 William Clayton LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson, Vol. 1, p.717-719
Clayton, William, a prominent Elder in the Church, was born July 17, 1814, at Penwortham, Lancashire, England. When the first Latter-day Saint missionaries arrived in England in 1837, Wm. Clayton was among the first to embrace the doctrines of the restored gospel, and soon after his baptism he was ordained to the Priesthood and sent out to labor as a missionary. In March, 1838, when Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde returned to America and left Joseph Fielding in charge of the British mission, Wm. Clayton was appointed to act as second counselor to Pres. Joseph [p.718] Fielding, which position he occupied until the arrival of the Twelve in 1840. In October, 1838, he quitted his temporal business to give himself wholly to the ministry, and he soon commenced preaching and baptizing in Manchester. Eighteen months later (April 15, 1840), he reported 240 members in the branch he had built up in that city. Being honorably released from his missionary labors in Great Britain he emigrated to America, sailing from Liverpool, England, in the ship "North America," Sept. 8, 1840, and arrived in Nauvoo, Ill., in December of that year. Locating temporarily on the west side of the Mississippi river he was chosen clerk of the High Council in Iowa in July, 1841, but he soon became a permanent citizen of Nauvoo, where he, in June, 1842, succeeded Willard Richards as clerk to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Subsequently he was appointed clerk and recorder of the Nauvoo Temple, and was also elected treasurer of the city of Nauvoo. He was present when Joseph Smith received the revelation on celestial marriage, and was an intimate associate, and tried and trusted friend of the Prophet, to whom he continued to act as private secretary up to the time of the latter's martyrdom. While laboring in that capacity, he transcribed the revelation on celestial marriage and other revelations, under the Prophet's dictation and direction. At the time of the exodus from Nauvoo in 1846, Elder Clayton came west with the rest of the Saints and was a prominent figure in the "Camps of Israel," and at Winter Quarters. In 1847 he came to Great Salt Lake valley as one of the original pioneers under the immediate leadership of Pres. Brigham Young, and acted as clerk of the camp. He returned east the same year, but came to the Valley the second time in 1848, after which he resided permanently in Salt Lake City till the day of his death. He held various offices of public trust and responsibility in the community after his arrival in the Valley. Thus he served for several years as treasurer of Z. C. M. I.; for many years he was Territorial recorder of marks and brands, and up to a few months before his death (when he resigned his office on account of sickness) he held the position of Territorial Auditor of Public Accounts. Elder Clayton died at his home in the 17th Ward, Salt Lake City, Dec. 4, 1879. At the time of his demise the "Deseret News," speaking of him editorially, said: "He was a man of sterling integrity, remarkable ability, a faithful Latter-day Saint, and a good and useful citizen, whose death, though a happy relief from his sufferings, was felt deeply by hosts of personal friends." Elder Clayton left a large family (over thirty children), having during his lifetime married several wives. |
Biographies 
