Melford Sexton's Story

Melford Sexton was born 25 November 1857 in Fentress Co., Tn. and died March 14, 1962 in Wayne Co., Ky. He married first Artimesia Anderson in 1877 in Wayne Co., Ky. daughter of Moses Anderson and Nancy Matthews. Artimesia was born 16 August 1851 in Scott Co., Tn. and died 17 July 1937.

Melford married his second wife Lucy Abbott in 1938 in Wayne Co., Ky. Lucy had been a childhood sweetheart. Lucy died 20 October 1951 when their home burned.

It has been told that Melford once found a bear cub and was taking it when the mother came came upon and attacked him. Not having time to raise his rifle to fire he rammed the the stock down her throat, causung her to turn and run away. The rifle had claw marks on the stock following the encounter. Sometime later Melford's dauaghter Nancy went to feed the bear cub one evening and it attempted to attack her, Melford then donated the bear to a zoo believed to have been the Cincinnati, Ohio Zoo.

Melford Sexton lived to the age of 104 and was fondly known in the family as Uncle Mint