Butte County Biographies

JUDGE WARREN T. SEXTON

Transcribed by:  Betty Wilson, August 2004

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

            The death of this man, who has been 
prominently connected with the affairs of Butte county from the date of its 
organization, which occurred on the eleventh of April, 1878, called forth from 
all sides the highest eulogiums upon his character, both public and private.  He 
was universally esteemed and respected.  The bar of Butte county unanimously 
adopted these resolutions as the spontaneous and heartfelt expression of its 
regard for him, and its deep sorrow for his removal from its circle:�
            �Resolved�That the members of the bar of the second judicial 
district of the State of California received the intelligence of the death of 
Warren T. Sexton with feelings of profound sadness and sorrow.  By his long and 
honorable service at the bar and upon the bench, distinguished by uniform 
courtesy and kindness of demeanor, as well as by eminent ability and profound 
learning, he endeared himself to all his professional brethren; and now, at the 
close of his earthly career, they find a melancholy pleasure in giving to his 
memory this public expression of their respect and regard.
            �Resolved�That in the death of Judge Sexton the state has been 
bereaved of a just and upright citizen.  Of mild and unassuming manners, he was 
firm and unfaltering in noble purposes.  In his profession he was among the 
foremost and ablest of his associates.  And upon the bench his sterling 
integrity gave additional dignity to the court, while his pre-eminent talents 
and unrivaled learning shed new luster upon the already brilliant pages of our 
law; and while we, the members of his own judicial district, feel most keenly 
his loss, we can point with pride at the record of a life well spent in the 
labors of a profession to which he has left the priceless legacy of a spotless 
name and the example of what may be achieved by patient industry and persistent 
labor.�
            Concerning his early life, prior to his coming to California, he 
left but little record.  His was seldom heard to speak of his boyhood days.  He 
was born in Warren county, New Jersey, in 1823.  While still a young boy, his 
father moved with his family to Michigan, and there engaged in building 
railroads by contract.  While still at an early age, he fitted and entered Ann 
Arbor College.  While there, he imbibed a strong penchant for the classics, 
which led him, during his later years, to study the works of the ancient authors 
for his recreation.  The failure of his father in business, before he had 
finished his course, compelled him to leave college and engage in the active 
pursuits of life.  In 1849, he crossed the plains with the Wolverine Rangers, 
and in October of that year came to Butte county.  His first and only mining was 
done at Long�s bar.  He was elected county clerk in June, 1850, and held the 
position until 1853, when he became District Attorney, serving as such for two 
years.  He resided at the old town of Hamilton during its period of 
county-seatship, and when Bidwell�s bar became the favored spot, he followed its 
fortunes until they waned, and then took up his permanent abode in Oroville.  
The early records of the courts of this county are all in his well-known 
handwriting.  Care and neatness pervade all the work of his life.  While at 
Bidwell�s bar, he formed a law partnership with Judge C. F. Lott, who still 
survives him.  During this partnership, he rarely appeared in court to argue 
either questions of law or fact.  Being naturally timid and diffident, he had no 
desire to speak in public.  He has often remarked that he thought he had left 
the imprint of his fingers on the table in the old court-room at Bidwell, as he 
nervously grasped it when addressing court or jury.  While Judge Lott did the 
talking, Judge Sexton gave his attention to the preparation of the case, and it 
was prepared with the skill of a master hand.  In 1857, he was elected District 
Judge, beating Judge Lewis by a large vote.  He was re-elected in 1863, and 
again in 1875.  In 1869, he was defeated for the position by Judge Lott.  It 
will be seen that he has held the position of District Judge for fourteen years 
and three months.  The last time he appeared in court, he was hardly able to 
walk up the stairs leading to the court-room, but, when on the bench, he sat as 
erect as ever, listening to the argument of counsel.
            Judge Sexton was married at Rough and Ready, in this state, November 
14, 1855, to Miss Z. Stevens, who still survives him.  There were born to them 
two children, Warren Sexton, Jr., and a daughter, both of whom are at present 
are residing in Oroville.  The former edited the Oroville Mercury for some time, 
was admitted to the bar, and is now practicing law in partnership with Hon. John 
C. Gray.
            The memory of the eminent virtues and abilities possessed by Judge 
Sexton, will long be kept alive in the minds of the people, and it will be long 
ere another can rise to usurp the place he holds in the hearts of his fellow 
men.

History of Butte County, California: From its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - Vol. 
II -  Harry L. Wells & W. L. Chambers - 547 Clay Street, San Francisco, Cal., 1882., 
pages 191-194.

 
He was born in Warren county, New Jersey, in 1823, and while still a young boy 
his father moved with his family to Michigan, and there engaged in building 
railroads by contract. At an early age he fitted for and entered Ann Arbor 
College. While there he imbibed a strong penchant for the classics, which led 
him, during his later years, to study the works of the ancient authors for his 
recreation. The failure of his father in business, before he had finished his 
course, compelled him to leave college and engage in the active pursuits of 
life. In 1849 he crossed the plains with the Wolverine Rangers, and in October 
of that year came to Butte county. His first and only mining was done at Long�s 
bar. He was elected county clerk in June, 1850, and held the position until 
1853, when he became district attorney, serving as such for two years. He 
resided at the old town of Hamilton during its period of county-seatship; and 
when Bidwell�s bar became a favored spot, he followed its fortunes until they 
waned, and then took up his permanent abode in Oroville. The early records of 
the courts of that county are all in his well-known handwriting. Care and 
neatness pervade all the work of his life. While at Bidwell�s bar he formed a 
law-partnership with Judge C. F. Lott, who still survives him. During this 
partnership he rarely appeared in court to argue either questions of law or 
fact. Being naturally timid and diffident, he had no desire to speak in public. 
He had often remarked that he thought he had left the imprint of his fingers on 
the table in the old court-room at Bidwell, as he nervously grasped it when 
addressing court or jury. When Judge Lott did the talking, Judge Sexton gave his 
attention to the preparation of the case, and it was prepared with the skill of 
a master hand. In 1857 he was elected district judge, beating Judge Lewis by a 
large vote. He was re-elected in 1863, and again in 1875. In 1869 he was 
defeated for the same position by Judge Lott. It will be seen that he held the 
position of district judge for fourteen years and three months. The last time he 
appeared in court he was hardly able to walk up the stairs leading to the 
court-room; but when on the bench, he sat as erect as ever, listening to the 
argument of counsel. On the eleventh of April, 1878, he died at his residence in 
Oroville. Judge Sexton was married at Rough and Ready, in this state, November 
14, 1855, to Miss Z. Stevens, who still survives him. There were born to them 
two children, Warren Sexton, Jr. and a daughter, both of whom are at present 
residing in Oroville. In Plumas county, as in every other part of the district, 
Judge Sexton was generally admired and loved. His charge to the jury in the 
celebrated Francis murder case elicited the highest eulogiums from the bench and 
bar of the state. 
     The memory of the eminent virtues and abilities possessed by Judge Sexton 
will be kept alive in the minds of the people, and it will be long ere another 
can rise to usurp the place he holds in their hearts.   
 
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 
1513 to 1850. � Fariss and Smith, San Francisco,  1882. p 176

Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004 


        Eminent in the legal affairs of Butte county for years, and closely
identified with its various interests from the time of organization until
his death, the late Judge Warren T. Sexton became a resident of California
in 1849. Jacob Sexton, his father, was a native of New Jersey, and was a
prominent railroad builder and contractor. Warren T. was born in Warren
county, New Jersey, in 1823, accompanied the family to Michigan when a small
child, and there received a good common-school training, completing his
education in the university at Ann Arbor.

       In 1849 he crossed the plains to California in company with the
Wolverine Rangers and in October of that year first set foot in Butte
county, locating at Long's Bar, where he engaged in mining. In 1850, at the
first election held in this county, he was chosen clerk. During his services
as such he continued the study of law, to which he had given some attention
in former years. In 1853 he was elected district attorney, residing at
Hamilton, then the county seat, and later removing with it to Bidwell's Bar.
When Oroville became the seat of justice he made it his permanent home. The
early court records are all in his own handwriting and evince the care he
bestowed upon them.

       While at Bidwell's Bar he entered into partnership with C. F. Lott, a
relation which proved a strong and lasting one, Mr. Sexton preparing the
cases with unusual legal ability, and Mr. Lott presenting them in court in
the same manner. In 1857 he was elected district judge, re-elected in 1863
and again in 1875, being the incumbent at the time of his death, April 11,
1878. Capable as an official, sound and learned as a jurist, and of strict
integrity, a credit to the legal profession, it is not surprising that his
loss was keenly felt.

       On November 14, 1855, Judge Sexton was united in marriage with Sobia
Stevens, a native of Michigan. Three children were born to them, one of whom
died in infancy; Warren and Caroline survive.

"History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the
Sacramento Valley, Cal.," J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Company,
Chicago, 1906, Page 418.

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, April 2009.