The News-Sentinel 1959 - Fulton County Public Library

Monday, May 18, 1959
Bernard Clayton
Bernard CLAYTON, 72, a Rochester native who had purlished three Indiana newspapers
during a long journalistic career which began in this city, died during his sleep Sunday morning at
his home in Zionsville. He had been ill the past six months with lung cancer.
Mr. Clayton had been in retirement since 1955, when he sold The Zionsville Times, a
weekly newspaper, after 21 years as its publisher. He also had published The Akron News from
1919-22, leaving that weekly to purchase and operate The Tipton Tribune, a daily publication, for
another two years before going to Zionsville in 1924.
Born in Rochester on June 14, 1886, he was the son of George and Minnie STIEGLITZ
CLAYTON. After gradation from Rochester high school in 1906, he went to work for The
Rochester Sentinel under the late Henry A. BARNHART, publisher, and served as the paper’s city
editor until the outbreak of World War I.
During the first World War, Mr. Clayton served overseas as a field recreational
representative for the YMCA. Following the war he was employed on newspapers in Fort Wayne
before entering the publishing field with the purchase of The Akron News.
Mr. Clayton was active in many civic endeavors during his long residence in Zionsville,
helping that community to grow from a country town to its present status as a metropolitan
Indianapolis suburb. He was one of the founders of the Zionsville Lions club, served on the town
board, was a founder of the Zionsville fire department and still held honorary membership in the
department.
He was instrumental in orginating many community projects such as establishment of
youth recreational activities and the erection of the town’s modern water system. Long active in
Boone county Republican politics, Mr. Clayton had served several times as delegate to the State
GOP convention.
Mr. Clayton was a pioneer in the establishment of basketball as a community activity in
Rochester. He played in the independent league which was formed here in 1907, serving as a
center on the Manitou Rushers team. The sport then quickly caught on as a high school activity.
Mr. Clayton was a member of the Zionsville Methodist church and of the Zionsville
Masonic lodge.
He was married first to Lenora CONDON of Rochester. She died in April, 1953. His
second marriage was in 1956 to Jean GEMMER of Zionsville, who survives.
Also surviving are one son, Bernard CLAYTON, Jr., San Mateo, Cal.; one daughter, Mrs.
Walter (Martha) LaBORJE, Framingham, Mass.; five grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Marie
SISSON, Rochester; Mrs. Floyd (Nellie R.) DEARDORF, R.R. 2, Rochester, and Mrs. Harper
(Maude) ALBIN, Kansas City, and one brother, L. J. “Jay” CLAYTON, Rochester.
Private funeral services for the family only will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Flanner and
Buchanan Phillippi mortuary in Zionsville. The Rev. Robert W. SIEVERS will officiate and
cremation will follow. Interment of the ashes will be in the Zionsville cemetery.