Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Clayton, William L. April 4, 1866 - 
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Source: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, T. S. Benham & Company and the Lewis Publishing Company, 1904
Author: Ellwood Roberts, Editor

  WILLIAM CLAYTON, editor of the Times-Chronicle, which is 
printed at Jenkintown, and ranks among the very best of the 
country weeklies of Eastern Pennsylvania, and a member of 
the Pen and Pencil Club, Philadelphia, is one of the best 
known journalists in Montgomery county. He is a native of 
lower Gwynedd township, born at Springhouse, April 4, 1866, 
a son of Levi R. and Cecelia (Scarlett) Clayton, grandson of 
William and Ann (Roads) Clayton, and great-grandson of 
Abraham and Margaret (Lukes) Clayton. The latter named 
couple resided on a farm located on Byberry Road, in 
Moreland township, and the greater part of the business 
career of Abraham Clayton was devoted to agricultural 
pursuits.

  William Clayton (grandfather) was born on the homestead 
farm, in June, 1801. He acquired an education in the 
ordinary schools of the neighborhood, and on attaining 
manhood he devoted his attention to teaching in the winter 
months, that being the only time the schools were kept open 
in the rural districts, and farming during the summer 
months. He was a highly educated man, and greatly esteemed 
in the community in which he resided. 

  He held the office of justice of the peace for a number of 
years, discharging the duties with credit to himself and 
satisfaction to all who were concerned, he succeeded his 
uncle Ezekial on his father's farm, whereon he resided up to 
the time of his decease, in 1848. His wife, Ann (Roads) 
Clayton, daughter of Samuel and Abigail (Jenkins) Roads, and 
a descendant of an old Moreland family, bore him the 
following named children: Edwin, a resident of Philadelphia: 
Samuel R., a hotel keeper at Edgehill; Dr. A. H., a resident 
of Richboro; Levi R., deceased, mentioned at length 
hereinafter; Margaret, deceased, who was the wife of Harman 
Lather.

  Levi R Clayton (father) was born in Moreland township, 
Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1843. The 
greater part of his life was spent at Springhouse, where he 
was engaged in agricultural pursuits. In politics Mr. 
Clayton was an earnest Republican from the time of the 
organization of the party in the year 1856. He was deeply 
interested in the success of its principles and candidates, 
and made it a point never to fail in his attendance at the 
primaries and at the elections. He held the office of school 
director in Gwynedd township for a number of years, and also 
filled other minor positions, but was in no sense an office 
seeker.

  He married Cecilia Scarlett, daughter of Robert Scarlett, 
an old resident of Gwynedd township, and a well known 
contractor and road builder. Their children were: 1. William 
L., born April 4, 1866, mentioned hereinafter. 2. Clifford 
J., who married Minnie Wheatland, daughter of William 
Wheatland, and his death occurred April 28, 1902. 3. Levi 
J., born February 19, 1870; he obtained his educational 
training in the schools of Montgomery county, and upon 
laying aside his text books he served an apprenticeship at 
the printer's trade with the Hatboro Spirit, a local paper 
of his native county. Later he entered the employment of the 
Philadelphia Press, and has continued with that enterprising 
journal to the present time. He married, August 26, 1896, 
Della Wilgus, born August 16, 1870, died October 27, 1901, a 
daughter of Ellwood and Ellen Wilgus. 4. Carrie G., who died 
at the age of fourteen years. 5. Robert, who died at the age 
of two years. 

  Levi R. Clayton, father of these children, who was a most 
estimable citizen and highly valued in the community, died 
in 1895. He survived his wife many years, her death having 
occurred in December, 1876.

  William L. Clayton received a public school education 
which thoroughly qualified him for the activities of life. 
He began his active career in the office of the Hatboro 
Spirit, remaining for four years. 

  In 1886 he went west and was employed in printing offices 
at Denver, Colorado; Salt Lake City Utah; San Francisco, Los 
Angeles, and San Diego, California. After a residence of 
five years on the Pacific coast, Mr. Clayton came east on 
account of the serious illness of his father, and 
subsequently became employed on the Philadelphia Inquirer. 
On April 7, 1894, he entered into copartnership with his 
brother, Levi J. Clayton, in the publication of the 
Jenkintown Times.

  On January 1, 1895, they purchased the Jenkintown 
Chronicle, and at once changed the name of their paper to 
the Jenkintown Times-Chronicle. Mr. Clayton is preeminently 
a self-made man, and has risen entirely by his own exertions 
to his present responsible position. He is fearless and 
independent in his management of the paper, and under his 
editorship the enterprise has prospered to a wonderful 
degree, and the circulation has increased year by year. He 
is thoroughly respected and esteemed by all who have the 
honor of his acquaintance. Mr. Clayton is a member of 
Friendship Lodge, No. 400, Free and Accepted Masons; 
Abington Chapter, No. 410, Royal Arch Masons, of Jenkintown; 
and Peace and Love Lodge, No. 337, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows.

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