AHJ_ah09671 Inventory of the Sexton family papers1844-2021 Sexton Family papers Processed by Laura Uglean Jackson University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
© 2012

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Laura Uglean Jackson July 2012 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Sexton family Sexton family papers 1844-2021 09671 65.56 cubic ft. (81 boxes) + 5.17 GB University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English Documents the history of the Murdock Land Company and Stone Valley ranch as well as the owners, the Sexton family. Biography of the Sexton family

The Sexton family ran one of the most important livestock ranches in the West. William Murdock (1820-1894), his sister, Mary Murdock Compton (d. 1915) and her husband, Henry C. Compton Sr. (d. 1888) founded the Murdock Land Company in 1853 in Colusi (later Glenn) County, California. The Murdock Land Company consisted of several ranches including Stone Valley, Adobe, and Nye Ranches. The Murdock Land Company was incorporated in 1900 and managed by Henry C. Compton Jr. (1864-1930) until his death, then by his widow, Henria Packer Compton (1871-1959) until 1941. It was then leased to Robert Renaud and John Kenneth Sexton (1900-1975) until 1945 and then run by J.K. (Ken) Sexton who had married Henry and Henria’s daughter, Anna Belle Compton Sexton, from 1945-1952, and by J.K. Sexton and Sons from 1953-1958. Murdock Land Company was liquidated in 1958. J.K. and Anna Belle Sexton ran Stone Valley and Koyo Ranches with their sons. After J.K. Sexton’s death on February 3, 1975, the family continued to operate the Stone Valley ranches until selling Stone Valley in 1998.

 Scope and Content

The Sexton family collection pertains to their multi-generational family business in the sheep industry and the management of their livestock ranch. Materials including land deeds, correspondence, historical accounts, and subject files document the general history of the family and Stone Valley. There is also a Babylonian tablet from 2350 B.C.E., one of the earliest records of sheep ranching. Financial files documenting Stone Valley ranch after 1941 include general ledgers and inventories. There are also files documenting livestock and these include breeding records, shearing records, and other information about sheep and cattle. Also included in this collection is information about the Murdock Land Company. This series contains agreements, leases, correspondence, and material documenting the financial and administrative history of the ranches owned by the Murdock Land Company. There is also material documenting the Sexton and Compton families. This includes 19th century correspondence between family members, diaries of Anna Belle Sexton, H.C. Compton and Robert Sexton, estate files, vacation photos, family photo albums, and items owned by the family.

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

 Copyright Information

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There are no known other archival collections created by the Sexton family at the date of processing.

This material was received from Anna Belle Sexton, Robert Sexton, Arleigh Simmons, and Janice Sexton in multiple accretions from 1960-2024.

The collection was processed by Laura Uglean Jackson, July 2012 and updated by Jamie Greene in June 2017, February 2021, and May 2024. This collection was updated by Brittany Heye in February 2026.

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

 Access Terms Sexton, John Kenneth. Sexton, Anna Belle. Sexton, Robert C. Murdock Land Company. Livestock ranches -- United States -- 19th century. Livestock ranches -- United States -- 20th century. Sheep industry -- United States -- 19th century. Sheep industry -- United States -- 20th century. Ranching. Business, Industry, Labor, and Commerce. Glenn County (Calif.) <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Container List Series I. Historical and Miscellaneous Ranch Documents 1860-1998

Contains correspondence, publications, subject files, awards, and other documentation regarding the general history of ranching and the Stone Valley Ranch. Contains some leases, agreements, and deeds pertaining to properties owned by the Sexton family (similar material may be found in Series V).

 34 Advertising 1896-1907 1 Appraisal Report- Stone Valley Ranch 1996 41 Babylonian Tablet 2350 BC 1 Berkeley Symposium 1962 1 California Cattlemen's Association 1970 1 Cattle 1953-1965 34 "Cattle History of Glenn and Colusa Counties" with photographs undated 1 Chinese in Chico Area 1900-1964 1 Correspondence 1920-1981 1 Correspondence- Andrew McEwin 1964-1965 34 Correspondence- Anna Belle and J.K. Sexton regarding ranching history 1967-1978 1 Correspondence- Australia-New Zealand Letters 1958-1964 1 Extension Service 1973-1983 1 Field Books, Water 1948-1970 1 Fielder- Las Vegas, and Meat Imports 1970-1971 1 Geophysical Exploration Agreements circa 1974 1 Glenn County Predatory Animal Association 1937-1968 1 Guest Book 1960-1983 46 "The History of Stone Valley" 1983 34 "A History of the Cattle Business in California" 1963 1 Instructions for Installing Compton Machine undated 1 J.K. Sexton and Sons- Appraisal 1978 1 J.K. Sexton and Sons- Rent Determination 1983-1990 1 J.K. Sexton and Sons- Valuation of 1978-1989 1 Koyo 1945-1987 1 Leases, Agreements, and Deeds 1923-1996 2 Marketing 1958-1971 2 and 54 Miscellaneous Historical Documents undated and 1869-1994 2 Mobile Home Expo 1986 2 New Shop 1973 2 Notes from Diaries undated 2 Nye Ranch Closures 1974-1976 2 Pacific T & T circa 1968 2 PCA undated 2 P,G, and E 1965-1979 2 Predator Control- Coyote Data 1923-1981 2, 34 Publications 1895-1971 2 Ramsay 1951-1972 2 Range Fertilization 1954-1957 2 Rainfall 1930-1980 2 Sexton Associates, Formation of 1970-1983 2 Sheep and Wool undated and 1956-1957 34 "Sheep In Old Colusi and Glenn County" 1976 3 Stone Valley - Butte Creek Trade 1965-1967 42 Stone Valley Deeds 1860-1900 3 Stone Valley Ranch Sale 1997-1998 3 U.S. Bureau Trans Line Vs. Telephone circa 1962 42 Various Documents Related to Stone Valley 1904-1922 3 Water Resources 1938-1985 3 Williamson Act Contracts for Stone Valley and Koyo 1971 3 Yellow Star Thistle 1958, 1967-1969 Series II. Financial Information 1941-1995

Contains journals, depreciation schedules, spreadsheets of expenses and sales, balance sheets, financial statements, check records, and ledgers mainly for Stone Valley Ranch but also Nye Ranch and Murdock Land Company (1941-). Also includes information on livestock inventories, expenses, leases, loans, estates, benefits, and wool and barley production (expenses and profits).

 3-7, 22-23, 47, 49 Financial Information Series 1941-1995 Series III. Livestock Records 1939-1990

Contains ledgers and spreadsheets with information about cows/bulls. Includes sheep analysis cards, breeding records for cows and sheep, shearing records, information (such as weight, length, and wool amount) for sheep and cattle, and printed material about livestock. Also includes information on feed lots and carcass evaluations.

 7-12, 36 Livestock Records 1939-1990 Series IV. Murdock Land Company Records 1871-1958

Contains financial information, leases, agreements, and documentation of the liquidation of the Murdock Land Company.

 14 Agreements, Contracts, Policies 1902-1932 14 Articles of Incorporation 1900, 1950 14 Brand Registration 1918 14 Bylaws 1900, 1936 14 Correspondence 1899-1927 34 Correspondence- Cattle Sales 1894-1929 34 Correspondence- General Merchandise Bills 1894-1929 34 Correspondence- Grass and Grain Sales 1894-1929 34 Correspondence- Henria C. Compton 1930-1953 34 Correspondence- Land and Labor 1894-1929 34 Correspondence- Miscellaneous & Personal 1896-1923 34 Correspondence- Sheep and Wool Sales 1894-1929 34 Correspondence- Taxes, Insurance, Service Bills 1884-1929 14 Dissolution Agreement 1958 14 Examination of Title 1900 14 Financial- Balance Sheets 1901-1925 14 Financial- Company Accounts 1930-1934 15 Financial- Ledgers and Journals 1871-1926 16 Financial- Legers and Journals 1891-1941 17 Financial- Ledgers and Journals 1914-1958 18 Financial- Ledgers and Journals 1898-1930 48 Financial- Ledgers and Journals 1924-1929 14 Financial- Livestock Sales, etc. 1933-1941 14 Financial- Miscellaneous 1896-1958 14 Financial- Reports 1929-1940 19 General Files, Blacksmithing 1941-1947 19 General Files- Capital stock Tax Reports 1933-1945 19 General Files- C.F. Byrd & Geis undated 19 General Files- Lester Herrick and Herrick 1943-1946 19 General Files- Receipts, etc. 1950-1954 19 General Files- Treasury Dept. U.S. Correspondence 1943-1947 19 Grant Deeds 1958 19 Lawyer Documents (correspondence and invoices) 1920-1922 19 Leases between Sexton and Murdock Land Company 1941-1957 19-20 Liquidation Files 1958 20 Livestock Information 1922-1954 20 Maps 1958 20 Minutes 1900, 1926, 1931-1937 20 Miscellaneous undated 20 Miscellaneous Notebooks undated 80Murdock vs. Murdock trial research (newspaper clippings, copies)1895-1904 20 Pacific Telephone and Telegraph 1907-1919 21 Stockholder Information 1901-1954 21 Time books (Labor Time Cards) 1893-1938 Series V. Family Papers 1844-1996

21 Adam Murdock, Mrs., Scrapbook undated 28 Anna Belle Sexton Diaries 1931-1989 29 Anna Belle Sexton, Miscellaneous undated 32-33, 45 Awards and Ribbons 1970-1990 81Biographical material - Louise and Robert Sexton1980-2021 21 Book with notes addressed to Hanie [Henria Compton] undated 53Booklet: "Trailing Sheep from California to Idaho in 1865: The Journal of Gorham Gates Kimball" annotated by Edward N. Wentworth, April 1954 74Calendars1903-1915 34 Chet Wing 1980 31 Clara Packer's Music Book 1866 Correspondence: 21 Adam Murdock 1855-1867 21 California Historical Society 1986-1987 81Correspondence2021 74Christmas letters1945-2018 21 Detroit Property 1925-1939 21 Extension 1991 21 From Adam and Bea 1920-1921 21 From Anna Belle Sexton 1949 21 and 54 General 1930-1994 24 General Files 1882-1907 24 Gressley, University of Wyoming 1988-1960 43 and 54 Henry B. Packer's Letters to Mary E. Judkins 1849-1875 24 Henry C. Compton's Last Year and Estate 1902-1932 24 "The History of Stone Valley" 1985-1986 24 Insurance Company 1903-1917 24 Mery Engine 1923, 1982 24 To H.C. Compton and William Murdock 1887-1899 24 To Henry C. Compton 1892-1909 31 Demarest Fashion Book 1865 54Diaries and Journals: Trip to Hawaii, Australia & New Zealand by Anna Belle Saxton, 1963 74Diary: Louise Marlyn Johnson Sexton1995 Digital Files: Digitalahcdm_09671_001CD-R: Bob Sexton Sings the Oldiesundated Digitalahcdm_09671_002USB: Sexton2021 Digitalahcdm_09671_003USB: Unlabeled2020-2021 24, 39 Diplomas and Certificates 1915-1985 24 Estate Records and Deeds 1890-1991 44 Estate Records and Deeds- Adobe Ranch Deeds 1870-1881 24 Estate Records and Deeds- Anna Belle Sexton 1992-1996 44 Estate Records and Deeds- Henry's Gift to Henria undated 25 Estate Records and Deeds- J.K. Sexton 1963-1976 44 Estate Records and Deeds- Mary Compton Estate, Distribution of undated 44 Estate Records and Deeds- Nevada Deeds, Yorke Place and River Ranch Deeds and Documents 1873-1893 25 Family Tree undated 35, 37 Films of Family and Ranch 1930-1960 34 Flint Diary 1972 74Genealogy research1924-1970 26-27 H.C. Compton Diaries 1870-1930 25 Henria Compton 1933 38 Henria P. Compton Trust 1986-1988 46 Henria's Scrapbook, Newspaper Clippings 1895-1941 25 Henry B. Packer 1847-1865 44 Henry B. Packer's Pilot License 1862 30 J.K. Sexton Daybooks 1940-1965 25 J.K. Sexton- Livestock Man of the Year Documents 1961 25, 34 J.K. Sexton- Speech Notes undated 25 J.K. Sexton- Sympathy Letters to Anna Belle Sexton 1975 31 Legal Records 1844-1890 Manuscripts: 54"The Ballad of the Silver Streak" by Bob SextonMay 21, 1974 54Family History and Memories1970-2013 54"The Old House" by Anna Belle Saxton1970 81Membership cards, licenses, passport1999-2021 81Memory Book - Louise Marlyen SextonJanuary 5, 2021 50 Maps and Blueprints undated 53Map: "America's Cattle Trails" (map given to J.K. Sexton by Col. E.N. Wentworth), 1949 31 Mary Judkins Packer's Lady Book and Autograph Album 1885 25 Mary Murdock Compton- Book, Manuscripts circa 1953 54 and 74Memorabilia:Louise Marlene Johnson (High School Senior Memories book, Varsity Letter, cap tassel, passports, report cards, birth announcements, stamps)1934-2002 74Memorabilia: Familyundated 25 Miscellaneous 1868-1952 46 Murdock Trial Clippings 1899 25 and 54Newspaper Clippings1888-2001 74Newspaper clippings and articles1965-1968 74Newspaper clippings: California Centennial newspapers1945-1948 55-73 and 75-78Photo Albums: Sexton Family1905-2009 54Photo Albums: Sexton Family, books 1-2, assembled by Janice Sexton1870-1950 39-40 Photographs and Negatives 1925-1973 54Photographs: Miscellaneous Family1960-2010 55 and 73Photographs: Sexton Family1907-1938 74Poems and musicundated 74Publications: Almanacs and miscellaneous1897-1907 74Publications: "California Cattleman" (CCA)1965-1968 74Records - book listMay 15, 1992 81Robert & Louise Sexton estate planning portfolio1991-2018 51-52 and 74Robert Sexton diaries, 1952-2017 73Sexton family treesundated 44-45 and 78-80Scrapbooks: 44-45Scrapbook1876 78Baby Book: Our baby's first seven years - Robert Compton Sexton1929 78Campaign 20022002 79Johnson's/Robinson's1920-1976 79Memorable Vacations2000-2002 79-80Scrapbooks #1-31995-2002 34 Tear Sheets 1957 29 Vacation Diaries and Photos circa 1960 54Yearbooks: Willows High School, California - Robert Sexton, 1944-1947 74Yearbooks: The Elk1947-1951 44 William Murdock's Will and Distribution of Estate circa 1900