Fifth Generation

130. Roland Arthur "Red" CLAY was born on 5 July 1911 in Monroe County, WI.^76,99 He appeared in the census in 1920 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁰ He graduated in 1930 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶⁴ from Tomah High School. Red appeared in the census in 1930 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁶ He appeared in the census in 1940 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁷ His occupation was "Farmer, Farm." ¹⁹⁴ Newspaper Article: "a large barn and contents and a wood stave silo on the Roland Clay farm, northwest of Tomah, were totally destroyed by fire Saturday evening, but other buildings on the place were saved. The barn was struck by lightning during the storm Saturday evening, which resulted in the destruction of the barn and silo.

Clay had retired and was awakened shortly before 11 o'clock when a terrific crash indicated that lightning had struck in the vicinity. He looked out the window and saw the upper part of the big barn in flames. His first thought was to rescue the horses which were in the barn, and this was accomplished before the flames spread to the lower section of the building. The cattle were in the pasture and no loss of livestock resulted from the fire, but the building and its contents were totally destroyed.

Included in the loss was the season's cut of hay from the farm, which was all in the barn except for the last two loads which could not be hauled in because of wet weather. Fortunately, the wind which was blowing at the time was in a favorable direction and swept the flames from the burning barn away from other buildings on the place.

The loss to Clay will be particularly heavy, in view of the large amount of hay in the barn and the fact that building materials are scarce and expensive at this time." He appeared in the census in 1950 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²¹ His farm was located "3/4 mile west of Hwy 12" and his occupation was "Farmer, Farm." Red died on 16 August 1982 at the age of 71 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁹ Obituary Notes: "Roland Clay, 71, died Monday, August 16 in his home. He was born July 5, 1911 in Monroe County to Frank and Deda (Snowberry) Clay. He married Freda Vandervort on October 14, 1934. He had been a farmer and a carpenter at Fort McCoy.

Survivors are his two sons, Thomas and Gordon, both of Tomah; one daughter, Mrs. Sterling (Kay) Standiford of Eau Claire; eight grandchildren; four brothers, Marion, Kenneth, Merle and Robert, all of Tomah; and one sister, Mrs. Laura Forsythe of Tomah. He was preceded in death by one brother.

Services were held Thursday, August 19 at 2 PM at the White Funeral Home. The Rev. Arthur Paltridge officiated, and burial was in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah." He was buried on 19 August 1982 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^99,146,192 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Roland Arthur "Red" CLAY and Freda Griggs VANDERVORT (+) (~) were married on 14 October 1934 in Mauston, Juneau County, WI.^99,153 Freda Griggs VANDERVORT (+) (~), daughter of Rollie H. VANDERVORT and Martha Cordelia GRIGGS, was born on 4 July 1914 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁹ (Second from right in picture, with, from left, her mother, Mattie; her sister, Willeene; and her sister, Helen.) She appeared in the census in 1920 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁰ She appeared in the census in 1930 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁶ Freda graduated in 1932 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁰⁹ from Tomah High School. She appeared in the census in 1940 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁷ She appeared in the census in 1950 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²¹ Her occupation was "Farm Helper, Farm." Freda died on 18 March 2007 at the age of 92 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^99,125 Obituary Notes: "Freda G. Clay, 92, of Tomah, died Sunday, March 18, 2007, at the Tomah Health Care Center. She was born July 4, 1914, to Rollie and Mattie (Griggs) Vandervort in the Town of LaGrange, Monroe County. She was united in marriage to Roland Clay on Oct. 14, 1934. He preceded her in death in 1982.

They farmed in the Town of LaGrange. She was a member of the North Tomah Homemakers Club and 4-H Leader in the North Tomah 4-H Club for many years. Prior to retirement, Freda worked at the Veterans Administration Medical Center as a seamstress and at Tomah Memorial Hospital as a cook. She was an active and faithful member of the First United Methodist Church. She enjoyed her flowers, gardening and sewing. She was known for making the best oyster stew in town. She was a loving mother and grandmother.

She is survived by two sons, Thomas (Patricia) and Gordon (Sue), both of Tomah; a daughter, Kay (Stan) Standiford of Eau Claire; eight grandchildren, Mark of Tomah, Terry (Jeff) Kreiger, Brian, and Marie Dettinger, all of Hawaii, Danny Standiford of Madison, John (Jocelyn) Standiford of Eau Claire, Jana Wedemeier of Tomah and Kelli (Mark) Zblewski of Sleepy Eye, MN; 10 great-grandchildren, Annette and Lori Smith, Lindsey and Ashley Zblewski, Carlee, Kendall and Sidney Wedemeier, Allix, Jared and Megan Standiford; two sisters-in-law, Thelma Vandervort of Milwaukee and Virginia Clay of Tomah. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Dale Vandervort and her twin brother Fred Vandervort; and two sisters, Helen Bochardt and Willene Vroman.

Funeral services were held today (Thursday), March at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 1105 Butts Ave., Tomah. Pastor William F. Swan officiated. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Relatives and friends called at the First United Methodist Church on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. The Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements."

She was buried on 22 March 2007 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁹ in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Roland Arthur "Red" CLAY and Freda Griggs VANDERVORT (+) (~) had the following children: