Norton Albert CLAY

  General Notes:

Great Grandfather
BIOGRAPHY: Norton Albert Clay was born in Union Co. Ohio on September 26, 1862. His childhood must have been rough ,losing his father at the age of two,and a stepfather at the age of 6. The Longwell and Thurston families where both strong clannish groups that gave Norton the strength, and family ties, he must have needed. Norton married Ora Belle Sheets on September 23,1885 in Delaware County. I wonder if Norton knew that he would marry the daughter of the undertaker who buried his father, Morris . Norton and Ora Belle borrowed money from Lydia Ann (Longwell) Fleming (Norton's blood mother) in 1895 to pay for, land belonging to John Heverlo, in southern Brown township. Norton and Ora Belle with their young son, Otho Glenn Clay,(born April 22,1890),bought the land and moved into a log cabin on that premises. The forty acres that Norton owned was partially wooded. I believe he probably farmed other land for people in trade, for paying the taxes. This is due to the tax records which states he paid taxes on lots he didn't own . Norton was a hard working farmer who plowed his fields with a horse and plow. Although he did not own alot of land he raised his family with the advantages of a education. Nort & Ora Belle had a second son on March 21, 1894 that died as an infant. On April 18,1904, a third son was born to Norton and Ora Belle Clay His name was Henry Clinton Clay. Around 1910, Glenn Clay bought a camera and took many pictures of young Henry,Norton & Ora Belle. A short time before this,the Old Log Cabin in which they all lived, was torn down and a new two story framed structure was built over the same spot the cabin occupied. The barn,which was a part of this lot at that time,still remains. Neither of Norton's sons took up the farming trade. Norton & Ora Belle where active in the Brown Presbyterian Church, in Eden. Ora Belle was in the Presbyterian Women's Aid Society. Norton & Ora Belle Clay celebrated their 50th anniversary with family and friends at their home in April of 1935, as the Delaware Gazette wrote. After the death of Norton on May 11,1936 and the death of Ora Belle on July 10,1940 (both buried at Green Mound Cemetery Kilbourne) the East twelve acres were sold by Glenn and the house was physically moved to the 12 acres where it is still occupied by Lena Cain (1988). Lena , who remembers Norton has told me that I look like him, due to my red hair. I listen to my father's recollections of Norton and Ora Belle,and I regret never having known them . They seemed to be hardworking people who have left so much of their labors and rewards to future generations. Both my sister , parents , and myself enjoy the quilts sewn by Ora Belle and the farm bought by Norton.

BIRTH: Funeral Home Records show DOB Sept. 9, 1962 . DOD May 12, 1936 73y7m15d . This was written in error Funeral book had this date crossed out and the right dates filled in. Guardianship Case file 1841 Delaware County Ohio August 11, 1869 Joseph D. Fleming Henry F. Clay aged 17 years October 11th next Lucy Estelle Clay aged 13 years January 1st next Mary Amelia Clay age 11 years March 6th last Albert Norton age 7 years Sept. 26th next also in file Guardians Bond June 21,1873 Henry F. Clay aged 21 years on the Eleventh day of October Lucy E Clay age 16 January 1st 1873 Mary A 14 years on 6 day of March 1873 Albert Norton age 10 years on 26th day of September 1873 the minor children of Morris Clay also in file Guardians Bond July 29th 1875


DEATH: Guardianship Case file 1841 Delaware County Ohio August 11, 1869 Joseph D. Fleming Henry F. Clay aged 17 years October 11th next Lucy Estelle Clay aged 13 years January 1st next Mary Amelia Clay age 11 years March 6th last Albert Norton age 7 years Sept. 26th next also in file Guardians Bond June 21,1873 Henry F. Clay aged 21 years on the Eleventh day of October Lucy E Clay age 16 January 1st 1873 Mary A 14 years on 6 day of March 1873 Albert Norton age 10 years on 26th day of September 1873 the minor children of Morris Clay also in file Guardians Bond July 29th 1875

BURIAL: Funeral Home Records show DOB Sept. 9, 1862 . DOD May 12, 1936 73y7m15d Prostrate Hyperophy Buried 5/12/1936 DOB were in error and are corrected in Memorium Book from Funeral that I have (PAC)


MARRIAGE: Marriage Certificate on file Delaware County Courthouse.

Name: Norton A. Clay
Titles:
Death date: 11 May 1936
Death place: Delaware, Delaware Co., Ohio
Birthdate: 26 Sep 1862
Estimated birth year:
Birthplace: Marion Co., Oh
Age at death: 73 years 7 months 15 days
Gender: Male
Marital status: Married
Race or color: Caucasian
Street address: 186 S.Sandusky St.
Occupation: Retired Farmer
Residence: Delaware, OH
Burial date: 14 May 1936
Burial place: Delaware Co., Oh
Cemetery name: Green M...
Spouse's name: Ora Clay
Father's name: Morris Clay
Father's titles:
Father's birthplace: Oh
Mother's name: Lydia Longwell
Mother's titles:
Mother's birthplace: Oh
GSU film number: 2022659
Digital GS number: 4122428
Image number: 2704
Reference number: fn 31039
Collection: Ohio Deaths 1908-1953

  Noted events in his life were:

• Personal Photo: Norton Albert Clay, 1880's, Delaware Co., Ohio, United States.

• Occupation: Farmer & Farm Laborer, 1897-1936, Brown, Delaware, Ohio, USA.

• Personal Photo: Norton, Glenn & Ora Belle Clay, 1897, Delaware Co., Ohio, United States.

• Personal Photo: The old Cabin, 1897, Howard Rd., Brown twp., Delaware Co.OH.

• Personal Photo: Howard Rd. Farm, 1910, Howard Rd., Brown twp., Delaware Co.OH. taken by Glenn Clay

• Personal Photo: Ora Belle and Norton, 1930's, Howard Rd., Brown twp., Delaware Co.OH.

• Burial: Norton & Ora Belle Grave Marker, 1936-1940, Green Mound Cem., Kilbourne, Delaware, Ohio, USA.

Norton married Ora Belle SHEETS, daughter of Daniel SHEETS and Eunis Malinda LAKE, on 23 Apr 1885 in Delaware Co., Ohio, United States.² (Ora Belle SHEETS was born on 2 Feb 1867 in Kilbourne, Brown, Delaware, Ohio, died on 11 Jul 1940 in Kilbourne, Brown, Delaware, Ohio and was buried on 15 Jul 1940 in Green Mound Cem., Kilbourne, Delaware, Ohio, USA.)

  Marriage Notes:

Groom's Name: Nortan A. Clay
Groom's Birth Date:
Groom's Birthplace:
Groom's Age:
Bride's Name: Ora B. Sheets
Bride's Birth Date:
Bride's Birthplace:
Bride's Age:
Marriage Date: 23 Apr 1885
Marriage Place: Delaware Co., Ohio
Groom's Father's Name:
Groom's Mother's Name:
Bride's Father's Name:
Bride's Mother's Name:
Groom's Race:
Groom's Marital Status:
Groom's Previous Wife's Name:
Bride's Race:
Bride's Marital Status:
Bride's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M01122-9
System Origin: Ohio-EASy
Source Film Number: 391398
Reference Number: p436 #674
Collection: Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958