Fifth Generation (Continued)
Family of Matthew Columbus CLAYTON (68) & Sarah Mildred McKINNEY

161. John "Gideon" CLAYTON. Born on 15 Jun 1873 in Forsyth Co., NC. John "Gideon" died in Forsyth Co., NC on 31 Dec 1931, he was 58. Buried in Clayton Family Cemetery, Forsyth Co., NC.

John Gideon is the only child of his parents. His early education was in the district schools and Oak Ridge Institute. He was a justice of the peace and was affiliated with Bethania Lodge No. 86, Knights of Pythias, and was a member of New Garden Friends Church.

Research: Found written in the bible of John Clayton (1798-1863) and wife, Elizabeth Moore (1796-1858) is the following description of the death of John Gideon Clayton(1873-1931):

John Gideon Clayton
15 June 1873 21 December 1931

On Wednesday, December 30, Kenny and Nita Moore
a young couple who has been married only a month, asked
Daddy for his truck to go to Elk Creek, Virginia, about 30 miles
beyond Galax, Va. to Nita’s home to get some things for her new
home. They had just started to begin house buying - 1/2 mile from
here. Ken had always lived near here and had been working
at Stanley’s Filling Station for about 18 months. Daddy has always
thought so much of him because he was such a good boy
(22 years old). Nita was a fine little girl (17 years old) an especially
good friend of Mary Belles and a constant visitor here. Daddy
thought of both of them as his children. He had been over to Mr.
Connoy’s and he thought so much of the whole family and they
of him. Mr. Connoy asked Daddy to look after his kid (Nita).
Ken and Nita were so crazy about each other and spent about
half of their time here. They were almost one of us. They had just
rented a house and wanted to finish it. So when they asked
for the truck - Daddy decided to go with them and help them. Ken
and Nita were so pleased that he wanted to go with them, and
decided to leave at 2:30 Thursday morning Dec. 31. They set the
alarm clock and were coming for Daddy. Daddy got up at 2:30 -
the children did not come - at 3:00 Daddy decided that they had over-
slept - and he went up and woke them. They come down here
and they left at 4:00 for Elk Creek, all so happy and gay - They
wanted to get back before late Thursday evening. The next we heard:
a state patrolman passed along the outside of the road about 6:30
or 7:00 o’clock, about 3 miles beyond Galax, Va. toward Independence at
Beviss’s Mill Pond. He saw in the water a head light of the truck.
The truck was turned bottom-side upward-the water was
only 2 1/2 or 3 ft deep. When the truck was gotten out and turned
up, All three were dead, but he bodies were still warm.
They were held in the setting position but bottom side up.
A part of the wind shield held them in position. One side of the
cab was torn up mostly and the truck only turned once.
There is no explanation for the cause of the accident. There is a
bad curve just before the place where they ran off, but they had
gotten around it and were straight in the road again. When
they started from the right side of the road to the left and
straight down about a 50 ft. fill down into the water about 2 1/2
or 3 feet deep. Some believe the water to look like the road; others
believes the wheels locked and brakes applied and the truck
skidded off - others think maybe they were blinded, others
believe the fog to have caused it. I t was a rainey foggy
morning. No one know the exact cause. We do not know who
was driving. Some of the people who helped get them out,
believe Daddy was driving and others believe Kenny was. Nita was
in the middle. Daddy[‘s] pocket-book, watch and a few papers were
in his clothes. (all hats were lost) Dad’s glasses were found on the
opposite side of the creek and his flash light was in the water.
His pipe was in his over coat pocket, and a glove was in
each over coat pocket. He left over coat pocket was torn.
Daddy had a cut in his forward and (between eyes) to the skull and
his hands were bruised. (bad fall) - all his injuries.
Nita had no cuts or broken bones. but had a few scratches
and bruises. She was black and must have drowned.
Ken’s right arm was broken and shoulder crushed, possibly
his neck was broken. We do not know whether they were
hurt bad enough to have killed them, whether they were
stunned by the jar or all drowned.
We, the family, Jim, Gabe, Ruth Clayton, Jim & Otto Ziglar,
Will, Lesily Stauber, Dr. Larister, A. M. Kiser, Chas. Helsabeck rush[e]d
to Galax. Ruth, Agnes(?) & Mr. Connoy were there.
Manuel’s Funeral Home took care of the body, after
being embalmed at Galax.
Daddy looked very good, very natural and handsome.
He was buried on Sunday Jan. 3.
Crowd estimated to be 3,000 to 5,000 people here.
Rec. Peele, Lindley and Grubbs and S____?

On 1 Nov 1898 when John "Gideon" was 25, he married Ora Belle ZIGLAR (283) , daughter of James Edward ZIGLAR (18 Jan 1855-25 Oct 1911) & Martha E. MOORE (160) (1857-1916), in Forsyth Co., NC. Born on 8 Jul 1879 in Forsyth Co., NC. Ora Belle died in Forsyth Co., NC on 10 Dec 1951, she was 72. Buried in Clayton Family Cemetery, Forsyth Co., NC.

They had the following children:
i. Cecil Gideon. Born on 7 Mar 1900 in Forsyth Co., NC. Cecil Gideon died in Forsyth Co., NC on 1 Jul 1901, he was 1. Buried in Clayton Family Graveyard.
ii. Ora Mabel. Born on 1 Oct 1901 in Forsyth Co., NC. Ora Mabel died on 10 Apr 1902 in Forsyth Co., NC. Buried in Clayton Family Graveyard.
iii. Franklin Lee. Born on 11 Aug 1904 in Forsyth Co., NC. Franklin Lee died in Forsyth Co., NC on 19 Jan 1909, he was 4. Buried in Clayton Family Graveyard.
285 iv. Lucy Virginia (1910-1980)
v. Mary Belle. Born on 8 Sep 1914 in Forsyth Co., NC. Mary Belle died in Forsyth Co., NC on 19 Feb 1985, she was 70. Buried in Clayton Family Graveyard.

Mary Belle married Noel Wayne CANNOY Jr.. Born on 10 Oct 1905 in Forsyth Co., NC. Noel Wayne died in Forsyth Co., NC on 7 Mar 1986, he was 80. Buried in Clayton Family Graveyard.
286 vi. James Gideon (1919-2002)

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