Albert Anderson Clayton and sons

Albert Anderson Clayton and his family left Itawamba County for Missouri sometime around 1935-1938. Albert married rather late in life, when he was 34 years old, to Martha Ann Welch, daughter of William Thomas Welch and Mollie Monroe Sanford. Marriage and courting was the last thing on Albert's mind. As the oldest son, he was busy helping his father on the family farm. In the1900 census, Albert was twenty-three years old and enumerated in his father, Nathaniel M. Clayton's, household. Nathaniel was 51 years old in1900, and there were still six children at home for whom he was responsible, including my great-grandmother Queenie Victoria Clayton. I'm sure that Albert was a huge help to his father.

After Nathaniel's unexpected death in 1908, Albert stepped up to take care of the family while at the same time becoming the administrator of Nathaniel's estate. In addition to children from his first wife, Martha A. Bowen, Nathaniel had two small children by his second and much younger wife, Mattie Elizabeth Reed, daughter of William Washington Reed and Mary Jane Tallant. Albert stayed on the family farm until the estate could be settled, which took about two years.

Finally free from family responsibilities, Albert married Martha Ann Welch in 1910. Together, they had nine children: 7 sons and 2 daughters, all born in Itawamba County. Recently, one of Albert's granddaughters contacted me and shared photographs of her grandparents and their family. Pictured above are Albert and his sons, from left to right on the back row: Bill, Ray, Claud and Edgar, and in front: John and James. Not pictured are Albert and Martha's daughters, Susie Mae and Annie Ruth, and son Charles. This Saturday there will be a family reunion for the descendants of Albert and Martha Clayton held at Sikeston, Missouri where I'm sure there will be lots of hugging and good food.

Thank you, Sharon, for sharing with us!