 Clayton was born in 1831 in Hampshire County, Virginia (present-day West Virginia). He received his early education at home from his father, Dr. Townsend Clayton, and attended Romney Academy and the Romney Classical Institute. Clayton continued his post-secondary education at the University of Virginia between 1846 and 1848. Following his graduation, he served as principal of Washington Academy in Amelia County, the Charlestown Academy in Charles Town, and the Romney Classical Institute in 1853 and 1866. He began practicing law in Romney in 1859, and relocated to Keyser in 1873 where he established a law practice.
