to see blood flow and made the statement that he’d rather shoot a Yankee any day as to eat honey,” Phillips wrote. “Then in cruel jest he told Timothy to run and by so doing, might escape with his life. The blindfolded prisoner started to run but being unable to see his course, ran into the chimney corner at the end of the house. There he was shot down. One old timer told me that Timothy lived a few hours but died of his wounds that night. Others seem to think that he died instantly.”

Aftermath

Timothy’s wife, Artalissa, was pregnant at the time and witnessed her husband being gunned down. She died in childbirth in May 1864. She and the baby were buried by Timothy.