     OUR STORY OF ORIGIN

Samuel W. Seton -The Liberian Citizen is the great, great grandfather of the Seton Family from Maryland County, Liberia, West Africa. The Seton Family comes from Big Town/Gbenelue and their quarter is called Nyaworh-Parnoh which means "frontliners". Samuel W Seton name at birth was Tobe/Toe Kla Kade {Toe Kla}. He got the SETON name from the christian missionaries that converted him to Christianity at Baptism. Seton was a great Grebo warrior and fisherman in his early life. He attended school with Bishop Samuel D. Ferguson who later became Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Ferguson was also a native boy who accepted western culture and graduated two years before Seton. Samuel W Seton graduated and worked for the Protestant Episcopal Church in and around Maryland County. Because of his commitment and hard work he was promoted from Deacon to Priest of the St. James Episcopal Church in Hoffman Station, Maryland county. The missionaries had problem with Seton because while he accepted western culture and education, he also was commited to traditional acts and values. He saw himself as a protector of the Grebo people. He was rejected by the educated Americo-Liberians of having link with his people. They at sometimes accused him of being over-civilized. While his annual salary was less than $500, he was able to order butter, cheese, bread, meat, help others as well as owning a boat. Samuel W. Seton demanded the Episcopal Church to increase the salaries of their employees because the people were finding it difficult to live on their salaries. Seton formed the Girls Asylum School in Maryland County for girls education. Seton and his friend N. S. Harris united the Grebo People when they formed and organized The Grebo Confederacy/United Grebo Kingdom. The formation of the Grebo Confederacy raise fear in the Americo-Liberians and a civil war erupted. Seton sided with the Grebo People on grounds that he was responsible for the protection of the souls of his people. America intervened by sending a gunboat and peace was attained through negotiations. After the war Seton was expelled from the church and he later joined the Jehovah Witnesses Church. Seton took part in the election that follow and he won unaimously and went to the House Of Representatives. He immediately passed a bill of integration for all indigenous people for which he was expelled from the House Of Representatives. He served as a Probate Court Judge in Maryland County; he work for the ACS as agent; served as the Commissioner of Education at Cape Palmas and was also a pubic speaker for the rest of his life. He conscientized the population so much that 40 years after his death, President William V.S. Tubman from Maryland County enacted the Bill Of National Integration of all people living within Liberia. Samuel W Seton died in 1908 and President Arthur Barclay in his annual address, ackowledged the achievements of Seton in Maryland County. Samuel W Seton Had several children: Jerome Seton, Philip Seton, Nathaniel Seton, Euphemia Seton Barclay, Jane Davis Seton, Getrude Seton Yancy, Martin Balu-Mnah Seton, etc,. Seton first wife was Mary Bowman Seton, after her death he married Laura Potter Seton age 16. His last wife Louisa D Seton was a Settler Liberian. He had three brothers from which today we have the Hodge, Howe and Hare families of Big Town. They were biological brothers but the Missionaries gave each of them separate western christian names.

OUR STORY OF ORIGIN

Contact

195 E 68th Ave. Merrillville, IN 46410