Benton County ArArchives Biographies.....Sexton, J. Z. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/arfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 17, 2009, 11:12 am Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922) J. Z. SEXTON, M .D. Dr. J. Z. Sexton, a leading representative of the medical fraternity of Siloam Springs, has a thorough knowledge of his profession and through close study and practical experience has gained the skill which brings to his work the utmost possibility of accuracy in results. He was born in Smith county, Virginia, July 31, 1871, a son of Le Grand and Catherine (Korff) Sexton. The father was a native of Winchester, Virginia, and always remained a resident of that state, followed the occupation of farming and also engaging in merchandising. When a young man of thirty years he enlisted as a soldier in the Confederate army and served throughout the period of the Civil war. Mrs. Sexton was born in Washington, D. C., and acquired her education in the Convent of the Visitation at Georgetown, D. C. Owing to the illness of a half brother, who was serving in the Confederate army, she took up the profession of nursing, which she continued to follow throughout the Civil war, performing important, self-sacrificing service, and it was while acting in this capacity that she met Mr. Sexton. For a time she was connected with the treasury department of the Confederate government and was thus active at the time of Sherman's memorable march to the sea. She was with Jefferson Davis, president of the Southern Confederacy, in St. Paul's church, when General Lee sent word that the city of Richmond, Virginia, should be evacuated, and was present during the burning of the city, losing all of her clothing except the garments which she wore. She sought safety in the Federal Hospital and aided in nursing the northern soldiers. After her marriage she returned to Virginia and continued a resident of that state until after her husband's death. She then went to Washington, D. C., where she lived for a number of years, but later returned to Virginia, dying in that state in 1919. She was at one time connected with Sullins College at Bristol, Tennessee, organizing the kindergarten department of that institution. She was a prominent member of the Daughters of the Confederacy and her life was a noble and self-sacrificing one, devoted to the interests of others. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Sexton were six children: Jennie, the wife of Dr. N. H. Reeve, a leading physician of Bristol, Tennessee; Moses, a well-known druggist of Washington, D. C.: J. Z., of this review; Mattie, who is unmarried and also resides in Washington; Paul, who is connected with the government service and resides in the nation's capital, and Kathryn, who is unmarried and also makes her home in Washington. Mrs. Sexton was a Catholic in religious faith, and her husband was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and he was a democrat in his political views. His father, Aaron Sexton, was born in Massachusetts and removed to Virginia prior to the outbreak of the Civil war. The maternal grandfather, Herman Korff, was a refugee of Russian Poland, who sought shelter in the United States in order to avoid religious and political persecution. For a time he resided in Washington, D. C., but became a victim of tuberculosis and died in Cuba. He was of royal birth, the Sexton family being originally members of the English nobility, bearing a coat-of-arms. In the acquirement of an education Dr. Sexton attended the public schools of Washington, D. C, and the Catholic School of Georgetown, now known as the Georgetown University, subsequently becoming a student in the medical department of Vanderbilt University at Nashville, Tennessee, from which he was graduated with the class of 1897. For a time he served as interne in a hospital and then took up the work of his profession in Indian Territory, where he remained for a year. In 1900 he arrived in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, where he has since resided, and in the intervening period of twenty-one years has built up a large practice. He has ever remained a close student of his profession and pursued a three months' postgraduate course in Chicago, while for four months he was occupied in similar work in New York city, thus augmenting his knowledge and skill. In 1899 Dr. Sexton was united in marriage to Miss Ada Pegues, a native of Siloam Springs and a daughter of Robert Pegues, who for thirty years was numbered among the leading druggists of this locality. Two children have been born of this union: Ruth, who married T. B. Boyd, a citizen of Waco, Texas, and Paul, who is attending school. Dr. and Mrs. Sexton are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and his political allegiance is given to the democratic party. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of Rogers, Arkansas, and the professional connections are with the Benton County and Arkansas State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association. He utilizes every possible opportunity to promote his knowledge and increase his efficiency, and he enjoys the respect of his professional colleagues and also of the general public. Additional Comments: Citation: Centennial History of Arkansas Volume II Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1922 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ar/benton/bios/sexton193bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/arfiles/ File size: 5.7 Kb