JOSEPH BENSON CLAYTON, who is better known as "Uncle Bens," is one of the most prominent and widely known citizens of Hancock County, O., and resides in the village of Van Buren, in Allen Township. He was born December 30, 1833, at Sharpsburg, Washington County, Md., and is a son of Joseph and Louisa (Showman) Clayton, and a grandson of Henry Clayton who fought in the War of the Revolution. Joseph Clayton, an uncle of our subject, enlisted as a drummer boy in the War of 1812, also fought in the Civil War, and three brothers of our subject served in the Civil War. Joseph Clayton, father of Joseph B. Clayton, was born and reared in Sharpsburg, Md., and was exceptionally well educated, being a fine mathematician, as well as a surveyor, civil engineer and school teacher. In about 1836 or 1837, with his family he removed from Maryland to Rushville, O., and there he and wife spent the remainder of their lives.

Joseph Benson Clayton spent his boyhood days in Rushville, O., and at the age of fifteen years began learning the plasterer's trade, which he followed successfully for forty-six years. When a young man he came to Van Buren, O., and for fifty-four years, with the exception of five years spent in Fairfield County, has been a resident of this village. In 1856, when he came to Van Buren, Mr. Clayton was was not only without money but in debt, but began working at his trade as a plasterer, and in connection with his trade, dealt largely in real estate, buying and selling farm lands, and often acted as advisor for others, who were transacting real estate deals, and proved himself a man of splendid business judgement. During his early life Mr. Clayton traveled extensively, and has visited nearly every state in the union east of the Mississippi, and also Texas. He is a very interesting and entertaining conversationalist, and is held in high esteem by a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the county. In 1903, Mr. Clayton sold his farm of 100 acres, which was located in the northwestern part of Allen Township, and although he has owned various farms has never lived on any of them.

Mr. Clayton was married shortly after coming to Hancock County, to Caroline Myers, who is a daughter of Jonathan Myers, formerly of Bloomdale, Wood County, O. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Clayton: Willis Melville, who graduated in the classical course at the Ohio Wesleyan University, teaches the higher branches in the High School at Santa Anna, Calif.; Louisa, who is the wife of James V. Bushong, who operates a farm of 120 acres in Van Buren Township; Charlotte, who manages the home for her parents since her mother suffered a stroke of paralysis in 1907; and Georgiana, who died aged 20 years. Mr. Clayton affiliates with the I.O.O.F. and his religious connection is with the M. E. church, although he has always been a liberal supporter of churches of all denominations.

History of Hancock County>

WILBER F. CLAYTON, one of the representative men of Walnut Township, Fairfield County, O., where he owns two tracts of excellent land, aggregating 140 acres, is an honored veteran of the great Civil War, one whose loyalty and patriotism kept him a soldier from 1861 until 1865. He was born near New Salem, O., March 4, 1842, and is son of Joseph and Louisa (Showman) Clayton.

Joseph Clayton was born in Maryland in 1802, and was a son of Capt. Henry and Ann Clayton. Captain Henry Clayton was of Irish extraction and was born in Pleasant Valley, Va. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War under the immediate command of General Washington, who was a personal friend of the family and frequently was entertained by Captain Clayton and wife. The family still preserves a table glass tumbler from which the Father of his country was wont to drink when he dined with the Claytons, and also an old slate which he often made use of, on which to sketch a map when he was planning military operations. Henry Clayton was elected a lieutenant in Col. Swope's Flying Camp, Maryland Line, Continental Army, in 1776. He took part in the Siege of Boston, and after that was commissioned a captain in the Maryland line, Col. Swope's command, and took part in the Battle of Long Island, in General Sullivan's Brigade. He was captured by the British and confined in the prison hulks at New York, being parolled after two years' confinement. As a soldier he had a brilliant record and on many an occasion made his presence and ability felt by the British. His company was composed of brave and tried men, whose clothes were often mended by Mrs. Ann Clayton, grandmother of the subject of this sketch, as they were generally poorly clad. Captain Henry Clayton's eldest son, John, was a drummer boy in his company. It is related that on one occasion the Hessians succeeded in capturing Captain Clayton and before he was rescued they had robbed him of his silver knee and shoe buckles. He made a vow that the first Hessian he afterward met should fall by his sword or musket and there is every reason to believe that he carried out his vow. His death occurred probably along the Atlantic coast, after which his widow came to Fairfield County, where her life was prolonged to ninety-seven years, six months and two days. By special act of Congress she was granted a pension from the Government as the widow of a Revolutionary officer. She was the mother of seven children. So many interesting events had occurred in her life that she became widely known and many can recall her portrait taken at the age of ninety years, that received the first prize at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, in 1876. She was one of the pioneer Methodists of Fairfield County, belonging to the church at Rushville. During the latter part of her life she resided with her youngest son, Joseph.

Although his father had been so notable in military life, Joseph Clayton was always a man of peace. A scholar and teacher in Maryland. he there married Louisa Showman and shortly afterward they came to Rushville, Fairfield County, O. Here be bought 100 acres of land of the Hopwood heirs, paying $18 per acre for it. He also engaged in the mercantile business both at Rushville and New Salem. He handled tobacco extensively and also bought the Andrew Baker farm in Perry County, O., evidently being a man of much business enterprise. His death occurred at New Salem, in 1888, his first wife having died in 1862, at the age of fifty-three years. He married for his second wife, Mrs. Eliza Ann (Flowers) Dollison, who died in 1902. She was the widow of Dr. Dollison at the time of the marriage.

To the first marriage of Joseph Clayton the following children were born: Leonidas W., who died at the age of seventy-four years, was captain of the Home Guards and resided at Thornville, O.; John F., who died in Missouri, was a physician in Wood, Hancock and Henry Counties, O.; Joseph B., who formerly was a captain in the state militia in Fairfield County, and is now a resident of Hancock County; William M., who is a resident of Washington, D. C.; Thomas C., who is deceased; Francis A., who served three years in the Civil War as a member of the 21st O. Vol. Inf., and now resides at Hume, Mo.; Louisa, deceased, who was the wife of William Shoemaker; and Josephine, who is the wife of Pressley Hitt, and resides at New Salem, O.

Wilber F. Clayton attended school in boyhood when a teacher could be secured for what was called the "Old Chris Baker School," a log structure standing some distance from New Salem, and in those days boys were expected to apply themselves to spelling book and arithmetic whether their surroundings rendered them physically comfortable or not. There Mr. Clayton laid the foundations of his education. As soon as he was old enough for hard work he learned the plastering trade, with his brother, near Findlay, O., and has followed it in connection with farming during the greater part of his subsequent life. In September, 1861, in answer to the first call of President Lincoln for troops, he enlisted at New Salem, under Captain John Wiseman and Lieutenant Linville, in Co. C, 46th O. Vol. Inf., as brave and courageous a body of men as ever served on any battlefield. Of this gallant band Mr. Clayton is the only survivor at New Salem. He took part in seventeen battles but survived to return home at the close of the war. His name appears on the roll of honor. For many years he has been identified with the Grand Army Post at East Rushville.

On October 2, 1872, Mr. Clayton was married to Miss Mary E. Melick, who died in 1888. She was a daughter of Aaron Melick, of Perry County, O. In May, 1909, his second marriage took place, with Miss Alice A. Clemson, a daughter of Joseph Clemson. They are members of the Methodist Protestant church, with which he has been identified since he was fifteen years of age. He was one of the organizers of the church and Sunday-school at Van Buren, O., and for many years has been superintendent of the Sunday-school at New Salem, having always been greatly interested in Sunday-school work. In politics he is a Democrat but has never cared to hold office. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity.

History of Fairfield County and Representative Citizens

Dr. Clayton was born in Washington county, Maryland, February 5, 1832. His father, Joseph Clayton, was born in Frederick county, Virginia, in 1804, and is still living at this writing in Ohio, having been a prominent merchant for many years.

His father (grandfather of John T.), was captain in the Revolution and was killed at the battle of Long Island. His widow was famous for the part she played on behalf of freedom. She resided at Sharpsburg, Maryland, and one of her many useful services was knitting stockings for the American soldiers. Often she entertained Gen. Washington at her house. In religion she was a Methodist, and was one of the western pioneers of that creed, dying at Rushville, Ohio, having been for years a government pensioner in consideration of her services in the cause of liberty. At about ten years old, John F. Clayton moved with his parents to Fairfield county, Ohio, where he was chiefly educated. He began the study of medicine at twenty-one and at twenty-four commenced the practice, and for eighteen years continued the practices in Central and Northern Ohio, achieving quite a reputation as a successful physician. In 1872, Dr. Clayton came to Cass county, Mo., having recommendations from some of the leading citizens of Ohio. Here he practiced ten years, building quite a business in his profession. He came to Walnut Grove, Green county, Mo., in July, 1882, and invested in property at Springfield as well as Walnut Grove. Besides being a physician, Dr. Clayton was many years a local preacher of the Methodist church, and preached both in Ohio and Missouri. He is now, however devoting his individual attention to the study and practice of his profession. Dr. Clayton has had a family of seven children, having been married in January 1853. All the children survive at this writing save one. John C. Clayton, the eldest is in the livery business at Walnut Grove.

History of Green County, Missouri (?), copied from Stachia Snyder Vorhees' Rootweb site here. . .