My Shelton line ended with the death of my brother, Von Toble Shelton, Jr., in 1974. However, female members of the family are still living in the county. I am the eighth generation of Sheltons in Webster County. I was raised on a farm near Sebree and Onton. Our land was bordered by the mouth of Deer Creek and the Green River. My parents were Von Toble Shelton and Rebecca Pruitt, the daughter of George Herbert Pruitt and Abra Crockett Beasley.

Josiah and William Shelton, my oldest known ancestors, owned land in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. We are now doing DNA on male Sheltons as they carry the "Y" gene through the line.

My story contains over two hundred years of interesting facts, stories, tales, pictures and research. I will focus on the Webster County Sheltons and also another fascinating group, our cousins that went to Illinois and were known as "The Shelton Gang." I want to bring these individuals to life and try to explain the personalities that made "us" what we are today.

With this comes a plea to all. Learn about your roots.....talk to your grandparents...listen and ask many questions. Talk to your parents...ask about your heritage.

I am apologizing right now for any and all mistakes that I may have made in this genealogy. If there are mistakes they are not intentional, but my story reflects the author's view.