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History in
a Pecan Shell
Georgia-born Jacob
Cariker is credited with being the first resident of what was to become
Clayton. Reed's Settlement, an earlier community was a mere
two miles from Cariker’s homestead, but in the 1870s, an influx of
residents from Reed’s Settlement relocated here.
In 1874 the community needed a post office which opened under the
name of Clayton, said to be after the Alabama town of that name.
A man by the name of Pleas Fite opened the first store in Clayton,
hedging his bets by also opening the town’s first saloon. By the mid
1880s, Clayton had most essential businesses, a school and two churches.
The population was given as 130, reaching 200 by 1914.
During the Great Depression, the population of Clayton dropped to
175 and it slowly declined from there – eventually reaching 125 in
the late 1960s. The 1990 census count of 79 continues to be used to
the present. |
Another view
of First Baptist Church
Photo courtesy Gerald
Massey, March 2009 |
Panola
County
1907 postal map showing Clayton
SW of Carthage
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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