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Abel Sexton
Born: Abt. 1820 Oneida County, NY
Married: 05 Nov 1845 Vermillion Co., IN
Died: 29 May 1909 Vermillion Co., IN

FATHER

Isaac J. Sexton

of CT

WIFE

Lucretia Blanchard

CHILDREN

Mary Ellen Sexton

From the Biographical & Historical Record of Vermillion County pg 433-434
"Abel Sexton, a prominent and enterprising citizen of Vermillion County, with whose interests he has been identified for many years, is a native of Oneida County, New York, a son of Isaac J. Sexton, a native of Connecticut. When our subject was young he was taken by his father to Fulton County, New York, his mother having died in Oneida County, the father making his home in Fulton County until his death. He was twice married, and by his first wife had a family of four children - Mrs. Mary Ann Bingham, of Columbus, Wisconsin; Abel, the subject of this sketch; Andrew O., a grain merchant of Columbus, Wisconsin, and the present mayor of that city, and Ralph, the youngest son, now lives in Gloversville, Fulton County, New York. Abel Sexton grew to manhood in Fulton County, and his father being a farmer he was reared to the same avocation. The farm being small and there being a number of sons in the family, he decided to try some other vocation, and early in life began learning the carpenter's trade, but soon after entering upon his trade he accepted a situation with an auctioneer, with whom he traveled about the country in the pursuit of his business. This occurred in 1840, when he was about twenty years old. He subsequently traveled in his business as auctioneer with the circus of Raymond, Waring & Co., which was traveling through the country at that time, going with it as far as Cincinnati, several months being consumed in making the trip. He left the circus at Cincinnati, and traveled to Kentucky, and the following season he and a young man from New York State, with whom he traveled, decided to return to their native State, and accordingly set out on horseback, reaching their destination about a month later. After spending a few weeks at is home, Mr. Sexton returned to Kentucky, where he continued auctioneering for some time. About 1843, he came to Newport, where he spent four years. He then went to Columbus, Wisconsin, where his brother lived, and after remaining there about four years he returned to Newport, where he has since made his home. Mr. Sexton married at Newport to Miss Lucretia Blanchard, November 5, 1845. Mrs. Sexton was born in Perry County, Indiana, May 21, 1826, and in September of the same year her father, William Blanchard, came to Vermillion County and settled in Vermillion Township, where he died about two years later. The mother (Sophia Shepard) married a second time, and lived in Vermillion County until her death in May, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Sexton are the parents of one daughter, Mary Ellen, now the wife of Robert E. Stephens, of Newport. Mr. Sexton has been one of the leading merchants of Newport for twenty-five years, beginning here before the time of railroads. He brought his stock of goods with which he commenced business, from La Fayette. In 1861 he erected the store building now occupied by H. B. Rhoads. In 1862 he bought 160 acres of land adjoining the village of Newport on the east, and on about ten acres of this tract he laid out an addition to the town in March, 1872. He was president of the First National Bank of Newport for five years, being one of the organizers of that institution. He was a director of the bank during its entire existence, and also after it was changed to the Vermillion County Bank. In early life in his political views he was a Whig, casting his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay in 1844, but has been a Republican since the organization of that party. For fifteen years he served as commissioner of Vermillion County. He and his wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Newport."

From Hoosier State  Aug 3, 1876 "Abel Sexton and wife returned home yesterday from a two weeks visit to his brother, A. O. Sexton, who resides at Columbus, Wis."