JUDGE P. D. CLAYTON, Webster County, was born December 25, 1811, in Person County, N. C., and is a son of Richard and Nancy (Day) Clayton, both natives of the same county and State. Richard Clayton was a farmer, and in 1813 moved to Sumner County, Tenn., and there remained until March, 1835, when the family came to Hopkins County, Ky. He died in 1854, aged seventy-three years. His wife died October 26, 1836, aged fifty years. Our subject had general charge of his father's farm from the time he was eighteen years until he was twenty-seven, when he married Miss Nancy E. Cox, of Hopkins County, August 22, 1839. She was born in Hopkins County, December 8, 1816. He continued farming until 1852, when he engaged in merchandising in Vanderburgh, and continued that business there until 1857, when he disposed of his stock. He then handled tobacco one year; in 1859, he served as deputy sheriff, and in 1860 was appointed United States enumerator. In August, 1860, he was elected county clerk, and re-elected in 1862, but on account of military interference failed to qualify. He was admitted to the bar in 1862, and in 1866 was elected county judge, which office he held one term. He was a member of the building committee in the construction of the Webster County court house. In 1875, he was appointed master in chancery, which position he has since honorably filled. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Christian Church.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Pages 1028-1029.