The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-12-26

of William Clayton, of Deer Park, has tax.
en- from us one of the few remaining early
settlers of La Sale county, and removed a
| prominent connection betweeB the rugged
toiling, heroic period of pioneer life and
the almost marvellous developments and
achievements which surround us today
Actors in Ihe same scenes, sharing the
same tolls and priyations, hoperaud fears, a
fraternal feeling provides and binds To-
gether the few who have seen under their
hands the wild AMI naked prairies become
the homes of intelligent and happy thous-
ands. The memory Of those who by years
of toll have made this change deserve %
hearty recognition from those VINO enjoy
the truition prepared for their use.
The writer of This has known Mr.. Clay.
ton intimately for full half century, in all
the vicissi udes OF frontier life, and those
scenes where the actors leave their impress
on the institutions they form for all the fu-
ture. In age his senior by five days only,
deem this sketch a fitting tribute to the
memory of valued friend and worthy
man.
William Clayton was born in Philadel-
phia, March Is, 1906 His family moved
to West Virginia, near Wellsbury, where
he grew to manhood, married and lived
till 1894, when he moved to 1llineis and
"a lnI N 10 a nS
Park, on the farm where he spent most of
his hfe The famed curiosity % Deer
Park is on the farm he occupied of Il
good physical organization, of strictly tenn
perate and regular habits, he lived to with
in "A few weeks of 80 years Of age.
Fond of music, ii a genial and cheerful
temperament, he encouraged his family to
indulge in rational and satisfying amuse-
ments at home, in which he joined with a
zest unusual with the old. The sterling in
tegrity, pure lives and temperate habits of
his children prove the wisdom of his
course
He was copious reader and good think
quiet but important, place in the locality
where he lived and where he accumulated
a large property. He had no ambition for
political preferment, though few knew bet
ter the movements on the political chess
board
In an early day he was elected a justice
,F ha h,t I,tia
full, and he soon resigned. He was the
first supervisor for the town of Deer Park,
and n sound, practical and safe official.
He was Republican in politics. In re-
ligion he believed with Pope,
THAT: His faith can ne'er be wrong
Whose life is in the right"
A few years since he purchased tract
OF unimproved land in Iroquois county, H.
linois, enclosed it, got a railroad to cross it,
with station, which will perpetuate his
name, and where he spent the last few
years of his life. This business venture,
like all his previous ones, was very sue
cessful.
ctNtihi uuuluS ITO was
with that dread disease, cancerous tumor,
which forced him to surrender his business
to his son. He has resided for some time
with his youngest daughter in Piatt coun-
ty. On Saturday, Nov. 2Sth, he was re-
moved to the residence of his son, John S.
Clayton, near his old home in Deer Park,
where, on Thursday morning, December 3,
he painlessly and quietly passed to his final
sleep.
He was buried on Sunday, the 9th, ser
vices being held in the old church at Yer.
millionville, Rev. j. NJ. Day, of Marseilles,
officiating. The pail bearers were ID. F.
Hit, ct Ottawa, James Clark, of Utica,
'Esauires Arthur and Wood and William
Ellsworth, of Deer Park, and Elmer Bald.
win, of Farm Ridge. We laid him to rest
by the side of his excellent wife, who pre-
coded him about twelve years. Her obse
quies were attended at the same place and
by the same minister. The worll is bet
ter for their having lived.
ELMER BALDWIN