JOHN BELL CLAYTON There must be times when local historians need a swift kick in the pants for not remembering certain things.
Some years ago I entered the name Charles M. Manley for recognition as the inventor of the radial engine for aircraft. I have contended that the City of Staunton Virginia ought to have at least a marker of some sort recognizing the talents and accomplishments of this interesting personality. He, perhaps, suffered a bad press during his lifetime when he was often pictured as the pilot on Langley's non-flyable aircraft. There are prints and even a newsreel or two showing Manley as the man in the bay after a typical Langley launching. The last column did on Manley was in June of 2003. You can reread it simply by going to "Google" and asking for it.
I have another name I want to suggest for recognition. This one is for all of the Valley of Virginia area, but it centers on Staunton because John Bell Clayton lived in Augusta County.
Clayton was born in Craigsville,Virginia passed away some years ago in Los Angeles,California in a different world from formative years. Among his many writings are three novels. The very titles suggest both action and nostalgia and he did well in both areas. One was called "Six Angels At My Back", another was: "Wait Son. October Is Near" and a third was called "Walk Toward The Rainbow."
His wife Martha Carmichael Clayton had a brother we all know and remember by the odd name of "Hoagy"...that's right...the pianist and the composer of "Stardust" and other song favorites we all revere. He had a sister who lived in Deerfield, Va. nearby - Mrs. Mary Bartley. Clayton attended Churchville High School, then Dunsmore Business Collge in Staunton. From there he entered the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va and after three years joined the staff of the city's daily newspaper The Charlottesville "Daily-Progress". He served as Managing Editor there . He later worked for the Scripts-Howard "News" in Washington,D.C. and he was associated with the production of Robert Allen's "Washington-Merry-Go-Round". He worked for at time with United Press in Philadelphia and with "The Examiner"in San Francisco - all the while gathering absorbing a rich store of genuine Americana and local lore which, then, showed up in his numerous short stories.
You and I may have some of those stories,too They appeared in the nation's finest magazines "Collier's", "Harper's", "The American "Mercury" and "Esquire".
John Clayton, of Craigsville-Churchville,Va. Lets not allow the values he held so dear pass us by.
A.L.M. April 21,2006 [c449wds]
