CLAYTON STORIES
A Plea for Contributions to this Column by Sue Cummings
Much of the history of Randolph Township is connected to early pioneers who emigrated to this area and settled in and around Salem, Ohio
(Clayton P.0.)
The town was founded in 1816, only twelve years after Randolph Township itself was formed. Descendants of many of these families still live in the area. We want to feature stories of Clayton families from this column (THE FAMILY TREE) in each of the four quarterly issues of Randolph Times in 2008.
If you have a family genealogy or story to share, please send it to Sue Cummings for possible use in this column.
Here are two examples of the types of things that would be of interest to our members and all current residents.
My Autobiography -by Frank M. Betz (1965), some excerpts
NOTE: Frank Betz was born in a house in Salem in 1885. His autobiography, written at age 80 in 1965, includes Betz family genealogy as well as comments about life in Salem, the Dayton- Northern interurban, local businesses and residents.
In 1904 Betz became the first rural mail carrier to serve the Clayton P. 0. Betz covered his route with a horse and buggy. "On May 2, 1904, a Rural Route was established in Clayton. ...The route was 26 miles long, and the following was my route: East to Hoke Road, north to National Road, east through Englewood to Frederick Pike, north to Martindale Rood, west to River Road, south through Englewood to Hyer schoolhouse, thence west on Old Salem Road, south on Taywood Road, west on Westbrook Road, through Taylorsburg to the last house, Back to Salem Pike, northwest to Union Road, to Happy Corner, east on Old Salem Road, north and east on Kinsey Road, north on Taywood Road to Wenger Road, west to Union Road. south to Old Salem Road, to Salem Pike, jog on Hoke Road to Kimmel Road to Clayton P. 0.
Growing: up in Clayton -by Edgar Benton (2007), excerpts
NOTE: Edgar's family moved to Clayton in 1948. He attended Clayton Consolidated School, operated a business in Clayton and has lived there all his life. His comments on fellow residents of Clayton, business owners in town and local activities and childhood pranks cover the 1940s - 1970s.
"The Clayton Hardscrabble Park became our second home. The older boys played ball all morning on the only field at the bottom of the hill on the north side. They would cut out base paths, find rocks, pieces of wood, etc. for the bases. The players were James "Whitey" Benton, Don and Floyd Benton, Bobby Mikesell, Tim Walker, Bob and Jim Peffley, the Royer brothers, Pat McKenna, Bobby Mills, Dwain Dearth Ronald Sluterbeck, Donny Hutchinson and, lastly, Gerald Brown." "We would fish down at the park -large bass, bluegill, suckers, everything -and then we would freeze the fish all winter, and then at the end of the year we would have a fish fry down at the Park. " "Ken and Steve Walker and I hunted snakes, and one morning we caught 72 snakes between the five of us. In one morning, 72 snakes in the Clayton Park. Brookville had a pet show, and I attended. I had a California king snake, Ken Walker had an alligator and Steve had a pet skunk. ... I finished in fourth place. ..."
These and many more interesting accounts will be included in our Clayton booklet coming out in June. What stories can you remember? Please share them with us. |
