The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1880-03-05
FIRST EDITION
John N. clayton.
MEMOIR or mrs LrFE AS READ By CHIEF
JUsTIcE CoME0Ys LAST EVENING.

MEMOIR OF HIS LIFE AS READ BY CHIEF
JUsTIoE coMRGYs LAST EVENING.
The room of the Historical Society
was filed last evening by well
KIN own gentlemen of this city, among
whom were Senator Bayard, Judges
Houston, Wales and Bradford. There
were also number Of ladies present.
Those who were present had met for
the purpose Of hearing Chief Justice
Comegys read a memoir on the life of
the late Hon. John M. Clayton.
A few minutes before 8 o'clock,
Judge Wales introduced the Chief JUS
tice by saying that: Some months ago
the Historical Society petitioned Chi; Z
Justice COmegys to prepare memoir
of the life Of the late John M. Clayton.
He very kindly consented, and he is
now here to read to you what he has
prepared. .... no. p
Chief Justice Comegys after address
ing those present, said he felt that he
should state that he could not read in
one evening the memorial that he had
prepared. The more he thought Of
the subject the more he thought how
unworthy he was to treat on such a
great subject. At the present time he
would read about one fourth of what
he had completed, and If at any time
the Society desired him to read the re-
mainder he would very gladly do 30.
That which he would read this eve
ming would treat of the distinguished
gentleman's life, from the time of his
birth to the time when he entered the
U. s. Senate.
After few Introductory remarks in
regard to the distinguished gentle
mans abilities as lawyer and jurist
the speaker proceeded to give the orr
gin of the Clayton family.
He said while some proudly boasted
Of having descended from some of
those who came to this country in the
Mdyfotoer, or from those who came
with lord Baltimore or the Dutch who
settled New York, the family of Clay
ton could not boast of having descend
ed from any of these.
While these were being planted,
there came to this country another set
of men and women of high standing
and noble impulses. These people
brought no implements of war with
them to fight their battles, but relied
upon that religion which says peace
and good will to all men on earth"
These men were the Quakers and the
followers of Penn. Among those who
came with Penn was Joshua Clayton,
who had two sons, John and Joshua.
Joshua also had two sons, James and
John. The former was the father of
five sons, among whom was the cele-
brated DR.. James Clayton, who was
President of the colony of Delaware at
the time Of the Revolution and first
Governor of the State under the con-
stitution of 1889. The youngest son
of James Clayton was first called
George, but his eldest brother dying,
he took that brothers name of James.
This was the father of John NJ. Clay
ton. His father married Miss Jane
Middleton of Virginia, hence the name
of John Middleton Clayton.
The subject Of the memoir was born
at Dagsboro, Sussex county, In q small
house that stood upon a large tract Of
land, lately owned by John NJ. Hazard.
His parents were large and well proper
Toned, the father being of an IMPOSING
appearance. His mother was gifted with
great fuency Of speech, and was always
attractive In society. His father was n
great reader, his favorite authors being
IN the classics, and was passionately
fond of the works of Shakespeare. In
fact, the subject of this memoir has often
told me that his father was the best
ShakespeaIian he ever.
When John was suited for school, he
vas sent at the age Of ten years to Ber-
lin, Md, but the food and accommoda-
tions not suiting him, he ran away, and
walked to Milford, to which place his
par ents had removed. He was next sent
TO q school at Lewes, and from there TO
one At Milford. In 1871 he entered Yale
College, when Just fifteen years Of age.
ae graduated from that institution with
high honors in. 1915. Among his COM
panions at college nose stood SO high In
his estimation rs little fellow, who was
one year behind him In his studies.
| This little fellow was afterwards DIR.
George Mcclellan, of Philadelphia. and
father of the present Governor of New
Jersey. He returned home at the close
Of 1916, and was entered as q Law
student under his cousin, Thomas Clay
ton, with whom he remained until 1871,
when he went to Litchfield, where he
remained twenty months, often working
sixteen hours day. He again returned
home and was admitted to the bar at the
October term Of Court at Georg town In
1919.
After being admitted to the bar, he at
once rose to rank as lawyer. He first
practised in Kent county, having an
,ffice in the house now occupied by Hon.
John A. Nicholson, on the "green" at
Dover. He was man of extraordinary
inc mind, and of very imposing pres
snce, being @ feet II inches in height,
md was proportioned accordingly. His
head was twenty -four inches In diameter.
His practise from the first as remuneT-
Isstive, but IL soon arose above that. He
soon developed great power as lawyer
in admiralty, and to him frequently fe.l
the most difficult cases, and he would
generally come out victorious. This fact
was owing no doubt to his great power
over jury, which was something re-
narkable, 'thougb," added the Chiet
Justice, "a jury Of twelve honest, intel
ligent men Gin this State at least) can
not be said 10 be controlled by any man,
40 matter how great his ability"