Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Clayton, Hamilton September 14, 1832 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson jpatter@epix.net October 19, 2025, 4:40 pm

Source: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, T. S. Benham & Company and the Lewis Publishing Company, 1904
Author: Ellwood Roberts, Editor

 HAMILTON CLAYTON, proprietor of the hotel at Branch town, 
in the Twenty-second ward of the city of Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, is a representative of one of the oldest, best 
known and most prominent families in Montgomery county. He 
was born in Moreland township, in the lower section of 
Montgomery county, and adjacent to the rural portion of 
Philadelphia, September 14, 1832, a son of Ezekial and Ann 
(Snyder) Clayton.
  Ezekial Clayton (father) was a native of Moreland 
township, Montgomery county, and his entire life was spent 
in that vicinity. He was extensively engaged in agricultural 
pursuits, from which he derived a lucrative income. He 
married Ann Snyder, daughter of Christian and Sarah 
(Bennett) Snyder, the former named having been elected to 
the position of sheriff of Montgomery county in 1825, and 
served in that capacity for three years.	Ten children 
were the issue of this marriage, the majority of whom 
attained years of manhood and womanhood, married, and reared 
families. The surviving members of the family are: Hamilton, 
mentioned at length hereinafter; and Jonathan Clayton.
  Hamilton Clayton resided in his native township until he 
was about thirty years of age, assisting his father on the 
farm in his boyhood days, and attending the schools of the 
neighborhood, in which he succeeded in obtaining a fair 
education. Not being desirous of making farming his life 
work, he served an apprenticeship at the trade of harness 
making, and after thoroughly mastering the details of this 
line of industry he followed it successfully for a number of 
years. Later he engaged in the business of stage driving, 
which prior to the introduction of steam railroads was an 
occupation of some importance and a lucrative means of 
livelihood. For almost half a century, however, he has been 
the proprietor of the Branch town Hotel, located on the Old 
York road, and dating back considerably more than a century. 
He is of a genial and cheerful disposition, attentive and 
considerate to the wants and wishes of his patrons, and 
therefore enjoys the distinction of being the most popular 
and obliging host in the section of the city in which he 
resides. He is also a reliable and public-spirited citizen, 
promoting the interests of his city, state, and nation to 
the best of his ability.
  Hamilton Clayton was married May 30, 1860, to Margaret 
Shelmire, who was born January 3, 1843, a daughter of George 
F. and Sarah H. (Clayton) Shelmire, both of whom were 
natives of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Their children 
were: 1. Eleanor, born August 21, 1861, became the wife of 
George Childs Homiller ; 2. Josephine B., born October 9, 
1864, became the wife of Walter B. Nimmo ; 3. Emma, born 
December 31, 1865; 4. Montgomery B., born December 27, 1867, 
died September 24, 1883; 5. Jennie, born March 8, 1869.

This file has been created by a form at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pafiles/

File size: 3.5 Kb