John M. Clay
John M. Clay was born in Pulaski county, Virginia, October 7, 1820, and at the age of five years removed with his parents to Lawrence county, Kentucky, where he grew to manhood and married Miss Lucinda Bazell, who was born February 9, 1827, and is a daughter of Elias Bazell, who was a noted local Methodist preacher, and a talented singer in his day.
Samuel Bazell, the grandfather of Mrs. Clay, was a native of North Carolina, and removed to Kentucky at an early day. Elias and Samuel Bazell both removed to Lawrence county, Ohio, where they died at an old age. John M. Clay and his wife removed to Missouri in 1850, and in 1853 to Lawrence county, Ohio, where they both now reside. Their oldest son, William H. Clay was born May 4, 1844; Leander Bascom, December 3, 1848; Rebecca E., August 3, 1851; Josie B., May 7, 1854; Manderville G., July 2, 1856; and John G., January 17, 1860. When the civil war broke out, Mr. Clay enlisted in the 5th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, Company K, and served three years, participating in the battles of Cross-keys, Second Bull Run, and many others. William Clay, the father of John M., was born in Giles county, West Virginia, November 7, 1777, and died in Lawrence county, Kentucky, at the age of 64 years. He was a son of Mitchell Clay, who settled in Giles county, Virginia, on New river, then a frontier county, at a place known as Clove bottom. They had considerable trouble with hostile Indians. An uncle and an aunt of Mr. Clay were killed by them, and another uncle was taken prisoner and afterwards killed by them. Part of the time they were compelled to live in forts. His father, William Clay, was married to Rebecca Cecill, in 1800. Her mother’s name was Whitten, and of a large family connection, known as the Whitten and Cecill family. She was born in Montgomery county, Virginia, in the year 1782, and died in Lawrence county, Ohio, June 29, 1866, being 84 years of age. She had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church upwards of 50 years, and Mr. Clay’s family all belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. His address is Rock Camp, Lawrence county, Ohio.
Atlas of Lawrence Co., Ohio by Hardesty (1882)