The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1922-02-03
Historical Sketch
of Early Settlers

John Mitchell Clay was born in Pu-
laski county. Virginia. Oct. z. 1921. He
had one brother, William, some four
years or more older than he and quite
number of sisters, all of whom mar
ried and settled in Lawrence, Boyd and
Carter counties. The oldest, Betsey,
married JOHN Rife, grandfather Of
Judge Billie Rife Of Louisa. Jimmie
married Isam Hogan, father of John
and Andrew Hogan Of Garner, Boyd
county. Another married Carter Ball
of near Grayson, Carter county. An
other, Mont Bolt Of Bolts Fork, Boyd
county, for many years surveyor of
Boyd county. Nancy married her
cousin James Clay, who settled just
below the falls of Blaine in Lawrence
county. The youngest daughter, Kiz-
zie, married John NJ. Burns well known
as a lawyer and Judge of the courts
and father of your townsman, M. s.
Burns.
At the age of five years his father,
William Clay, with his family. moved
to Lawrence county KY. and settled
on East Fork near Seed Tick, where
he grew to manhood and married Luz
who was noted local Methodist
preacher and talented singer who
frequently made trips down Sandy
river on RATS of timber and crowds
would gather on the banks of the riv-
err to hear him sing as his RATS passed
down.
Samuel Bazell the father of Elias
Bazell and grandfather of Mrs. Clay,
at an early day moved to Pike coun-
ty, KY, from North Carolina and set
tied on Johns creek in Pike county,
KY, on the farm now owned by Mr..
Bevins father of Grada Bevins; later
they lived in Floyd county and thence
to Falls OF Blaine where they lived
when their daughter married Mr.. Clay.
OF this marriage six children were
born, William and Leander in Law
renee county, KY, when they moved to
Missouri and remained three years
where their oldest daughter. Rebecca,
was born. In 1853 they moved back
to Lawrence county, Ohio. where Jo-
sic b. was born in 1854. Mandivell @.
in 1856. John G. in 1860 and where they
both lived till they died Lucinda in
1888 and John NJ in 1902.
When the Civil war broke out John
M. Clay enlisted in the 5th w. Va,
Volunteer Infantry and served three
years, took part in the battles of Cross
Keys. End Bull Run and many others.
William Clay, the father of John M,
was born Nov. Z, 1777 in Giles county,
Va, and died in Lawrence county, Ky.
at the age of Ga years. He was born
on New River at a place called Glover
Bottom. They had trouble with hostile
Indians. An uncle and an aunt of Mr..
Clay were killed by them and another
uncle was taken prisoner and after
ward killed. Part of the time they
were compelled to live in forts. His
father. William Clay, was married to
Rebecca Cecil in 1900 Her mother was
a Written and of large family con-
nection known as Written and Cecil
families.
She, Rebecca, was born in Mont
gomery county. Va, in 1882 and died in
Lawrence county. Ohio in 1866. being
S4 years old. She had been member
OF the M. e. Church for upwards of
so years and Mr.. Clays family all be-
long to the M. e. Church.
Elias Bazell was the father of seven
cnlluren TOUR boys, Wyllt w William
H., Martin S., and James B., and three
daughters, Lucinda j., Penina and Me-
ribah all of whom are now dead
wylie G. and VIM. H. both married at
the Falls OF Blaine, the former mar
ried Sarah Woods and the latter
Amanda Woods, sisters, and also sis
ters to Polly Crank of Fallsburg and
the mother of the Cooksey boys.
Martin married Anna Layne of Rock
Camp, Ohio, and Capt. J. b. Bazell
married a Mary Winters of Lawrence
county, Ohio.
All the boys served in the Union
army during the Civil war and the
youngest, James Barksdalewas a Cap
tain Of Co. c. 9Th w. Va. INIT.
OF the children OF John M. Clay,Wil-
liam died at Ansley Neb., in 1898, aged
81 years. Leander died at his home at
Andis. Lawrence county, o., 1918. aged
70 years.
OF the remaining children Rebecca
and Josie B. live at Aid o., and John
c.. at Rock Camp. o., near where he
was born. and M. g. resides at ZIP in