A Trip to Clayton

This article was written by a reporter for the Nevada County Picayune and appeared in the Feb.
23, 1887 issue of the paper.  See Map I for the locaton of Clayton.  This community no longer
exists.

As newspaper reporter and representative, I have returned from a trip to Clayton and have the
following encouraging report to report.

The farmers and mill men are letting no moments pass by unheeded--the thawing fields seem
jubilant with the music of the ax and the occasional volley of song from the happy Negro--fences
are being repaired--logs are being extricated from their frozen beds, while the rubbish from
fresh-trimmed land is being burned--oats are being sown--corn stalks are being piled and burned. 
Under all the encouragements, our farmer friends gave us a most liberal patronage. 

.... We had pleasure attending a sociable given at the residence of Mr. Sam Robinson.  We don't
think we can do the community justice without saying that a band (for they are that many) of the
the more intelligent, refined, beautiful, and social young ladies due not to be found at every turn
of the tide.   But every community has its "old maids" and "bachelors" which we are inclined to
believe are quite an impediment in the circle of social enjoyment.  Clayton seems to be more
fortunate in this particular.  There are W. H. Briant, Louis Barham, Edd Jones, Sam Sewell, and a
great many others who are said to have courted every young lady in Nevada County, and still they
do not seem to find an accepable partner.  It seems they took it by townships, which is a very
commendable plan.  The young ladies at whose shrine they have been pouring the burning
eloquence of their love (all bachelors are gifted with a flow of language) have our deepest
sympathy.  Poor boys!  They are unfortunate indeed.  Tis a pity that some of the "old maids" don't
get weary with the mode of living and try their luck.  Push ahead, gentlemen, it's better further on. 

We called at Prof. Wooten's high school at Harmony Church, but learned that that much dreaded
disease, measles, had broken it entirely up.  Quite a number of his students have it now.  We trust
they can soon resume their work again. 


Note: Clayton was located near what is now Hwy. 278 near the Hempstead County line in the
vicinity of Forest Hill church and cemetery (as shown of a 1901 map of Nevada County).