My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Washington County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Charles T. Clayton, farmer and brick-maker of Center Township, Washington Co., Ark., was born in Cooper County, Mo., October 21, 1831, and is a son of John and Sarah (Leath) Clayton. John Clayton was born and reared in Eastern Maryland, and in his youth learned the harness maker’s trade. He obtained a good education and began the study of medicine, but before completing the course enlisted in the War of 1812, nearly losing his eyesight during one of the battles of that war by the explosion of a piece of artillery, and was never afterward able to resume his studies. After the war he immigrated to Cooper County, Mo., in 1828, and the remainder of his days were spent in agricultural pursuits and working at his trade. He and his wife were married in 1817 and became the parents of seven children, three of whom are living: Charles T., Martha (wife of John Killbrith) and William. The father died in 1859, and the mother in 1832. Charles T. Clayton was educated in the common schools of Cooper County, Mo., and in 1856 was married to Talitha Hammond, who was born and reared in Cooper County. They soon after located on a farm in Denton County, Tex., but in 1861 Mr. Clayton enlisted in the Confederate army, and was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Chickamauga and taken to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., where he was retained until peace was declared. He then returned to his home in Texas, where he remained engaged in farming and stock dealing until 1867, when he located in Washington County, Ark., on the farm of 220 acres where he now lives. In 1856 he engaged in the manufacture of brick, and now manufactures about 50,000 brick annually. In 1871 his wife died, and the following year he was married to Mary Hawkins, of Cooper County, Mo., by whom he is the father of one child, Thomas. His first union was blessed in the birth of six children: Lucy, wife of William Tucker; Sarah, wife of John Gibson; Mary, wife of Charles Norwood; Lizzie, wife of Joseph Lasater; Talitha and John. He takes an active interest in the cause of Christianity, and organized the first Sunday-school in Center Township, beginning with his own family. Owing to the rapid growth of the school he was compelled to move to the school-house, and has always been an active worker for the Baptist Church. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the Agricultural Wheel.

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This family biography is one of 300 biographies included in The History of Washington County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Washington County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Washington County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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