Clayton, Benj. F. (1839-1922)

CLAYTON

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 9/16/2008 at 14:06:16

Benjamin F. Clayton
Jan 10, 1839 - Mar 16, 1922

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.156. Macedonia Twp.)
Hon. B. F. Clayton, farmer, stock and real estate dealer, P. O. Macedonia, is the proprietor of Sunnyside Stock Farm, situated one and three quarters miles southwest of the town of Macedonia; he is interested in an agricultural implement house in Macedonia, known by the firm name of Clayton & Clark, also in a similar house in Carson, known as the Carson Implement Company. Mr. Clayton is a stockholder and Director of the Macedonia Bank. He was elected by the Eighteenth General Assembly of the State of Iowa, served term of six years on the Board of Trustees of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, situated at Council Bluffs, of which board he is Chairman. Mr. Clayton was born in Nicholas County, Ky., January 10, 1839, and leaving the parental roof at the age of sixteen years, went directly to Decatur County, Ind., and went to work by the month. He remained in Indiana from 1855 to 1873, during which time he served three years on the Board of County Commissioner of Decatur County; he followed farming as a business while there. In October, 1873, Mr. Clayton came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and settled where he now lives, buying at that time 320 acres partially improved, which he has since added to till now Sunnyside farm contains over 500 acres, and Mr. Clayton has over 1,600 acres in the county, most of which is improved. His father, William M. Clayton, born in Virginia in 1788, came to Kentucky, during boyhood with his parents, was a soldier in the war of 1812, bring under Capt. Metcalf, who was afterward Governor of Kentucky; he was a mechanic during life, and died in 1852 in Robinson County, Ky. Subject's mother, Mary (Adair) Clayton, was born in Nicholas County, Ky. Subject has but one full sister, one half-brother and three half-sisters. Mr. Clayton has held some township office ever since he came to the State, and served in the Seventeenth and Eighteen General Assemblies of the State of Iowa, being Chairman of the Agricultural Committee, in the Eighteenth General Assembly. Mr. Clayton is a Master Mason. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a Trustee of Simpson Centenary College, situated at Indianola, Iowa. Mr. Clayton was first married to Miss Priscilla Martin of Decatur County, Ind., March 2, 18682; she died in Indiana in 1868. He married again, September 22, 1869, to Miss Nannie M. Hamilton; she was born in Decatur County, Ind., May 22, 1852; her father, D. N. Hamilton, born in Harrison County, Ky., November, 1817; he is a farmer, living in Indiana; her mother, Martha A. Taylor, born in Harrison County, Ky., in January, 1819, died December 24, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Clayton have two children - William N. and Mona V.

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.458)
HON. B.F. CLAYTON, of Macedonia, Iowa, is one of the prominent and favorably known men of Pottawattamie Co, his works having been of an extensive nature both in private and public life, and he has done much to build up the best interests of the community where he resides. He was born in Nicholas Co., Kentucky, January 10, 1839, son of William M. CLAYTON, who was born in Virginia in 1788. The father went to Kentucky when a boy and in 1812 enlisted as a soldier under Capt Metcalf, ex-Governor of Kentucky and served through the war. He died in 1852, in Robinson County. His wife, nee Mary ADAIR, was born in Nicholas Co, Kentucky. B.F. CLAYTON, our subject, went to Decatur Co, Indiana, when 16 years of age where he worked by the month until 1873, during which time he also served as County Supervisor for three years. In October 1873 he arrived in Pottawattamie co, where he bought 320 acres of partly improved land, and to which he has since added until he now owns 500 acres in one body. This farm, which is called "Sunnyside" is situated west and in sight of Macedonia and is one of the best ranches in this part of the county. He also owns several other farms and tracts of land in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, one of which consists of 8,000 acres.
Mr. CLAYTON has held most of the township offices and has served in the 17th, 18th, and 20th General Assemblies of the State of Iowa, being Chairman of the Agricultural Committee of the 18th General Assembly, and Speaker pro tem of the House in the 20th session. He has been connected with the National Farmer's Congress, and is one of its most active and zealous workers. He has been delegate to its conventions at Nashville, Tennessee; Montgomery, Alabama; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New Orleans; Topeka, Kansas; Washington DC; and Chicago Illinois and it was through his influence that it was secured for Council Bluffs in 1890. He has been Secretary of this Assembly for six years. He was one of the prime movers in having delegation go to Denver in 1890, and is one of its most active and efficient members. He is a Master Mason, is trustee of Simpson's Centenary College of Indianola and is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. CLAYTON is one of the prominent agriculturists of the state, and at this time is being strongly urged as the Republican candidate for Governor of Iowa, which will be elected in November of this year. Mr. CLAYTON has been twice married, first to Miss PRISCILLA MARTIN, who was born March 2, 1862 in Decatur Co, Indiana, and died in 1868; and he was then married September 22, 1869 to miss Nannie M. HAMILTON, who was born in Decatur Co, the daughter of D.N. HAMILTON, a native of Harrison Co, Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Clayton have one daughter, Mona Blanch. They lost their only son, William N., who was killed in the fall of 1890 by an accidental discharge of a gun. He was a young man of much promise and had received an excellent education at Simpson's College and was loved by all who knew him.