A few years ago a “cousin” of mine found this
photo on eBay and sent me the link. I bid on it to keep it in the
family. This is a family portrait of four generations. The
family members and their ages are all inscribed on the reverse in ink.
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| Four generations of Samuel P Clay Family |
The older couple in question is my third
great-granduncle Samuel Peyton Clay (brother to my great-grandmother Henrietta
Clay) and my third great-grandaunt, his wife Emily Kell (sister to my
great-grandfather William Trego Kell). William T Kell and Henrietta
Clay were married three years after Samuel and Emily.
Based on my research of the family and the
information on the back of the photo, it appears that this picture was taken in
1914, shortly before Samuel died.
The notes on the reverse side of the picture
indicate that the gentleman in the center is “Mr. Samuel Patton Clay, age 80
yrs,” and the seated woman is “Mrs. Emily Kell Clay, age 76 yrs.” The woman
between them is “Mrs. Ella Clay Selby, age 51 yrs." Mrs.
Selby's daughter and her two children are, “Mrs. Emma Selby Funk, 26 yrs,
“Pauline Funk, 2 1/2 yrs,” and “Elbert Eugene Funk, 15
mos.” By researching Emma Clay Selby I learned that I
was eligible to join the DAR, which I did!
I posted the original picture with my contact
information on various web sites hoping to find a direct descendant cousin from
this family that will cherish it. And I did! It is now with a descendant
of that family.
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| Samuel P Clay |
Samuel Peyton Clay was the fifth child and third son, born
on 11 March 1834, in Bourbon County, Kentucky, to John Ingram Clay (1790-1873)
and his second wife, Martha "Patsy" Alice Eldridge (c. 1800-1853). His parents moved to Clark County, Missouri
in 1834, shortly after his birth. At
that time Clark County was uncharted territory.
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| Samuel and Emily Kell |
He married Emily Kell, daughter of Benjamin Kell and Rhuema
Beckner, on 01 Nov 1858 in Clark County, Missouri. Emily was born on 12 Nov
1837 in Indiana. She died on 30 Dec 1916 in Kahoka, Clark, Missouri.
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| Marriage Record |
Samuel and Emily had 9 known children – 7 girls and 2 boys –
and one adopted son.
Laura Clay was born in Sep 1858 in
Missouri. She died on 03 Dec 1944. She married William P Dow on 07 Mar 1875 in
Clark, Missouri.
Ruhama Jean Clay was born on 28 Oct
1860 in Clark County, Missouri. She died on 25 Apr 1923 in Clark County,
Missouri. She married Roy Sharts on 25 May 1884 in Clark County, Missouri.
Ella Jackson Clay was born on 24
Jun 1863 in Clark County, Missouri. She died on 18 Oct 1947 in Kirksville,
Adair County, Missouri. She married Hiram Selby on 30 Aug 1885 in Clark County,
Missouri.
Effie Clay was
born on 05 Dec 1865 in Missouri. She died on 09 Jan 1950 in Madison, Clark
County, Missouri. She married James Murphy on 23 Sep 1889 in Clark County,
Missouri.
Martha Clay was born on 13 Dec 1869
in Missouri. She died on 01 Aug 1896 in Clark County, Missouri. She married Peter T Briggs on 02 Mar 1892 in
Kahoka, Clark County, Missouri.
Marion L Clay was born on 28 Jan
1872 in Clark County, Missouri. He died on 03 Dec 1944 in Kahoka, Clark County,
Missouri. He married Adaline V Woodruff on 28 Jun 1900.
Emma Clay was born in December 1875
in Clark County, Missouri. She married Henry Raleigh Fleming on 28 Dec 1898 in
Clark County, Missouri.
George C Clay, unknown birth and
death dates probably between 1880 and 1900, believed to have died in childhood.
Mary Clay, unknown birth and death dates probably
between 1880 and 1900, believed to have died in childhood.
John Shannon was listed as adopted in
the household of Samuel Clay in the 1900 US Census for Jackson Township, Clark
County, Missouri. His birth is listed as
May 1885 in Missouri. The records show there may be two John Shannons in Clark
County in 1900, so as this is the only record of his relationship with Samuel,
I cannot make further comment.
Samuel is found on the Civil War Draft Registration Record
for Clark County, Missouri. He is listed
as living in Union Township, a 30 year old, white, farmer, married, and born in
Kentucky with no previous military service.
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| Civil War Draft Registration |
During the Civil War, Samuel supported the Southern cause
and served under Confederate Major General Sterling Price. According to a 1890
Missouri Veterans Schedule as part of the U.S. Census for Jackson Township,
Clark County, Missouri it was claimed that Samuel served as a private for 10
months from Sep 1862 until Jun 1863 in Company B of the 16th Missouri Cavalry
(6th Provisional Regiment) of the Confederate Army.
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| 1890 Veterans Schedule |
In the 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1900 US Censuses for Jackson
Township, Clark County, Missouri, he is listed as Head of Household and a
farmer. In 1896 a land plat of the
county showed he had several land holdings on the west side of the county. Nearby are related family farms.
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| Samuel Clay properties |
He died at the age of 81 of cancer of the stomach in 26 Nov
1914 in Kahoka, Clark County, Missouri.
He is buried in Kahoka Cemetery in Kahoka, Clark County, Missouri. His wife Emily survived him by two years.
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| Death Certificate |
My mother in law gave me a bunch of historical family documents and her great grandfather is Samuel Peyton Clay and father is Marion Lloyd Clay. I started poking around because the family story was they were related to Henry Clay the senator and statesman but I'm having difficulty finding a link other than both seem to be descended from John Clay who arrived in Virginia in 1613. I have some pictures if you are interested. The handymandand handle is my husband's. If you want to reach me direct my email is ruskin@cox.net
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