Syfax Milton (?--1910)

From the Watchman and Southron, January 29, 1910.

  A Reconstruction-era black legislator from South Carolina, Syfax Milton served three terms in the South Carolina House of Representatives. One of a number of freedmen elected to legislative seats in the South in the years following the Civil War, Milton's life and career are shrouded in obscurity, and aside from the obituary shown above, little else is known of him. A portrait of Milton has also proven elusive, as has his date of birth. Additionally, his first name has a variation in spelling, being given as Syphax.

 In 1870 Milton was elected as one of two state representatives from Clarendon County; his fellow legislator, Jared Warley, also being African-American. During the 1870-72 session, Milton sat on the committee on the State House and Grounds and continued political service in 1874 when he represented Clarendon at the Union Republican State Convention. Milton would also serve a term as Clarendon County Commissioner in 1874, but no source details the length of that term.

  Syfax Milton won a second term in the house in late 1874, and during the 1874-76 session was named to the committees on Mines, Mining and Manufactures, and Public Lands. In 1876 he was elected to a third term and was named to one new committee, Contingent Account and Expenses. This term saw Milton propose one piece of legislation, "a bill to allow the County Commissioners of Clarendon and Sumter County to open a certain road in said Counties."

  Two years after leaving the legislature Syfax Milton again represented Clarendon County at the Union Republican State Convention, and was again a delegate in 1882. In the late 1880s he is recorded as chairman of the Clarendon County Republican party, and at the county Republican convention of 1890 was made permanent president. He continued to be a influential figure in county politics through the remainder of that decade, and stepped down as county chairman in 1895 due to impaired health.

From the Manning Times, November 25, 1891.

  Little is known of the remainder of Milton's life, and just weeks before his death, the "old war horse" of the county Republican party gave an Emancipation Day address to a large crowd in Manning, South Carolina. This address was remarked by the Manning Times as "teeming with sound advice, and teaching a lesson of industry, thrift, and integrity ", and was followed by oratory from the Rev. James Adams. On January 23, 1910, Syfax Milton died at his home in the "Salem" area of Manning, with notices of his death being published in several South Carolina newspapers. While described as "one of the better class of politicians" by the Manning Times, this same paper gave a Milton a backhanded memorialization following his death, noting:

"The younger generation that has come upon the stage cannot realize the conditions that existed in this State during reconstruction and the republican regime. In those days Syfax Milton was a power in the land. Though not an educated man he was possessed of a goodly share of sound, common sense. He was indentified with the ring streaked and striped element that controlled in those days being a representative and senator from Clarendon County, but his influence was not always for the bad nor did he profit greatly by the graft that was obtained in those days of good stealing."

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 A burial location for Syfax Milton remains unknown at this time, as does information concerning his possibly being born into slavery, his parentage, or whether or not he married and had children. If you are a reader, historian or possible descendant and have information you'd like to contribute, please send along a message below, or via this site's Facebook page!

From the Manning Times, January 26, 1910.