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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Chesley C. Clayton, planter, cotton-ginner and county surveyor, of Desha County, Ark., was born in Arkansas County, Ark., February 7, 1831, being a son of James S. Clayton, who was born near Charleston, S. C., July 24, 1804. He emigrated from his native State to Kentucky, from that State to Tennessee, thence to Arkansas, in 1828, settling in what is now known as Lincoln County, and for two years made his home at Arkansas Post. He was a river captain, and ran a boat from Little Rock to New Orleans, and in the latter city died in 1833. He was married to Miss Lina Williams, a native of Kentucky, born in 1807, and died February 26, 1833, having borne a family of three sons and a daughter, Chesley C. being the only one of the family now living. He has always resided in the State of Arkansas, and in 1855 was married to Miss Lucy Dollahite, by whom he became the father of three sons and a daughter, all of whom are deceased, with the exception of James R. The mother passed from life in Arkansas, October 11, 1863, an earnest member of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Clayton’s second union was consummated in Desha County, Ark., December 12, 1885, his wife, Miss Addie W. Hamlet, being a native of North Carolina, born December 30, 1840, and a daughter of William and Frances W. Hamlet. Mr. and Mrs. Clayton have five children: Sebastian C., Willie C., Stinson V., Graland and Lee A. In January, 1864, Mr. Clayton enlisted in Company A, under Col. Charles Carlton, and was promoted to quartermaster of his regiment. He was at one time captured and kept a prisoner for thirty minutes, after which he was released, and returned to his regiment, serving until the close of the war, and surrendering at the mouth of the White River. After he returned home he engaged in farming, and from 1874 to 1879 was engaged in merchandising at Selma. He was the founder of Tillar, in 1878, and that year opened a mercantile establishment at this place, which he conducted successfully until 1881, at which time he sold his stock of goods and purchased a cotton-gin and grist mill at Tillar, of which he is now one half owner, the style of the firm being Tillar & Clayton. He and his wife own a valuable and finely improved farm of 250 acres, and to the conduct of this he devotes considerable attention. He has always been a Democrat in his political views, and on this ticket was elected to the position of county surveyor, in 1885, which office he still continues to fill. He was deputy sheriff of Desha County for about two years, and has held the office of justice of the peace for some twenty years. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and Royal and Select Master Mason, belongs to Bronson Lodge No. 113, of Tillar, and is master of the Blue Lodge. His wife belongs to the Presbyterian Church. S. C. Clayton, a brother of Chesley C., was sheriff of Desha County for four years. He was born in Kentucky, December 26, 1826, and died in Desha County, in 1863. Another brother, James P., was born in Mississippi, November 19, 1829, and died in Arkansas City, March 24, 1882, having been clerk of that county for fifteen years. In 1860 he was elected to the State Legislature, and after serving one term, practiced law at Old Napoleon and Arkansas City and in the Federal court at Little Rock until his death; was county and probate judge for two years.

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This family biography is one of 80 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Desha County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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