Middletown transcript., 1880-03-13
JOHN ~. CLAYTON.
Memoir Of John A. Clayton, prepared for
ant read before the Historical Society of Del
aware, by Chief Justice Comegys.l

Among the Quakers who came owe
f with William Penn was Joshua Clay
/: ton, from whom four generations after
ward, through a line Of noble AM
marked men, descended John Middleton
Clayton. He was born at Dagsbor0
Sussex county, Delaware, July 9th
1886. His parents were uncommon,
fine persons both physically and men
tally, and their good qualities wer,
inherited by their distinguished son
In literature, Johns favorite were the
English classics while his father was {
noteworthy Shakesperian scholar.
As soon as the boy was qualified he
was sent to the academy at Berlin, but
not being given enough food, he and a
fellow student ran away. Aferword,
he was sent to Lewes and finally t.
Milford where he remained until July
1911, entering Yale College when he
was - years old and four years later
being graduated with the highest hon,
ors He greatly enjoyed his college
course, was full Of fun and, being So
cial and a good violinist, was in de-
mand. George Mcclellan, the father
Of the present Governor Of New Jersey
was his favorite companion Years
afterward if any one without seeing
them could have heard those two talk
ing together, he might nave thought
them young men but year or two out
Of college rather than prominent men
OF wide reputation. During his four
years at college he did Mt take any
vacation at home. After studying law
for Il short time in an ce, he went
to the law school at Lichfeld, Conn,
where he studied Is hours a day. He
was admitted to the bar Of Sussex
county when he was but little over .
years Of age, but began his practice IN
Kent county.
This was the beginning Of a carer
at the bar never before or since equall-
ed in this State. Nature had done
everything in his favor. He was 6
feet l inches in height, his head
measuring q inches in circumference,
and physically symmetrical and had
an air Of dignity but gentle heart in
his breast His dress was simple. He
had remarkable power Of analysis and
force of manner with ease and fuency
Of utterdnce, and never forgot any
thing worth remembering. On him
fell the most desperate cases in crimi-
nal and civil law, and if there was a
possibility of winning he always won.
He was qualified as every client wants
a lawyer to be, well versed in the law
and good advocate.
The death of his father in 1920 was
IL very important event i'll his life, for
it gave him the necessary impetus to
work for the maintenance Of his
mother, two sisters and a brother. Be
ing financially able, he married Miss
Sallie Ann Fisher (of Camden, Kent
county, ut MiddIetown. on September
18th, 1922 They had two sons born
to them in Dover The early death
Of his wife was terrible blew to him
and life seemed to have lost for him
all attractions, but he worked still
harder to aid him to forget his grief
He never could be induced to mar,
ry again. He was a most coDscienti-
Gus lawyer and the Chief Justice
thought from his personal knowledge
that he was the most inexhauStible la
borer he ever saw His work in the
great Randall case will ever remain a
monument to him. His manner Of
dealing with witnesses seemed almost
perfection. He got from all his wit
nesses and those Of his opponents pre-
cisely what he wanted, always reassur-
ing witnesses and by his method Of
questioning thoroughly prepared his
own witnesses for the cross examina
ton. In the Joe johnson trial his
cross, examination of false witness
was so severe that the witness tainted.
In January, 1887, he retired from
the bar and became Chief Justice of
the State. As Judge he could not
have had IL superior. Three years
later he resigned the place, not il single
writ Of error ever having been taken.
His professional life virtually ends
here. With James A Bayard he
argued the Pea Patch case against
New Jersey and the arguments show
a thoroughness Of arrangement and ac
emacy Of detail unsurpassed. His
method Of studying case was to study
the subject first and then refer to books
to support his reasoning, which sup
port he seldom failed to find.
Up to the time Of his admission to
the bar, there can be said to have
been no great nationol political par
ties. Hence there being no principles
at stake, Clayton did not concern him
self about particular men at elections,
but worked for what he regarded es-
sential reforms. He was Clerk of the
House Of Representatives in 1876, II /
and 10 and Of the Senate in 1920, '21 |
and %, and afterward held the posi-
tion of State Auditor Of accounts for
two years. He was Secretary of State
under Samuel Paynter in lS24-7 and
under George Poindexter in 1827-3O.
Chief Justice Comegys stated the
intense state Of political feeling in the
campaign, likening it
to the patty feeling of 1861, which it
more nearly approached than anything
before or since. The feeling was 50
strong that fellow church members
were frigid to one another The cause
Of such phenomenal acrimony was that
men found they had adversaries in
their own households. Mr. Clayton
finally enrolled himself in the admin
ranks in opposition to his old
associates, the Rogers, Bayards and
others. He made strong appeals
against General jackson. After Sc
we're struggle Delaware went for
The Adams men being in
The majority in the Legislature, Clay
ton in his 33d year was elected to
Congress over Mr.. Ridgely, being the