Fayette County, TN Genealogy

Goodspeed's History of Tennessee -

Fayette County Biographies

James A. Clay

Surnames: CLAY, McCREE, CARTWRIGHT)

James A. Clay, a farmer of Fayette County, was born in gibson county, Tenn., January 12, 1837 and is a son of John W. and Sarah M. (McCree) Clay. The father was born in Halifax County, VA., October 24, 1813, and died in Fayette County June 9, 1859. The mother was born in Iredell County, N.C., June 5, 1816, and died in Fayette County July 29, 1866. They married January 26, 1836 in Rutherford County, Tenn., and moved from middle Tennessee to Gibson County, but two years later moved to Fayette County and settled at La Grange, where they lived until they died. They were both strict members of the Methodist Church. Our subject was the oldest of ten children; he was educated at La Grange College. His parents moved to the county when he was a child and he was since lived in it. He began farming quite young. November 20, 1867, he married Miss Anna J. Cartwright, a native of Fayette County, born February 11, 1844. They have had three children: Maggie L., born June 11, 1869; Annie O., born march 12, 1871, and James No., born January 7, 1874. December, 1869, he purchased the farm where he now lives, fifteen miles southwest of Somerville, and now owns 800 acres of land in Fayette County clear of all incumbrances. Politically Mr Clay is an Independent, but is usually in sympathy with the Democratic party. He does not belong to any church but is by preference a Methodist. Mrs. Clay and all the children belong to the Methodist Church. Mr. Clay holds the respect and confidence of the community and is a man of unblemished integrity.

[ Index to Goodspeed Biographies - Fayette County ]

[ Return to Fayette County, TNGenWeb ]