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Cemetery yields information about township

Twice within the past 30 days, I have found myself in the historic Old Liberty Cemetery in Sefton Township. Prior to that,  I had never visited this historic burying ground, although I always thought that one day I would find the time.
Wilma Kruger of Brownstown was my first guide, and we were on an ancestor hunt. As we followed the road that led to the cemetery, she told me some of her memories of this area. One must cross both a bridge and a ford to reach the cemetery.
The Brazle family was the focus of our hunt that particular day. Wilma’s brother, Vernon Brazle, joined us, and it was interesting to learn more about the family. It is thought that James Brazle, a veteran of the War of 1812, is buried in Old Liberty with his family.
Old Liberty Cemetery is situated on a hill, and Wilma pointed out to me the site below where the old Liberty Church had stood. The church was built about 1847, although the church organization existed in the homes of the members for some years before that year.
The Workman family, who had come from Knox County, Ohio, in 1838, was affiliated with the Christian denomination, which had started near Paris, Ky., some years earlier. Church meetings were held in private homes or schools, and the Liberty Church was organized by Thomas Rigdon and Wesley Smith.
Old Liberty Cemetery was established in connection with the church, with the earliest marked grave of Julia A. Sefton, daughter of William W. and Savannah Sefton, who died on Aug. 10, 1845, at the age of 3 years 11 months and 11 days.
In 1910, a brush pile near the church was set on fire. The church caught fire and burned to the ground. The congregation built a new church at Sefton crossroads, and with it they started a new cemetery, New Liberty.
My second visit was this past week in the company of Sherri Beckel and Joyce McClary, as once again, we went on an ancestor hunt. Sherri was reared not far from the cemetery, and many of her yet-to-be-identified ancestors rest in this old burying ground.
One thing notable to those interested in genealogy is the relationship among these families. As is not often realized, the early settlers did not come one family at a time, but in groups, which might be relatives, church groups or neighbors.  
The earliest settlers of this township, the Forbis, Radcliff and Turney families, and some others who did not remain, were from Christian County, Ky., and were here about 1830. In fact, the first grown person to die was Eli Forbis, head of that family.
He was buried on his farm, and that became the Forbis Cemetery. A large space in the middle of the cemetery is said to be the burial place of the early settlers. Sherri’s ancestors, Adam and Martha Sefton Radliff,  are buried in this cemetery, as well as Bethany across the road.
The next group to come into the township came from Jennings County, Ind., the Sage and Hollingshead families.
The township was named for brothers John, Hugh, Samuel and William Sefton, who came from Decatur County, Ind., but apparently not all in one group. With them,  came other families from the same county, including the Buchanan, Sidwell, Crume and Wilson families.  
The second major migration was from Ohio, and it took place in 1840. Fairfield and Knox County contributed Owen, Miller, McConkey, Kepner, Workman, Sapp, Logue, Arnold, Dayhuff and others. In 1838, several Irish immigrants, including McDonald, Grandfield, Turner and Lynch, came to the county and chose Sefton Township as their home.
One of the most amazing aspects in the history of the township was the great number of men who fought in the Civil War. Old and young left for the war, with some of the fathers serving in units with their sons.
John Goodbreak had two sons, John W. and Solomon, in the Civil War. George W. McConkey left five children at home when he went to the Mexican War in 1848. He and two sons went to the Civil War, and at that time he had 10 children, but not all at home.
The casualty lists were very high. Two companies of the 7th Illinois Cavalry were organized in the northern part of Fayette County, and most of the men who went were members of these companies.
Thanks to Wilma and Sherri, I know not only how to reach Old Liberty Cemetery, but I also know much more about the history of the people of Sefton Township.

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