Sefton Township

Sefton Township

SgSTEFTON TOWNSHIP is bounded on the north by Loudon, on the east by Avena, on the south by Otego, and on the west by the Kaskaskia River, and contains that part of the town of 7-1 east, that lies east of the Kaskaskia River, all of 7-2 east, and that part of 8-2 east lying south of Big Creek. About threefourths of this township was originally covered with a heavy growth of the woods common to the county; consequently its industries are about equally divided between lumbering and agriculture. It is well watered, being divided by Suck Creek, which runs through from east to west, emptying into the Kaskaskia River. The other streams are Lynn Creek, Indian Camp Creek, and the south fork of Big Creek. There are also several lakes in the river bottom, on the west side of the township, of which Grassy is the largest, and is fifteen to twenty feet deep in places.

This township was named in honor of Hugh and John Sefton, two old settlers. John is still living, as are many of his and Hugh's descendants, honored and respected by all who know them.

First Settlers

Eli Forbis and John Little, came to the township together in 1830, and settled on section 19,7-2 east, both building cabins and making improvements that year. John Johnson and Robert Green settled in the township in 1832, and Wm. Padon in 1833, the latter settling on section 24,7-1 east, where he still lives in the house built that year. Among the old settlers whose names deserve honorable mention, appear those of James Allen, John McAlilly, Patrick Holland, Wm. B. Forbis, Thomas Granfield, Wm. Dively, Henry Stahl, Michael Radcliff, Geo. Tinsher, Henry L. Davis, Mike McDonald, the Howard family, Isaac Workman, Amos Workman, John Sefton, Washington Ledbetter, James Brazzel,JToseph Stephenson, Joseph Reynolds, Moses Briscow, David Ernest, Chas. and Dan'l Sapp, James Owens, James Hayden, John Arnold, John and Campbell Carson, Robert McConnell, Chas. and Silas Smith, Henry Turner, Geo. Sage, John Sage, and John D. Lee. The settlers for the first few years were nearly all natives of Tennessee, who settled along the Bluff near the Kaskaskia bottom. Between 1835-40 a colony of families from Ohio settled about four hules farther east Some few of them are still left to enjoy the fruits of their early hardships and

There are traces of Indians or some other race of people that has become extinct, scattered all over the western part of the township. There are four mounds on section 7, 7-2, near the mouth of Suck, that appear to have been made by the same race of people, as those found in the Mississippi bottom. The neighbors opened one of them in the spring of 1877, and found the skeletons of some eight or ten persons, also the remains of some pottery vessels, which appear to have been made of clay and shells mixed. The other three mounds were not opened. There are other mounds in the township similar to these. Near these mounds on section 7, was once the most famous deer lick in the county, which accounts for the numerous Indian relics still found near there. The writer has been shown some very fine specimens of tomahawks, arrow heads, etc., which were plenty there only a few years ago. It was probably an old Indian hunting and camping ground. **.

Asa (Sreer, on section 33, 8-2, ploughed up some fifteen years ago several parts of skeletons | these remains indicated the existence of a race of people much larger than any now known. There is also on his farm what appear to be the remains of a pottery kilo, with pieces of pottery similar to that found in the mounds.

Churches And Religions

Wm. Padon, one of the oldest pioneer preachers of the county, preached the first sermon in this township. The first church organization was made at his house in 1834, by Mr. Jas. Massey, a circuit preacher of the M. E. Church. Mr. Padon has preached in this and the adjoining townships over fifty years. The first church was built by the Christians or Campbellites in 1847 or '48, who have quite a large membership. The Methodists are also strong in the township. The German Methodists have a church near Brownstown, with a fair congregation.

Jeremiah King, a Mormon preacher of some note, was a resident of this township for many years, and converted several families to that faith.

Joseph Boleyjack, an eccentric old man who preached in the township thirtyfive years ago. He derived his name from a suit of buckskin clothes, that he wore for many years without changing. There is a tradition in the neighborhood that when they wore out, he washed, put on a new suit and died. When his wife died some of his neighbors accused him of starving her; he said he knew that was not so, as he had offered her parched corn not an hour before she died, and she refused to eat it.

The first death in the township was an infant daughter of Robert Green, in 1832; soon after, John Little lost a little girl. The first grown person, Eli Forbis, died in 1834, and Mrs. Hollingshead in 1835. They were all buried in the Forbis burying-ground, the first one in the township, and laid out in 1832, on Section 19.

The first marriage was probably that of Louis Barton and Eveline Forbis, which was celebrated in 1832. John Sage and Eliza A. Padon were mar¬ ried March 5, 1840. They are still living near where they were married.

John Arnold built a horse-mill on Section 11, Township 7, Range 2, in 1841 or '42. William Padon built one in 1846 on Section 13, Township 7, Range 1. George Washburn built a saw and grist-mill on the river about 1850, run by water. There are now two steam saw-mills in the township doing a good business. It won't do, however, to forget some of the old stump-mills owned by nearly all the first settlers.

The people of this township take an especial pride in their schools, and have built good houses in each district, and employ good teachers. The township is divided into ten school districts. The first school-house was built about 1839 on Section 25, of logs, with a stick chimney. Wesley Carson was probably the first teacher, although we can find no record of any school until 1841, when Hiram Carson taught in the cabin mentioned above. Samuel Carson taught in 1843.

Dr. Johnson, an old Indian doctor, practised in this township as early as 1833. He is said to have been very successful in his practice. Dr. W allis was the first regular physician who located here. He was afterwards ap¬ pointed United States Marshal.

The first road laid out was what is known as the Shelby ville road, opened and made in 1838. There were several bridges built on this road that year, which were probably the first in the township.

To James E. Foster belongs the credit of introducing the first fine stock into the township. He probably has some as good cattle as can be found in the State, and has given some attention to sheep and hogs. John and Campbell Carson, Henry Sefton, John Sid well, and some others deserve praise for their efforts in the same direction.

About forty years ago John D. Lee, the leader of the Mountain Meadow massacre, lived in the north part of this township, near where John Reynolds now lives. Mr. Reynolds remembers him distinctly as a still, morose man, of considerable ability, and not well liked by his neighbors, probably on ac¬ count of the Mormon doctrines preached by him, which were very unpopular at that time.

Harvey Rad cliff was killed by Beach about 1856, as it was supposed at the instigation of Thomas Pickens. Beach was arrested for the crime, and broke jail. Pickens was then arrested, and tried for being accessory to the crime, and* was finally cleared; but having made some very bitter threats against some of his neighbors, he was shot and killed one day while at work in the field. No steps were taken to discover who did it, every one believing it to be a just retribution.

Dudley Padon was killed in January, 1878, by Lincoln Padon, a boy twelve years of age. The deceased was a son of William Padon, and an uncle of Dudley's. He was killed with a shot-gun, the entire charge hit¬ ting him in the thigh, causing him to bleed to death in a few hours. There appears to be some mystery in connection with this affair.

Biographical Sketches Henry Sefton

The people of Fayette County in 1860, honored the name of Sefton by giving it to one of the best townships in the county. Henry Sefton was born in Decatur County, Indiana, May 28th, 1829, and was the only ch.il 1 of Hugh and Mary Sefton. Hugh was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, aud was of Irish parentage.

Henry's only advantages for getting an early education were the common sc hools which he attended in winter until he was thirteen years of age; after that he devoted his entire energies to the farm. He came to Illinois with his father's family in 1848, and was married July 25th, 1850, to Min Phoebe Farmer, whose parents were among the first settlers in the county. They have had born to them a family of six children; five are living, viz-: Chas. H., Savanah A., Mildreth A., Charlotte M., and Joseph U. 8. Mary C., wife of Wesley Workman, died May 16th, 1876. Mr. Sefton has made farming his principal business through life. Settling in Loudon Township soon after getting married he remained there about two years, then bought eighty acres where he now lives in Sefton Township, on time, not having a dollar in the world when he commenced life. In 1872, he was elected to the office of Sheriff, serving the people faithfully, and probably arresting more desperadoes during his term than any man who ever held the office. Although a Republican in a Democratic county, he is deservedly very popular. Mr. Sefton took an active part in the late war for the protection of the government, raising twenty-two recruits in February, 1865, by that means relieving his township of a draft; he has always taken an active iaterest in everything that pertains to the public welfare, trading largely in stock for a number of years, thereby furnishing a home market for his neigh¬ bors ; he has taken some pains to improve the Btock of his township. Mr. Sefton and lady are both members of the M. E. Church.

The oldest son of Asa and Sarah Greer, was born in Knox County, Ohio, May 9th, 1840. His ancestors were among the old pioneer settlers of Ohio and occupied prominent positions. His grandfather Greer, was a Colonel in the war of 1812, and his grandfather Blair was one of the very firet settlers of Knox County and occupied a very promioent position, holding office in that county from the time he was twenty-three years old until he died, a period of over forty years; there are several families living in this county who still remember him. James Greer, the subject of this notice, was born and edu¬ cated a farmer, with fair educational advantages, such as theoommon schools and seminaries of Ohio afforded. In 1859 he also commenced the study of law, and finished in 1864. Although he has never followed it for a profes¬ sion he is amply qualified to do so. Coming to Illinois in 1859, he settled in Sefton Township, on what is known as the old Br&zzle farm, where he now lives, and went to farming, which has been his principal occupation ever since. He was elected Township Assessor in 1862, and held the office seven years; was appointed Deputy Sheriff, and served two years, and in 1877 was elected Supervisor, which office he now holds.

Mr. Greer has all the intelligence and ability necessary to fill any office in the gift of the people, together with those sterling qualities, honesty and integrity, so desirable and so much needed in our public offices.

He was married November 16th, 1874, to Mias Julia Washburn, a native of Fayette County, Ills The fruits of this union are two nice little gjrls, Nora and May.

Abraham S1Dwell

of whom were natives of Kentucky. When Abraham was about five years old his parents removed with him to Indiana, settling in Decatur County of that State, Upon the death of his father, which occurred here some years later, the care of the mother devolved upon Abraham, and for her mainte¬ nance and support he labored by the month until the year 1848, when he came to Illinois, settling in Sefton Township, near where he now resides. In 1849 he married Cynthia A. Pickens, she dying the same year. Two years later, in 1851, he married Martha Ann Pickens, by whom he had seven children; two are dead, and five yet living at home, vis.: John J., aged twenty-four; Nathan E., twenty-two; Cyrus H., ten; Abraham, twenty; and Ulysses G., eight years. Mr. Sidwell is a sound Republican in politics. During the late rebellion, when the country most needed men, he answered its call at a great inconvenience and sacrifice to himself, he having a family of small children entirely dependent upon him for their support. He joined the Seventh Illinois Cavalry, a regiment partly made up from Fayette County.

Abraham Sidwell began life in this State with 160 acres of wild unculti¬ vated land. He is now the owner of 500 acres of good land, most of it under cultivation. He has secured for himself a comfortable competency for life, and is the largest tax-payer in the township.

He is devoted to the sports of hunting and fishing, although, unlike many others, he does not permit these pastimes to interfere with his legitimate busi¬ ness. Probably he has killed more deer, turkeys, coons, fexes, Ac., than any other man in the oounty. He enjoys a good day's fishing, and rejoices in a little friendly competition with his neighboring friends occasionally. He has swam the Kaskaskia River many times while in pursuit of game, even in winter, when the ice floes were thick.

Joshua Arnold

Was born in Holmes County, Ohio, February 8,1828, and was the second child of John and Sarah Arnold. He was raised a farmer, living at home with his parents, and working for them in the summer, and attending the old subscription schools of that day in the winter, getting nothing more than a fair education. He oame to Illinois with his parents in 1840, and settled in Sefton township, near where he now lives. His principal avocation in life has been that of a fermer, and he has oertainly been a successful one. Having, nothing when he oommenoed life but a limited eduoation, he now owns one of the best farms in the township, containing over 500 acres in a good state of cultivation. He has held various township offices for about twenty yean of his life, and in 1873 he was elected to the office of County Treasurer, discharging its duties to the entire satisfaction of every one. Mr. Arnold glories in being an old Jackson Democrat, although he lives in a township where Republicans abound.

He was married April 27,1851, to Sarah Workman. As the fruits of this union they have had born to them twelve children, eleven of whom are living in the township; the other one is dead.

John Carson

A representative man of Sefton Township as an offioer, a fermer, and old settler, was born in Washington County, Virginia, April 18,1818, and was the sixth child of a family of twelve, born to Samuel and Margaret (Debusk) Carson, both of whom were natives of Virginia. His father's parents were from the north of Ireland, and his mother's were of French and German descent Samuel Carson and family moved from Virginia in 1835, coming through by team, it taking them some six weeks to make the trip. He settled | first in what is now Bear Grove Township, where he lived several years; then removed to Sefton.

! John Carson, the subject of this sketch, was married January 27,1842, to Elisa Ann Paslay, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Paslay, who came to i Bear Grove Township in 1840. She was born in Bourbon County, Ky., March 27,1822 They have had born to them a family of nine children, eight of whom are still living near the old homestead. Mr. Carson has always followed the avocation of a fermer, although he has filled several offices and positions of trust, first holding the office of School Treasurer for eight years, and Deputy Surveyor two years. He was then elected Sur¬ veyor in 1855, and has since been re-elected twice, giving entire satisfaction to his constituents.

He is a firm and earnest Republican in politics. Although admired and respected by his political enemies, he never loses sight of his duty in his zeal* for his party For the last few years he has given some attention to fine stock raising, especially cattle and hogs. He now has some as fine stock as there is in the oounty. He commenced life a poor boy, with no educational advantages and no money; but through his own efforts he managed to aoquire education enough to do all kinds of business, and money enough to furnish his ohildren with a farm each, as fast as they were married. He has a good farm left for himself of one hundred and ninety acres, with money and stock enough to make life easy with him, and all the result of his own enterprise.