HON. B.F. CLAYTON, of Macedonia, Iowa, is one of the prominent and favorably known men of Pottawattamie County, his works having been of an extensive nature both in private and public life, and he has done much to build up the best interests of the community where he resides. He was born in Nicholas County, Kentucky, January 10, 1839, a son of William M. Clayton, who was born in Virginia in 1788. The father went to Kentucky when a boy, and in 1812 enlisted as a soldier under Captain Metcalf, ex-Governor of Kentucky, and served through the war. He died in 1852 in Robinson County. His wife, nee Mary Adair, was born in Nicholas County, Kentucky.

B.F. Clayton, our subject, went to Decatur County, Indiana when sixteen years of age, where he worked by the month until 1873, during which time he also served as County Supervisor for three years. In October 1873, he arrived in Pottawattamie County, where he bought 320 acres of partly improved land, and to which he has since added until he now owns 500 acres of partly improved land, and to which he has since added until he now owns 500 acres in one body. This farm, which is called "Sunnyside," is situated west and in sight of Macedonia, and is one of the best ranches in this part of the county. He also owns several other farms and tracts of land in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, one of which consists of 8,000 acres. Mr. Clayton has held most of the township offices, and has served in the Seventeenth, Eighteenth and Twentieth General Assemblies of the State of Iowa, being chairman of the Agricultural Committee of the Eighteenth General Assembly, and Speaker pro tem of the House in the Twentieth session. He has been connected with the National Farmer's Congress, and is one of its most active and zealous workers. He has been delegate to its conventions at Nashville, Tennessee; Montgomery, Alabama; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New Orleans; Topeka, Kansas; Washington, District of Columbia; and Chicago, Illinois, and it was through his influence that it was secured for Council Bluffs in 1890. He has been Secretary for this Assembly for six years. He was one of the prime movers in having the delegation go to Denver in 1890, and is one of its active and efficient members. He is a Master Mason, is trustee of Simpson's Centenary College of Indianola, and is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Clayton is one of the prominent agriculturists of the state and at this time is being strongly urged as the Republican candidate for Governor of Iowa, which will be elected in November of this year.

Mr. Clayton has been twice married, first to Miss Priscilla Martin, March 2, 1862 who was born in Decatur County, Indiana and died in 1868; and he was then married September 22, 1869 to Miss Nannie M. Hamilton who was born in Decatur County, the daughter of D.N. Hamilton a native of Harrison County Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Clayton have one daughter, Mona Blanch. They lost their only son, William N., who was killed in the fall of 1890 by an accidental discharge of a gun. He was a young man of much promise and had received an excellent education at Simpson's College, and was loved by all who knew him.

Contributed by: Darlene Vergamini