Madison County AlArchives Biographies.....Clay, Clement Comer December 17, 1789 - September 7, 1866
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Carolyn Golowka ctolowka@prodigy.net June 21, 2006, 8:07 pm

Author: "Alabama:  Her History, Resources, War Record, and Public Men," by Willis Brewer, published 1872, pages 356-357

Clement Comer Clay was an early settler of Madison. He was born in Halifax 
county, Virginia, Dec. 17, 1789, and was the son of Wm. Clay, a soldier in the 
colonial rebellion.  His mother was a Miss Comer, whose mother was a 
Claiborne.  During his boyhood his parents removed to Granger county, Tenn., 
where he grew up.  Completing his education at a college in Knoxville, he read 
law under Hon. Hugh L. White.  Licensed in 1809, he came to Huntsville two 
years later, and here resided till his demise fifty-five years afterwards.  
During the Indian war of 1813 he was adjutant of a battalion which acted as a 
corps of observation.  In 1817 he represented the county in the territorial 
legislature, serving in the only two sessions of that body.  He was also a 
member of the convention of 1819, and was chairman of the committee which 
reported the constitution.  The same year he was elected a judge of the supreme 
court by the legislature, and his associates selected him as the first chief 
justice, though he was the youngest of their number.  This high dignity he held 
four years, then resigned and resumed the practice.  Soon after this he was a 
principal to a duel, in which he shot Hon. Waddy Tate of Limestone in the leg.  
His retirement was interrupted in 1828, when he was elected to the legislature, 
and at the meeting was made speaker without opposition.  The year after he was 
elected to congress, defeating Capt. Nich. Davis of Limestone after a warm 
canvass.  He was twice re-elected, serving continuously till 1835, and 
incurring no further opposition.  In that year he was elected governor, over 
Gen. Enoch Parsons, of Monroe, by a vote of 23, 297 to 12, 209.  The Creek 
troubles occurred during his administration, and their repression is largely 
owing to his prompt exertions.  Before the expiration of his term he was 
elected (June 1837) to the senate of the United States without opposition.  He 
sat in that then eminent body till 1841, when financial embarrassments caused 
him to resign.  He was then selected to prepare a digest of the laws of the 
State, which he did, and laid it before the legislature of 1842.  In June 1843 
he was appointed a justice of the supreme court by Gov. Fitzpatrick, and held 
the position till the ensuing winter.  His last public trust was as one of the 
three commissioners to wind up the business of the banks in 1846.  The 
remainder of his life was spent in dignified repose, unrelieved by any 
important event save the harsh treatment he received at the hands of the 
Northern troops when they occupied the Tennessee valley.  He died at 
Huntsville, Sept. 7, 1866.  

Gov. Clay was of medium size, but erect, and with dark and restless eyes.  His 
bearing was naturally austere, and, though sociable with a few, he was intimate 
with none.  He was honorable in all relations of life, and sensitive of the 
slightest imputation derogatory thereto.  As a jurist and public officer he was 
very laborious and energetic, and his official career was characterized by a 
proper sense of responsibility, dignity, and fidelity.

Gov. Clay married a sister of Gen. Jones M. Withers of Mobile, and left three 
sons, well known citizens of this county:  Major J. Withers Clay, the able 
editor for may years of the Huntsville Democrat; Col. Hugh L. Clay, a lawyer 
and gentleman of much talent; and – [the biography of son Clement Claiborne 
Clay follows in the book]


Additional Comments:
See the biography of Clement Claiborne Clay at:
http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/madison/bios/clay37nbs.txt

Clement Comer Clay married Susanna Claiborne Withers, daughter of John Withers 
and Mary Herbert Jones, on April 4, 1815 in Madison County, Alabama.  Both 
Clement Comer and Susanna are buried in the Maple Hill Cemetery, Huntsville, 
Madison County, Alabama.

Among their children were John Withers Clay, Hugh Lawson Clay, Clement 
Claiborne Clay and Catherine "Kate" Withers Clay.  Catherine was 10 in 1850 
where as Hugh, who was living with his parents at the time, was 28.  Catherine 
would have been born when Susanna was 41 if she is a daughter of Clement and 
Susanna.  It is possible that Cahterine is a niece and not a daughter.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/madison/bios/clay732gbs.txt

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