BIOGRAPHIES - CLAY, Samuel, Bourbon County, Kentucky From: Bob Francis http://www.shawhan.com Date: 07 Feb 2000 The biographies are taken primarily from William Perrin's "The History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky" and E. Polk Johnson's "The History of Kentucky and Kentuckians," Vol. III. Many Bourbon County, Kentucky, researchers have pointed out mistakes and they are notated. Name: Samuel “Graybeard” CLAY _________________________________________ Birth: April 8, 1815 Death: February 14, 1888 Age: 72 Father: COL Henry CLAY IV (1779-1863) Mother: Margaret “Peggy” HELM (-1863) Spouses _________________________________________ 1: Nancy Tucker WORNALL Birth: January 16, 1816 Death: July 26, 1899 Age: 83 Father: COL Thomas WORNALL (1775-1838) Mother: Sarah RYON (1777-1854) Marriage: November 22, 1836 Children: Thomas Henry (1840-1926); Susan Elizabeth (1846-1880); James Eldred (1850-1910); Alfred SAMUEL CLAY,1 farmer and stockraiser; P. O. Paris. This gentleman is the largest land owner, and one of the most successful agriculturists in Bourbon County. He was born in this Precinct April 8, 1815, son of Colonel Henry Clay, a native of Virginia (his wife’s maiden name was Helm), who emigrated to this county from the Old Dominion about the year 1785. He came here with his father, Samuel Clay, when a lad of eight years. He was a successful farmer. To Henry Clay, Jr., was born twelve children; eleven grew to maturity. The eldest was Henry; then in order of birth were John, Sallie, Joseph, Letitia, Henrietta, Elizabeth, Samuel, Mary, Frank, and Matt M., all of whom settled in this county. Sallie married Wm. Buckner; Letitia became the wife of Dan’l Bedinger. Henrietta married three times; first to Mr. Bedford, by whom she had one son, Frank. Her second husband was Robert Scott, by whom she had one child. Her third husband was E. S. Dudley. Elizabeth married Douglas P. Lewis, Mary married E. S. Dudley, the husband of Henreitta. In 1836 our subject married Nancy T. Wornall, who was born January 16, 1816, in Clark County. She was a daughter of Thomas and Sallie (Ryan) Wornall. Thomas was the son of Roby and Edie Wornall, who was a native of Virginia. At the time Mr. Clay started in business for himself, his father gave him 440 acres of land. From this start he has added to it until he now owns over 7,000 in this county, and several thousand in counties adjoining. Mr. Clay is a tireless worker, and believes in the adage that it is better to wear out than rust out, and his career has been one of unusual success. He has had four children : Thomas H., Susan E., wife of Cassius Clay. She died in 1879, leaving four children. James E. resides on farm adjoining. Samuel Clay, of “Marchemont,” born April 8, 18 15 ; married, in 1836, Nancy T. Wornall, daughter of Thomas and Sally Ryan Wornall. Inheriting about four hundred acres of land from his father, he possessed, at the time of his death, February 14, 1888, many thousand valuable acres. This fortune was acquired without speculation, and was the result of indomitable energy and fine judgment, coupled with keen executive ability. His aged wife, a noble helpmeet, is still living at “Chasteney Park,” Bourbon County.2 Sources 1. Perrin, p. 453 2. Smith, Zachary; Clay, Mrs. Mary Rogers. The Clay Family. Filson Club Publication No. 14. Louisville, Kentucky: John P. Morton and Company, 1899, p. 152. ------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.