Riverside
County
Biographies
DUDLEY G. CLAYTON
Fidelity to trust has ever been a
salient characteristic of Dudley G. Clayton, of Riverside, who has been
continuously before the public since 1904 and has occupied the office of county
clerk for a period of fourteen years—a fact indicative of the high quality of
his service. He was born in Keswick, New
Brunswick, Canada, October 19, 1867, a son of James P. and Lucy A. (Golder) Clayton, who were also natives of the
province. James P. Clayton, who was of
English descent, grew to manhood on a farm and was an agriculturalist for many
years but at the same time acquired lumber interests of importance. He made the trip around the Horn in 1867 and
spent a year in Sacramento, where he assisted in painting the capitol
building. He returned home, intending to
sell his farm, but was induced not to do so.
His son, John Clayton, who had accompanied him on the trip to
California, remained in San Francisco and was engaged in ranching in the
northern part of the state until his death in December, 1888. J. P. Clayton removed with his family to
Missoula, Montana, in 1880 and was there identified with the lumber business
until he retired. He was a Baptist in
religious belief and contributed liberally to the support of the church, also
donating generously to worthy charities.
His wife was a daughter of Daniel Golder and
her mother was a daughter of Captain Strange, whom the British government
placed in command of a vessel in the West Indies. An only child, she was born on board a
man-of-war and was quite young when her father settled in New Brunswick. He preferred to make his home in that province
although he owned a large grant of land on the site of Philadelphia, but
neglected the latter estate, allowing it to pass from his possession, as he had
other interests that represented considerable money and which engrossed his
attention at that time. Mr. and Mrs. J.
P. Clayton were the parents of eight sons, of whom all but one lived to mature
years. They were: John, Daniel, James, William A., Charles G.,
and W. E., all now deceased; and Dudley G. Clayton.
The last named pursued his education
in the public schools of New Brunswick until he was a youth of sixteen, when he
went to Waterville, Maine, where he was a clerk in a department store for two
years. At the end of that time he
returned home to settle up the business of his father, who had decided to
locate in Montana. In 1888 Dudley G.
Clayton joined the family in that state, where he was associated with his
father in the lumber business until 1889, when he came to California, arriving
in Riverside on June 24th of that year. The first investment which he made here was
the purchase of Mr. Zimmerman’s interest in the Park (now the Plaza) Hotel but
a year later he sold out and became connected with the work of developing
Evergreen Cemetery in the capacity of an employee. He became a stockholder in the Evergreen
Cemetery Association and in February, 1891, was made superintendent of the
cemetery. No improvements had been made
up to that time and under Mr. Clayton’s capable direction the cemetery was
enlarged and beautified until it assumed the appearance of a lovely park. For twelve years he acted as superintendent,
and in 1902 became a funeral director, embarking in business at the corner of
Eighth and Orange streets under the name of Clayton & Flagg. Later Mr. Clayton purchased his partner’s interest
but soon afterward sold the business and on November 1, 1904, entered the
office of Sheriff P. M. Coburn as undersheriff, holding the position for two
terms. He next served under M. R. Shaw
as deputy chief marshal of the police department and was reappointed deputy
when Captain Johnson became chief of police, at which time the charter was
adopted. In 1908 he succeeded Chief
Johnson as head of the police department, serving until shortly after Mayor
Evans assumed office, when he became deputy chief. In May, 1909, he became associated with
Sheriff F. P. Wilson, again assuming the duties of undersheriff, which he
discharged until July 28, 1918, when he resigned and entered the race for
county clerk. At the ensuing election he
was victorious, proving so capable that he has since been retained in the
office, and in 1930 was reelected for a fourth term of four years.
On the 16th of January,
1889, Mr. Clayton was married to Miss Bertha Dunphy,
now deceased, who was a native of Keswick, New Brunswick, and a daughter of
Frederick Dunphy, a farmer by occupation. They were the parents of one child, Inez E.,
who became the wife of Everett J. Horsley, and the mother of a daughter,
Jacquelyn I., now ten years of age. Mr.
Horsley is a publisher of Los Angeles but resides in Whittier.
Well known in fraternal circles, Mr.
Clayton has been secretary of the local tent of the Knights of the Maccabees
since 1893 and was also its commander for a considerable period. His connection with the Yeomen covered twenty
years, and he has filled all the principal chairs in the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, long serving as scribe of Star Encampment, No. 73, of which he has
been secretary for twenty-seven years.
Since 1883 he has been an earnest, devout member of the Baptist Church
and for the past five years has served as president of its Brotherhood Class,
consisting of about seventy members.
From the time age conferred upon the right of franchise Mr. Clayton has
been a strong Republican, unfaltering in his support of the platform and
candidates of the party. Honest,
industrious and efficient, he has to his credit an enviable record of public
service and the respect that is uniformly accorded him is well deserved.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. III, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 163-166, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles,
Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S RIVERSIDE BIOGRAPIES