Third Generation

27. Francelia BENNETT was born on 7 August 1858 in Angelo Township, Monroe County, WI.^18,53,54,55 She appeared in the census in 1860 in Angelo Township, Monroe County, WI.²¹ She appeared in the census in 1870 in Eaton Township, Monroe County, WI.²² Francelia appeared in the census in 1880 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁸ She appeared in the census in 1900 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁶ She appeared in the census in 1910 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁰ Francelia appeared in the census in 1920 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁰ She was living with her daughters Ellen and Anna at the household of her son-in-law, Emil Vandervort, at the time of the 1920 Census (the Census taker listed Emil as "head of household," even though they were all living in Francelia's home). She died on 1 February 1930 at the age of 71 in Kirby, Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.^53,54 She was buried on 4 February 1930 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^35,53 in the LaGrange Township Cemetery.

Francelia BENNETT and Francis "Frank" CLAY Jr. were married on 1 January 1878 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{42,56,57,58,59,60} At the time of their marriage, they both resided in Lincoln Township. Their wedding was conducted by H. A. Sowle, Esq.

In the late-1870's, Frank was one of four organizers of the Kirby Union Church. The church had affiliation with no church and had only the stipulation that it could be used by those of any denomination except Mormon. The first donors gave fifty dollars each; others gave as they wished. Within a years's time, the red brick building had been completed, dedicated and paid for. Mr. Clay gave, instead of cash, all of the chairs for the new church. Francis "Frank" CLAY Jr., son of Francis CLAY and Eleanor BLAKEWELL, was born on 19 December 1844 in North Rauceby, North Kesteven District, Lincolnshire, England.^53,54,59,60 (He may have been born in North Rauceby.) (The 1880 Census lists his age as 33, indicating he would have been born in 1846 or 1847.) He appeared in the census in 1851 in Lincolnshire, England.⁵⁵ He emigrated in April 1873 from England, United Kingdom.^53,59,60 Between 1873 and 1914 Frank was a farmer in Lincoln Township in Kirby, Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.^53,54,59 Mr. Clay was a pioneer in breeding, taking pride in his purebred shorthorn cattle. A stockyard was operated by Wallace Taft in North Tomah, near the Northwest Railroad. Francis, his boys and a well-trained dog walked dirt roads and drove their cattle to be sold.

At the Monroe County Fair in 1897, he had the following exhibits: 29 Poland China hogs, 14 Shorthorns, and 41 sheep of the Shropshire and Cotswold breeds. He appeared in the census in 1880 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁸ He appeared in the census in 1900 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁶ ^61,62 His farm was located in Section 31 of Lincoln Township. Frank appeared in the census in 1910 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁰ He died on 2 December 1914 at the age of 69 in Kirby, Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.^{4,53,55,60,63,64} Obituary Notes: "Francis Clay, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of the town of Lincoln, died at his home near Kirby on Wednesday, December 2, after an illness of about five weeks with pleuro-pneumonia. Decedent was a native of England, born at Rauceby, Lincolnshire,December 19, 1844.

He came to American in 1873, landing in this country on Easter Sunday. Shortly afterward, he came to Wisconsin and settled on the farm in the town of Lincoln, this county, which has been his home ever since.

Mr. Clay was married at Tomah January 1, 1878, to Francelia Bennett. To them were born five children, viz: John, Frank, Ellen, Anne and Mary, all of whom are still living. Besides his widow and children, he leaves one sister, Mrs. Anne Rollinson, Aisby, Grantham, Lincolnshire, England; and eight grandchildren.

The funeral took place at the Kirby church on Saturday December 5, Rev. Jonathan G. Smith of the Tomah Congregational Church officiating. There was a very large attendance and many tributes of respect and love for the deceased. The Knights of Pythias lodge of this city of which deceased was a member, was represented by a delegation which took charge of the last rites. The interment was at the La Grange Cemetery.

Mr. Clay was one of the most successful of our farmers, specializing in the line of stock raising. He was the pioneer in the breeding of thoroughbred stock in this part of the county and did more than anyone else to promote the stock-raising interests. He was an intelligent and public-spirited citizen, serving his town in many ways, a man of unquestioned integrity and character above reproach. His kindness and generosity will be remembered by many whom it has helped and his death will be sincerely mourned not only in the community where he lived but by many friends in this city and parts of the county where he was well-known.

Mr. Clay was a pioneer in breeding, taking pride in his purebred shorthorn cattle. A stockyard was operated by Wallace Taft in North Tomah, near the Northwest Railroad. Francis, his boys and a well-trained dog walked dirt roads and drove their cattle to be sold. At the Monroe County Fair in 1897, he had the following exhibits: 29 Poland China hogs, 14 Shorthorns, and 41 sheep of the Shropshire and Cotswold breeds."

When he died, all of his property stayed in joint family hands. This arrangement did not work very well, and eventually his two sons, John and Frank, sued their mother and three sisters for a share of the estate. The Clay women kept the land, while the men got the purebred stock and financial compensation. He was buried in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁵ in the LaGrange Township Cemetery.

Francelia BENNETT and Francis "Frank" CLAY Jr. had the following children:

+60	i.	John Robert CLAY Sr..
61	ii.	Ellen Elizabeth CLAY was born on 6 June 1880 in Kirby, Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.^20,54 (This picture is of, from left, Anne, Mary and Ellen Clay.) She graduated in 1899 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁵ from Tomah High School. She was valedictorian of her class and the editor of the school magazine, "The Tattler." To further her education and improve her teaching skills, she attended Stevens Point Normal School, graduating in 1901. She appeared in the census in 1900 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁶ After 1901 Ellen was a school teacher in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^20,54,66 She taught in many schools around the state, and by 1914 had accepted a promising position in the Oconomowoc schools. However, when her father died in December 1914, she was needed at home and resigned her position. She was engaged to Roy Armstrong but released him from their engagement after medical problems in 1917. She resumed teaching in the Tomah area and retired in June 1950, at the age of 70. During her teaching career, she boarded all of her nieces and nephews in Tomah so that they could receive a high school education. She knitted mittens for generations of nieces, nephews, nieces, grandnieces and grandnephews. She wrote a "History of Kirby" and a Clay family history entitled "Lest We Forget." During her lifetime, she traveled to England on the SS Mauritania to meet her English relatives, to the St. Louis World's Fair with her father in 1904, to visit the John Mussons in Tennessee, and to the West Coast. She was a kind and gentle lady of great intelligence. She appeared in the census in 1920 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁰ She appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁶ She was a lodger at the home of Winton Benjamin at 1205 Stoughton Avenue. Ellen appeared in the census in 1940 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁷ She was living with her sister Mary. No occupation was listed for her, but her total wages in 1939 were $765 for 36 weeks of work (as a school teacher). She died on 27 June 1963 at the age of 83 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^4,54 She was buried in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^35,68 in the LaGrange Township Cemetery.
+62	iii.	Theressa "Anne" CLAY.
+63	iv.	Francis "Frank" CLAY.
+64	v.	Mary "Mud" CLAY.