James Clayton, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
James Clayton
TALK OF THE TOWN.
Death of James Clayton.
One of the saddest deaths that it has been our lot to chronicle, is that of James Clayton, a well-known citizen of this place. Last Saturday morning Mr. Clayton got up feeling, as he thought, extremely well, and was livlier and more cheerful than he had been for a long time. He sat chatting with his children, two of whom were getting ready to go to a ball held that night, and got up to got to the buttery for something to eat. As he reached the cupboard, he fell back -- stone dead. His youngest daughter, a child perhaps six or seven years old, had followed him, and the rest of the family rushed to him. A doctor was summoned, but his services were not needed. James Clayton had been stricken down with heart diesease, and had gone to meet his God. The funeral was held Wednesday, and the remains laid by those of his wife in the Catholic cemetery, and followed to their last resting place by a large concouse of friends.
Deceased was a man 51 years of age, who with his family came here from Philadelphia in the early days of the brick yards. During his life here, he say many hardships, but bore them as becomes a man. In his younger years he was a sailor, and had seen nearly every port in the world, and until he saw the brickyards of Westchester he was a stranger to the poverty that ever since kept him company. Not that it was his fault -- it was his misfortune. The Duplex failed, and those who are familiar with the history of the yards, can realize what the trouble was. Lack of capital on the part of the owners, hard times, and such fell with heavy force on the men who were tied down, and could not get away. Then came the great strike on the Hinchliff yards. Then came the organization of the co-operative brick yard and its pitiful ending. James Clayton was in them all, and those who know can well testify that he bore his part like a hero. Hardly had poverty starved those men out before yet another calamity was to fall on him. His wife died, almost without warning, leaving him with a family of four children, the youngest only being a babe. From that time Clayton began to show signs of breaking. His face became haggard, and sickness racked his body, but still he kept on working for the bread his children needed.
Poor fellow! His fight is over, and his work is done. No man ever lived who loved his family more, or was more loved by them. No man can point to a mean act that Jim Clayton ever did while he lived among us, and though he leaves his children poor in this world's goods, he left them an honored name. Poor though he was, he was one of nature's noblemen.
Newspaper: The Tribune
Date of Publication: January 1, 1892
Volume Number: 8
Issue Number: 38
Page: 5
Column(s): 3
Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Chesterton Tribune
The Tribune
Westchester Tribune
Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Porter County Vidette
Practical Observer
Valparaiso Practical Observer
Vidette and Republic
Western Ranger
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Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook