Obit: Sexton, William Arthur (1857 - 1912)

Contact: Stan Schwarze

Surnames: Sexton, Fensome, Heffernon, Gates, Glassner, Kautsky

----Source: Marshfield Times, Wood County, Wisconsin, Wednesday, June 26, 1912

SAD DEATH OF W, A, SEXTON

Prominent Business Man Passed Away Tuesday Morning.

Pioneer Druggist Succumbs After More Than Year of Suffering.

William A. Sexton, Marshfield's pioneer druggist and one of the best known and most popular residents of the city; died at 7 a.m. Tuesday after suffering for over a year with a complication of diseases. He suffered a shock last week from which he failed to recover being unconscious the greater share of the time during the week past.

The funeral will be held at 2:30 Thursday afternoon, a short service at the house with interment under the auspices of the local Masonic lodge.

The deceased was born at Spring Lake, Waushara Co., January 13, 1857, end spent his youth in that locality. He graduated from the University of Michigan with the degree of Pharmaceutical chemist in March 1881, in which year ne located in  Marshfield and opened the first  drug store. After operating this store about a year and a half he sold out to Dr. W. H. budge, and went to Minneapolis to work, at his profession. In 1885 Mr. Sexton returned to Marshfield and purchased the Miner drug store which he has continued to conduct, making changes and improvements from time to time to maintain the business on the most modern basis. He was associated with his brother Andrew Sexton, a graduate of the U. W. in pharmacy in 1S89, until the death of the latter. He was not only a man of the highest skill and knowledge in his profession but a business man of the utmost liberality and integrity, building up, one of the best business houses in this section of the state. Mr. Sexton was married July 10 1S89 to Miss Ida Gates of Cadot, five children being born to their union.

Aison and daughter died in infancy the survivors being Miss Marie J. Sexton, Mrs. Jos. Glassner and Miss Marjory Sexton, all of whom were at his side during his declining hours. The aged father George Sexton, a resident of .this city, survives, and the nephew of deceased, Dr. Walter of Baltimore, who has lived with Mr. Sexton since 1895. The bereaved wife and one sister, Mrs. E. V. Kautsky of Colby, Wisconsin, also survive and were with the sufferer at the end.

To those who have known Mr. Sexton during his long and successful career, his life is an inspiration. Liberal and public spirited to the highest degree, there is no movement for the advancement of Marshfield in the past twenty-five years with which he was not actively identified. In fraternal circles be was specially active and popular, ever alert to aid or counsel a brother. He was a charter member and treasurer of .the fire department treasurer of the Blue lodge and R A, M. chapter, clerk of the W, O. W. up to the past year, and a member of the Elks, K. of P's., F. R. A and Beavers.

With the highest esteem of this entire community, loved and ad mired by those to whom his sterling life was an open book, William A. Sexton departs this life followed by the highest tribute that man can hope to win. He lived the perfect life, never missing an opportunity to aid and Inspire his fellow man. The Times joins in extending heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved relative.

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wisconsin), 11 Feb 1942

This Sexton Drug ad  appeared in the Marshfield News Herald, 11 Feb 1942

Family Notes

Name: William Arthur Sexton
Sex: M
Birth: 23 Jan 1857 in Spring Lake, Wisconsin
Death: 25 Jun 1912
Burial: Marshfield, WI
Occupation: Pharmacist

Father: George Sexton b: 29 Nov 1829 - 13 Sep 1914, burial in Marshfield, WI
Mother: Anna Maria Heffernon b: 20 Augl 1820 - 26 Jun 1900
 
Married: 10 Jul 1889 in Cadott to Ida Richardson Gates (18 Jan 1867 in Cadott, WI - 11 Mar 1952)
 

Children William A. and Ida R. (Gates) Sexton

Marie Jeanette Sexton b: 4 Augl 1890 - d. 1938, burial in Marshfield, WI
Helen Sexton b: 2 Dec 1892 - d. 7 Feb 1965, burial in Marshfield, WI
Rose Sexton b: 1895, burial in Marshfield, WI
Marjorie Sexton b: 02 Sep 1897
infant son Sexton b: 4 Oct 1900

1900 Federal Census, ED 149 Marshfield city Ward 4-6, Wood, Wisconsin, United States, pg. 6, family 117

Ida Sexton, white, married female
years married: 11
estimated marriage year: 1889
father's birthplace: New York
mother's birthplace: New York
mother how many children: 3
number living children: 3

Household Members
head William Sexton M 43 (Jan 1857) Wisconsin, druggist, parents b. Ireland
wife Ida Sexton F 33 (Jan 1867) New York
daughter Marie Sexton F 10 (Aug 1890) Wisconsin
daughter Helen Sexton F 8 (Dec 1892) Wisconsin
daughter Marjorie Sexton F 3 (Sep 1897) Wisconsin
cousin Walter Sexton M 14 (Jun 1886) Wisconsin
servant Elizabeth Baultus F 21 (May 1879) Wisconsin, single, parents b. Germany

1940 Federal Census, Ward 6, Marshfield, Marshfield City, Wood, Wisconsin, United States, enumeration district number: 71-20, family 141, line 42

Walter Sexton
occupation: physician & surgeon
event year: 1940
gender: Male
age: 53
marital status: Married
race (standardized): White
relationship to head of household (original):
relationship to head of household (standardized): Head
birthplace: Wisconsin
estimated birth year: 1887
residence in 1935: Same House

Household Members
head Walter Sexton M 53 Wisconsin
wife Ethel Sexton F 52 Maryland
daughter Ellen Sexton F 23 Wisconsin
son William Sexton M 22 Wisconsin
son Walter Sexton M 21 Wisconsin
daughter Marianna Sexton F 17 Wisconsin
daughter Sally Sexton F 11 Wisconsin
servant Ethel Fensome F 30 Wisconsin