Daily Republican., 1880-03-05
JOHN IA. CLAYTON.
A Memoir upon the Life OF the DIS.
tinguished Delaware Lawyer
and Statesman read by Hon. Jos.
eDh r. Comegys before the Mis'
t0ricnI Society last Evening.

eDh r. COmegys before the Ms
tOricnl Society last Evening.
Hon. Joseph P. Comegys read me
moir of the life Of the late Hon. Johr
NJ. Clayton bsfors the Historical Socie
ty of Delaware, last evening, lin the
building of the Society on Market stree
near Ninth. The audience was com
posed OF our leading business and pro
fessional citizens and contained num
Der Of ladies. Among those Of promi'
nsncs in attendance were Hon. Il. u.
Bradford, Hon. John W. Houston, Hon.
Leonard 4. Wales and Honorable
Thomas +. Bayard.
Hon. L. K. Wales presided and in
introducing the eminent gentleman
who was to address the society, he
said that some months ago an invita-
tion had been extended to the Chiei
Justice to prepare memorial Of Hon.
John NJ. Clayton, and this was his IT.
sponse to that invitation.
Chief Justice Comegys stated pre-
vious to commencing the delivery of the
address, that it would be an impossi-
bility for him to read the whole me-
moir in one evening. So great was the
subject with which he had 10 deal
that 1t had to be condensed at length.
At the same time he could not help say
ing that he was in a msasure incapa-
pable Of properly performing the task.
He could read that portion of the paper
commencing at the birth Of the subject
aud extending to his entrance into the
Senate in 1880.
81 beg you to believe" said the
eminent speaker, in commencing, "that
when came to take up the task re-
gretted the selection which you had
made, and felt at each step in my work
of preparation that other hands should
have done the work, that would have
heen better fitted to do justice to his
merits. The subject of this sketch had
fame as a statesman, which in his
day was wide and substantial, and all
his acquaintance felt before he was
received at the bar, that he would at.
tain great prominence in his profes-
sion. Was such prominence attained
afterwards That is for you to judge"
The birth and pareutags OF Clayton
was first treated upon. In England
the gentry and nobility are proud to
say that their ancestors came over with
the conquorer. In this country it is
considered just as much so to be able
to say that the ancestors came over in
the Mayhower, or in the train Of Lord
Baltimore. While these branches were
being established In America, another
sect came to our shores. These were
peaceful and won the confidence OF the
Red men by their bravery and action.
They brought no arms and disdained
all success to be derived from war.
They we're the Quakers, cotemporary
with William Penn. Among these peo-
pie was one Joshua Clayton, who left
two sons John and James.
The former OF those likewise left two
sons named James and John. James
had five sons, the eldest of whom, DR..
Joshua Clayton, was governor of Della
ware twice-the latter time under the
new constitution ofl7S9. The name of
the youngest was George, but this was
changed to James at the death of a
brother who had borne that name. This
James Clayton was the father of the
subject of this memoir. The mother
was Miss Jane Middleton, of Virginia.
James Clayton was born on March Oath, |
176l, was married on August 18th,
1871, and died April goth, 1920. His
were seven in number, named
Lydia, John NJ, Harriet, Elizabeth,
Mary Ann and J. H. M. Clayton.
John NJ. Clayton was born at Days
boro, in Sussex county, in house
that remained standing until a few
years ago on lot Of open ground, and
which is owned by John 0. Hazard.
His parents were remarkable people.
Being we'll formed and imposing in
general appearance they were likely to
impress one. | have seen them III my
childhood. The mother had aremark-
ably fine appearance, and was a lady
If great refinement and fuency of
speech, which latter quality she trans.
nitted to all of her children. The
'ather had fine intellect and was
of many fine qualities, being
very generous and benevolent. He
vas exceedingly fond of Shakespeare.
Is also enjoyed the company of
riends, and made all happy around
lim.
The subject was first sent to school in
3erlin, Maryland. Owing to the fact
hat he was not furnished with enough
ood at the quarters where he boarded,
le accompanied by young Judge Davis,
an away to Milford, where his family
hen lived. After this he was sent to
chool at Lewes, and then came back to
iilford for instruction, for the schools
here had greatly improved. On July '
4th, 1911, he went to Yale College and s
raduated at the head of his class, Sept. 7
9th, 1915. For many years he enters
aimed pleasant recOllections of his col r
age days. One of his warmest friends q
ere was George Mcclellan, afterward v
be eminent surgeon of Philadelphia,
nd father of New JERSEYS present Gov J
rnor. During the four years of col. a
,gs life Clayton did not once take time
, go home. As he was intended for 7
ne legal profession he entered the law
flee of Joseph Clayton, Esq, in March t,
617, and afterwards studied in Rich /;
cid, Connecticut, when he devoted 16 8,
ours day to his task. i,
in October, 1879, lie was admitted to i
,e bar at Georgetown and opened an L
flee in Dover, when he commenced a
w course that has never been equaled
/ the State. Equipped by nature and
deep knowledge of his profession, he al
uttered upon practice that at first was Of
aud soon became mere l.,