W. H. H. Clayton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids W. H. H. Clayton
W. H. H. Clayton
Born	William Henry Harrison Clayton October 13, 1840 Bethel Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Died	December 14, 1920 (age 80) McAlester, Oklahoma
Nationality	American
Occupation	Soldier, attorney, judge,
Known for	U.S. Attorney for the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas (1874-1893) United States Federal Judge in the Central District of the Indian Territory (1896-1907)
Relatives	John M. Clayton (twin) Powell Clayton (brother) Thomas J. Clayton (brother)

William Henry Harrison Clayton (born October 13, 1840 – died December 14, 1920) was an important American lawyer and judge. He worked in Arkansas and the Indian Territory (which later became Oklahoma) after the U.S. Civil War. He was a United States Attorney for 14 years. In this role, he was the main prosecutor in the court of Judge Isaac Parker, who was known for being very strict. Later, Clayton became a federal judge himself in the Indian Territory.

He was a lieutenant in the Union Army during the Civil War. He fought in some very important battles. William was also the brother of Powell Clayton, who became the Governor of Arkansas. His twin brother was John M. Clayton, who was elected to Congress.

Early Life and School

William H. H. Clayton was born in Bethel Township, Pennsylvania. His parents were John and Ann Glover Clayton. His family had been in Pennsylvania for a long time. They were descendants of early Quaker settlers. One of his ancestors, William Clayton, was a friend of William Penn. He was also an early judge and a member of Penn's Council.

William grew up on his father's farm. He went to school at the Village Green Seminary.

Serving in the Civil War

In 1862, William helped create a military company in his home county. This group became Company H of the 124th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. The 124th Regiment served for nine months. This was a very important time during the American Civil War. Clayton was a lieutenant in Company H. His twin brother, John M. Clayton, was also in the same company.

The 124th Regiment was held in reserve during the Battle of Second Bull Run. Later, they joined the Twelfth Corps of the Army of the Potomac. On September 17, 1862, Clayton and his regiment fought in the Battle of Antietam. This was one of the most intense single-day battles in American history. During this battle, the 124th Regiment fought bravely. Many soldiers were injured or killed.

The regiment was also part of the Fredericksburg campaign. However, they did not fight in the difficult Battle of Fredericksburg. After that, they marched through Virginia in what was called the "Mud March." President Abraham Lincoln even reviewed their corps in April 1863.

The 124th then fought in the Battle of Chancellorsville. After this battle, their time of service ended. They were discharged in May 1863.

Just over a month later, General Robert E. Lee tried to invade the Union states again. This time, he reached Pennsylvania. William and many of his old regiment quickly joined a new group. This was the 29th Emergency Regiment. They stayed in their home counties during the Battle of Gettysburg. After the battle, William's commander led them to chase the defeated Confederate troops. This was the end of Clayton's active service in the Civil War. Afterward, he taught military tactics at the Village Green Seminary.

Life and Work in Arkansas

After the Civil War, Clayton moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He joined his brother Powell. The three brothers, William, Powell, and John, bought a large amount of land. William married Florence Barnes, a woman from the South.

In 1868, Powell Clayton became the Governor of Arkansas. While William was studying law, he was given a job. He became a superintendent for public education. He helped set up schools for formerly enslaved people.

In 1871, he became a lawyer. He was then appointed as a prosecuting attorney. In 1873, he became a judge. But in 1874, he left this job. President Ulysses Grant appointed him as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas.

The United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas moved to Fort Smith. So, William Clayton moved there too. In 1882, he bought and fixed up an old house in Fort Smith. He and his family lived there until 1897. This house, called the "Clayton House," is now a historical museum.

William's twin brother, John Middleton Clayton, also had an important political career in Arkansas. He served in the state government. In 1888, John ran for Congress. The election was very close. Sadly, John M. Clayton was killed on January 29, 1889. The person who killed him was never found. William and Powell Clayton paid detectives to investigate, but it remained a mystery.

Working with Judge Parker

In 1875, the court in Fort Smith had power over a huge area. This included part of Arkansas and all of the Indian Territory. This was a wild and sometimes dangerous area after the Civil War. President Grant appointed Isaac Charles Parker as judge. Judge Parker was known for being very strict. He wanted to bring law and order to the area. Judge Parker served from 1875 until his death in 1896. His court was one of the busiest federal courts in the country.

During his time, Judge Parker handled many serious cases. These included murder charges, which was unusual for a federal court. He sentenced many people to death. William Clayton was the United States Attorney in Judge Parker's court from 1874 to 1893. He was in charge of over 10,000 cases. He was known as a very skilled prosecutor. He convicted many people of murder.

Clayton worked on many interesting cases. He sent the famous outlaw Belle Starr and her husband to prison for stealing horses. Later, Belle Starr tried to get revenge on Clayton, but she failed. This story was even shown on a TV show called Death Valley Days. Clayton was also involved in a famous case called United States v. Allen. This case is still studied by lawyers today. It helped create a rule called the "Allen charge." This rule helps juries reach a decision when they are stuck.

When he was not the U.S. Attorney, Clayton also worked as a private lawyer. He handled many types of cases. One of his most famous cases was defending Bass Reeves. Reeves was a legendary U.S. Marshal. Clayton helped Bass Reeves get acquitted in a trial in front of Judge Parker.

Career in Indian Territory and Oklahoma

In 1896, William McKinley became President. He appointed Clayton as a United States federal judge. This new court was for the Central District of the Indian Territory. Clayton moved to McAlester, where the new court was located. This new court helped reduce the workload of Judge Parker's court.

When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, the old Indian Territory courts were closed. This meant Clayton lost his federal judgeship. During his 10 years as a judge, Clayton made important decisions. These decisions helped define the rights of Native American tribes. They had a lasting impact on Oklahoma's history.

Clayton was also involved in writing the new constitution for the State of Oklahoma. After he retired as a judge, he continued to practice law with his son in McAlester. William H. H. Clayton died in McAlester on December 14, 1920. He is buried in the Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

See also

• Clayton family