Early Clayton 1868

 

Griffith photo postcard circa 1907, forty years after the article below was written--showing the earliest frame buildings as well as the later ones built of brick.

1868, Dec. 15   Adrian Daily Times and Expositor

 CLAYTON

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The Location—A Little of the Past, Present and Future

The Citizens and What they are Doing.

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Prospecting and sight seeing, when the snow is six inches deep and “going,” is not the most pleasant occupation, yet with a determination to see and find out for one’s self, it is possible, even under such circumstances, to make such work pleasant.  Recently the winter, in pursuance of a week already begun as indicated by the description of two of our county villages, given in these columns three weeks ago, paid the village of Clayton a flying visit, the result of which will be given in the following cursory history and description of that village.

CLAYTON

Is located on the M. S. & N. I. railroad on the town line separating the two towns of Dover and Hudson, the dividing line (of the) village which lies in about equal parts on the opposite sides.  It is 11 ½ miles by rail from Adrian, a little further by road, and 6 miles from Hudson.  The location is pleasant, being on what is known as the ridge land running North and South and having its highest elevation in Hillsdale county, being there the highest land in the Southern part of the State.  This ridge is the water shed, the water running East or West from its crest line.  The soil in the immediate vicinity of Clayton is a kind of composite of loam and clay and is excellently adapted to wheat and barley, the yield of which is large.

EARLY HISTORY

This village, as everything else, “had its beginning in time,” and that time about twenty-eight years ago, the survey of the original plat having been made in the winter of 1839-40 on the lands of R. E. Bird Esq.  The name was given by John M. Bird Esq. in honor of John M. Clayton the distinguished Delaware Senator.  The first family that settled in the new village was that of Mr. Hollis Howe.  Soon after Mr. J. B. Williams came in, Mr. Williams was a carriage and wagon maker and worked at his trade.  The first store was opened by Mr. R. E. Bird in the year 1840.  In 1843 the post office was located in Clayton.  Anson Carter who came in 1844 opened the first blacksmith shop in the place.  These were the men identified with the earlier history of the village, others came in being mostly of the same class, mechanics and laboring men, whose occupations and labor were made necessary by the demands of the new country opening up about them.  Situated as Clayton is, it can never be a large city, its inhabitants have not anticipated any such thing perhaps but

ITS GROWTH

During the last four or five years has been very marked.  Indeed, to use the language of some of its citizens, “about all it is, it has become in that time.”  The cause of this sudden start in the prosperity of the place which for so long a time had improved so slowly, is not well deduced to the minds of the citizens, judging from the different reasons given in answer to our inquiries on this point.  The most probably explanation is that those owning lands about the village declined opening them up to the encroachment of the village, had it never so inclination in that way.  But the barrier fell at last.  New lots were laid out and offered for sale, and were quickly “gobbled” by the citizens and others who were desirous of becoming citizens.  New buildings have been erected, others are in progress of erection and taken altogether Clayton has a very healthy look.  Its present population is, we should judge, in the neighborhood of 400, though some of whom we conversed, put it higher, but we promise to rectify this estimate if on actual count it shall be found that our figures are too low,

BUSINESS AND BUSINESS MEN

There are three stores which keep a general assortment of goods.  The oldest business house is perhaps that of R.E. Bird whom we found actively engaged in attending to the demands of numerous patrons.  The next house in point of age is, if we are right, that of Benedict and Bennett, who have no particular cause to complain, if the day of our visit was a fair indication of the usual amount of their trade.  Messrs. Fuller, Rothrock & Co., are “carpet baggers” in the place, having come in about two months ago, but they seem to be gritty fellows, and we guess the other business men will have to do by this firm as Brick Pomeroy wanted the New York papers to do by him, “lay over and make rooms,”  for they ”have come to stay.”  In addition to the business of the store proper, this new firm are “running” a tailoring and manufacturing room, as well as the purchase of grains and farm products generally.  Of groceries there are two, one kept by J. C. Benedict the other by Marcus Curtis.  Messrs. Phillips & Bedell attend to the “hardware” wants of the Claytonites and all others who may favor them with a call.  The business of the firm is under the immediate charge of Mr. Phillips an energetic and worthy young merchant.  Of Blacksmith shops there are three, one in charge of Martin Bates, one of which Messrs. Losey and Duncan are proprietors and the other is presided over by Ezra Abbott.  Newman Perkins, Cabinet maker, Upholster and Undertaker has the monopoly of all business in his line.  M. W. Curtiss provides ornamentation for horses, or in plain English, makes harnesses while the understandings of the Claytonite are protected from the wet and cold by the handiwork of G. W. Southwick who makes the best kind of boots and shoes.  Henry Hitchings ministers to one want of the people by providing them with meats of all kinds which he dresses with his own hands, and rejoices that he is not above being a good butcher.  S. Cross is proprietor of a portable steam saw mill which has work enough ahead to keep it going sometime.  Here as elsewhere sickness sometimes comes, but there are those who are ready and willing to battle with it, for a consideration, Dr. A. F. Chaffee (Allopath) and Dr. P. W. Gilson (Botanic).  The labors of these gentlemen are well secceded by D. C. Chase druggist.  Messrs. Chandler & Payn are doing quite a business in the way of buying and shipping poultry eggs and game.  The wants of the traveler have been duly considered, ample provision having been made for them in the erection of a public house, the “Clayton Exchange,” Messrs. Sayles and Austin, Proprietors.  The “Exchange” is a model of its class and leaves no reasonable want of the traveler unsatisfied.  In connection with the House, is a well stocked Livery Stable.  The stage line running from Calyton to Morenci by way of Medina and Canandaigua, is owned and controlled by the proprietors of the “Exchange.”  The business interests of the village are all in fair and prospering condition.  Some idea may be gained of the shipment of produce, etc. from Clayton, by the shipments of four days including the 4^th of the present month, for which we are under obligation to Mr. E. Bates, station agent:  Sheep 58, butter 1,365 lbs., poultry 5,783, eggs 24 bbls., dressed hogs 116, clover seed 3,562 lbs., buckwheat flour 10 bbls., wheat flour 50 bbls., dressed beef 942 lbs.

The Claytonites are a reading people, as the list of papers taken through their postoffice attests.  The figures, as given to us by the gentlemanly postmaster J. C. Benedict, show that there are 213 weekly papers taken regularly, besides periodicals and transient matter.

CHURCHES

The people of this village have no good excuse for being wicked, which, let it be remembered, we do not charge, since there are three churches:  The Presbyterian, Rev. Campbell pastor; the Baptist, Rev. Walden pastor, and the Methodist, Rev. Olmstead pastor.  As to the church buildings, the Baptist denomination have the advantage, having a fine brick edifice, the other two have frame buildings, though we were informed that the Methodist people contemplate the erection of a new building, the one they now occupy being unfitted for the wants of the congregation.

EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS

It is in the matter of school enterprise that the citizens of this place deserve to be most highly complimented.  During the past season a fine two story brick building 40X60 feet, has been erected in the western skirt of the village, at a cost of between five and six thousand dollars.  The building is now in process of completion, two rooms having been fitted up for occupancy on the 7^th, at which time the winter term opened.  The building was put up under contract, by Mr. Aaron Abbott, who is the building genius of Clayton, and the very man for the place.  The school opened, as stated, under charge of Prof. Drake, who has made a fine reputation as a teacher in the county as proprietor for several years of “Oak Grove Academy,” located in Medina.  Clayton has been very fortunate in securing the services of this gentleman.  He is ably supported by Miss Juliet Bird, as assistant, a practiced and successful lady teacher.  It is designed to grade the school and make it all that an enterprise of this character ought to be.  From the number of scholars in the village we should judge that it will be but a short time before the services of another assistant will be required.  When the school building shall have been finished, the grounds enclosed, and put in order, Clayton will have just cause to be proud of what she has done in the way of providing for the mental wants of her little folks.

These are the salient points in the past and present of Clayton.  It appears to be a lively village, and though some of its people are disposed to grumble that the progress of their place is not more rapid than it is, there is not a single reason why they should be discouraged.  The buildings now in contemplation, and almost certain to be built during the coming season, will add much to the good appearance of the village.  We understand that Mr. Abbott intends putting up a brick block of business buildings on the ground just north of the “Exchange.”  That will give to the main street quite a business like appearance, besides enhancing the value of village property.  There is an improvement that we would recommend to Claytonites.  It was suggested by the remark of a farmer living in the vicinity of the place, who in reply to a query, said he had “been to Canandaigua to mill.”  Why couldn’t there be a mill at Clayton as well as at Canandaigua?  But we are only anticipating what some live man will carry into execution some day in the near future.  Clayton has seen its worst days, it is now entering on a new and wider existence and though it is not likely to be a Chicago, it certainly will be a lively go ahead place of which Lenawee county will be proud.