William Pratt Claybourn

Place of Birth

Jefferson County, Illinois
Place of Death

Butte, Montana
Burial Place

Mount Moriah Cemetery

William Pratt Claybourn (“Bill”) was born in Jefferson County, Illinois, on 25 December 1844. On 12 August 1862, at the age of 18, he enlisted to fight in the Civil War with his brother James Harrison Claybourn. The two brothers enlisted with Company H of the 80th Illinois Infantry Regiment and served in that unit until the close of the war in 1865. Read the biography of his brother James for a more complete description of the regiment’s activities during the war. Bill’s description as it appears on his record is 5’6″ tall, with auburn hair, hazel eyes, and fair complexion.

Bill married Mary Jane Cornelius McMillan on 26 September 1866.¹ By 1877 he was managing the agency for Studebaker wagons at Foxville, Illinois, near Walnut Hill. Joseph Monroe Claybourn, his younger brother, lived with him and worked for him. In about 1881 Bill moved to a small farm near Mt. Vernon. His wife’s health failed, and about in 1884 they, with Sally and Newt Hawkins (his sister and brother-in-law) and about six other families, went in covered wagons to Kansas where they homesteaded about 30 miles south of Garden City.

William Boyer, Claybourn’s son-in-law, went to Butte, Montana, which was booming at the time. He sent for the others and in about 1888 or 1889 they moved to Montana. All of Bill Claybourn’s immediate descendants except two lived in or are buried in Butte. Boyer and Bill Claybourn were carpenters. Bill died on 11 February 1900 and Mary died on 5 December 1918. Both are buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Butte, Montana.

Descendants

Iva A. Claybourn was born on 29 July 1867 and died in 1869.
Zorah F. Claybourn was born on 25 September 1869 in Illinois, probably in Warren County. She married William St. Clair Boyer in about 1886, probably in Kansas.²William Boyer was born on 9 August 1863 in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. More on William’s heritage can be found here. The couple had ten children, all listed below. Zorah died on 27 July 1926 and William followed on 29 November 1948, both in Butte, Montana. Both are buried there in Mount Moriah Cemetery.
1. First born died at birth.
2. Pearl Rosetta Boyer was born on 19 December 1888 in Kansas. She married Walter Henry Smith, a native of New Zealand, on 19 December 1907 in Butte, Montana.³Walter Smith was born on 18 February 1885 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. Together they had four children, listed below. Pearl died on 6 August 1923 in Butte, Montana. She is buried there in Mount Moriah Cemetery. Walter died on 27 September 1961 in Seattle, Washington.
  1. Walter St. Clair Smith, born on 14 September 1908 in Butte, Montana. He married Dorothy Isabelle Sanger on 22 September 1934.⁴ They had five children: Walter, Leslie, Louis, Jim, and Jean. Dorothy died on 4 January 1975 and Walter died on 21 January 1997, both in Seattle, Washington. They are buried together in Holyrood Catholic Cemetery in King County, Washington.
  2. John Henry Smith was born on 18 May 1914 in Butte, Montana. He married in North Bend, Washington, on 9 September 1937 to Irene Luellen Trombley (born on 7 November 1914 in Monroe, Washington). They lived in Rockport, Washington, where John worked as a logger, other than a couple years during World War II when he worked in Seattle, Washington, for Boeing Company. Later in life the couple lived in Renton, Washington, and John worked for Seattle City Light. They had two children, listed below. John Henry Smith died on 31 December 2000 and Irene died on 25 January 2011, both in Renton, Washington.
    1. Sharon Joy Smith was born on 16 July 1938 in Seattle, Washington. She married on 27 April 1957 to John Henry Harris (born on 29 January 1936 in Concrete, Washington). They divorced on 31 July 2001.
      1. Julie Ann Harris was born on 1 August 1958 in Mt. Vernon, Washington. She married in June 1978 to Oliver Wendell Gray (born on 5 October 1958). They had two children: (a) Jeremy Oliver Gray (born on 10 August 1980), Jeremy Gray married Chala Louisa Ogg (born on 11 August 1982) and they had two children: Riley Christopher Gray (born on 2 August 2000) and Brady Oliver Gray (born on 2 April 2007). Melissa Marie Gray (born on 29 March 1982),⁵ and (c) Trevor Michael Gray (born on 20 April 1987).
      2. Barbra Jean Harris was born on 5 September 1959 and died on 3 November 1959.
      3. Francis Jean Harris was born on 8 February 1961. She married (1st) to Leonard Oliver Stolen and they had two children: Leonard Lee Stolen (born on 20 July 1980) and Levi John Stolen (born on 13 November 1985). Francis married (2nd) to Todd Slusser and they later divorced.
      4. John Henry Harris Jr. was born on 19 November 1962. He married Stephanie Burg and they had three children before later divorcing. Their children were John Henry Harris III (born on 12 March 1990), Jessica Lane Harris (born on 8 March 1992), and Matthew Alexander Harris (born on 30 September 1993).
    2. Geraldine Kay Smith was born on 8 February 1944 and died in May 1954 of chronic nephritis.
  3. Zorah Pearl Smith was born on 4 September 1916 in Butte, Montana. She married Joseph H. Harris on 15 January 1939 in King County, Washington.⁶Joseph Harris was born on 2 September 1897 in Nova Scotia, Canada (English) and died on 23 January 1978 in Issaquah, Washington. He was previously married and divorced, with three children. Zorah and Joseph had a daughter, Carol. Zorah died on 6 October 1984 in Issaquah, Washington.
    1. Carol Patricia Harris was born on 16 February 1942. She married (1st) in 1963 to Grant Barrie and they had a daughter, Kimberly Joe Barrie, on 7 June 1968. She married (2nd) for about a year to Joe Ange. She then married (3rd) Robert Eugene Evans (“Bob”) (born on 15 June 1936). Carol and Bob divorced and then re-married.
  4. Myrtle Rosena Smith was born on 6 February 1919 in Butte, Montana. She married (1st) to George H. Bartling (1911-1997) on 7 April 1938 in King County, Washington. They had a daughter named Ginger. Myrtle and George divorced in about 1945. Myrtle married (2nd) Eugene “Gene” Filar.⁷Gene Filar was born on 2 May 1914 in Bristol County, Massachusetts. They lived in Bakersfield, California, where he worked as a carpenter through his death there on 14 May 1988. Myrtle died on 4 April 1995 in Oregon House, California.
    1. Virginia Lee Bartling (“Ginger”) was born on 15 August 1941. She was married several times and one of her husbands was Paul Ryder Jenkins. Together they had a son, Ely Ryder Jenkins, on 20 January 1972.
3. Lewis Pratt Boyer was born on 16 July 1890 in Butte, Montana. He married Nora A. Nelson on 16 September 1915.⁸Norah Nelson was born on 3 October 1891 in New York. They had two sons, listed below. Lewis died on 2 July 1964 and Nora followed on 11 January 1978, both in Butte, Montana. They are both buried there in Mount Moriah Cemetery.
  1. Ralph Orville Boyer was born on 26 June 1916 in Butte, Montana. He enlisted in the U.S. Army for World War II on 12 September 1944 at Fort Douglas, Utah, indicating he was married. Butte city directories from the 1950’s show his wife’s name was Marie A. and Montana death records show that she was born in about 1920 and died on 7 June 1975. Ralph died on 24 October 1990 in Butte, Montana. Both are buried there in Mount Moriah Cemetery.
4. Blanche Boyer Martin was born on 23 March 1892 in Butte, Montana. She married Charles Stapp Martin on 10 August 1921 in Powell County, Montana.⁹ The couple had no children. Charles died on 9 July 1937 and Blanche died in 1960, both in Butte, Montana. They are both buried there in Mount Moriah Cemetery.
5. Robert Lester St. Clair Boyer (“Les”) was born on 5 April 1894 in Silver Bow Co, Montana. He married Mary E. “Mollie” O’Brien on 1 July 1916 in Deer Lodge Co, Montana.¹⁰ The marriage lasted through 1926 with no children shown and they seemed to have separated by the 1930 census. As of the 1940 census Les was married to Ora M. (last name unknown).¹¹ Ora died on 11 December 1984 and Les died on 29 March 1967, both in Butte, Montana. They are buried there in Holy Cross Cemetery.
6. Orval Francis Boyer was born on 5 April 1897 in Silver Bow County, Montana. He died on 8 September 1913 and is buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Butte, Montana.
7. Murrial Frances Boyer was born on 12 June 1899 in Butte, Montana. She married James Raymond “Ray” Buckley on 20 February 1917 in Silver Bow County, Montana. Ray died on 11 June 1965 in Compton, Los Angeles County, California, where he had worked as a ship fitter. Murrial died on 12 December 1979 in Redding, Shasta County, California. They are buried in All Souls Cemetery in Los Angeles County, California.
  1. John Raymond Buckley was born on 26 June 1918 in Butte, Montana.
  2. James Otto Buckley was born on 30 May 1931 in Gila County, Arizona.
8. Everett Richard Boyer (“Dick”) was born on 29 May 1901 in Silver Bow County, Montana. His Social Security records give his name as Richard Joseph Boyer (as of June 1941) but most other records use Everett Richard Boyer and indicate he went by Dick. He married Mary C. Farren on 27 November 1924.¹²Mary Farren was born on 4 April 1905 in Silver Bow County, Montana. They had two sons, listed below. Mary died on 10 November 1952. He later married Doris Mayer on 16 April 1953.¹³Doris Mayer was born on 1 April 1907 in Silver Bow County, Montana, had previously been married and divorced from John E Ramsey. Doris died on 3 September 1970 and Dick died in October of 1969, both in Phoenix, Arizona.
  1. Everett Richard Boyer Jr. was born on 1 October 1925 in Butte, Montana. Everett died on 2 April 1996 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Some records indicate he married and had three children.
  2. William St. Clair Boyer was born on 9 August 1929 in Butte, Montana.
9. Melville Norris Boyer was born on 25 December 1906 in Butte, Montana. Melville died on 9 February 1916 in Butte, Montana. He is buried there in Mount Moriah Cemetery.
10. Zorah Genevieve Boyer was born on 17 May 1909 in Silver Bow County, Montana. She first married (1st) Robin Adair Kelley on 16 May 1934 in Butte, Montana.¹⁴Robin Kelley was born on 2 February 1912 in Butte, Montana. They divorced within a few years because by the 1940 census he is living in Albuquerque with a different wife.¹⁵Robin Kelley died in August of 1976 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She married (2nd) Albert Charles Murrish on 8 June 1940 in Butte, Montana and together they had two children, listed below.¹⁶Albert Murrish was born on 23 May 1908 in Butte, Montana. Zorah died on 16 December 1980 in Sanders County, Montana. Albert died on 25 September 1997 in Cascade County, Montana. Zorah and her husband Albert Charles Murrish are buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Silver Bow County.
  1. Helen Blanche Murrish was born on 23 March 1941 in Butte, Montana. Some records suggest she lived for a time in Fair Oaks, California.
  2. Albert Charles Murrish Jr. was born on 7 March 1943 in Butte, Montana.
Robert E. Claybourn was born on 27 August 1871 and died in 1873, all in Illinois.
John Scott Claybourn (“Jack”) was born on 9 April 1874 in Jefferson County, Illinois. He married Mary “May” Kurvink on 8 June 1901 in Butte, Montana.¹⁷ She was a proprietor of a boarding house in Butte. They had divorced by 1905. Jack then married Elsie M. Aldrige on 24 September 1910 in Butte, Montana.¹⁸ Elsie died on 1 June 1959 in Missoula County, Montana. Jack died on 5 December 1919 in Deer Lodge County, Montana. After Jack’s death she married again.¹⁹ Jack Claybourn had no children from either marriage.
Archabel A. Claybourn was born on 5 July 1877 in Illinois, but died the same year.
Myrtle Pratt Claybourn Daniels was born on 5 July 1877 in Illinois. Myrtle married (1st) on 6 January 1900 in Silver Bow county, Montana, to Gideon R. Livingston (born in about 1866 in Ontario County, New York). They divorced before the 1900 census taken in June. Myrtle married (2nd) on 9 July 1917 to John (“Jack”) Daniels, who was born in Wales.²⁰ They were living in Seattle, Washington as of the 1920 census, but moved to Oakland, California by 1930. Myrtle died on 18 February 1942 and Jack died on 3 April 1944, both in Oakland, California.
Harry Lester Claybourn (“Les”) was born on 11 February 1880. He was an avid baseball player and, according to a newspaper article written after his death, Les started playing when he was old enough to handle a bat. He was a star on the Butte Reduction Works team. After the team was disbanded, Les went to work as stage carpenter at the old Grand Theater. Later he was property man at the Broadway and Empress Theaters. He constructed the ring at the Empress that was later used by the Manhattan Athletic Club. Harry married (1st) Mary Luscinda Harrington (“Mae”) on 5 April 1903.²¹Mae Harrington was born on 23 June 1883 in Deer Lodge County, Montana. They had three children, listed below. Mae died on 8 November 1912 in Butte, Montana. She is buried there in Mount Moriah Cemetery. Les later married (2nd) Margaret “Maggie” Sennett (his deceased brother’s widow) on 10 May 1917.²²Maggie Sennett was born on 24 June 1885 in Rock Island County, Illinois. Before marrying Everett Claybourn and Les Claybourn, she first married Bernard Barish on 2 January 1904 in Butte, Montana. He was born about 1885 in England and died on 24 August 1908 in Butte, Montana. They had two sons. Joseph Barish was born on 14 June 1904 and died on 27 January 1907, both in Butte, Montana. He is buried there in B’Nai Israel Cemetery. Bernard Barish, who was born on 2 January 1907 and died 16 February 1987 in Kingman, Mohave County, Arizona. They had one child, Myrtle, listed below. Les died on 19 September 1922 in Butte at the age of 41 years old while living at 2721 Goodwin St., Floral Park. A local news article recounts his death – which occurred on the bench during a baseball game – in great detail. It notes that Les was survived by five children, which is a reference to his step-son Bernard Barish (1907-1987), a son of his second wife from her first marriage in 1904 to Bernard Barish (1885-1908).
1. Elton Charles Claybourn was born on 17 April 1904 in Butte, Montana to Les and Mae Claybourn. He married Eula Bentley on 28 May 1928 in King County, Washington.²³ They are listed as living in Seattle in 1929 and San Francisco in 1930. After 1930 there is no apparent record of Eula. Elton shows up in the records of the crew lists of various ships through 1955, the first of which occurs in May 1937 indicating he had served for seven years. Elton died on 22 September 1962 in Los Angeles, California.
2. Thelma Kathryn Claybourn was born on 12 December 1905 in Butte, Montana to Les and Mae Claybourn. She married Francis Vincent “Frank” Dunn on 10 July 1923 in Butte, Montana.²⁴Frank Dunn was born on 27 December 1902 in Boulder, Colorado. They had eight children together. Thelma was active in the Navy Mothers during WWII and enjoyed camping, fishing, and art crafts. She worked as a nurse’s aide in the Community Hospital and at the Silver Bow Hospital until she retired in 1967. Frank died on 16 December 1972 and Thelma died on 8 January 1990, both in Butte, Montana. They are buried there together in Holy Cross Cemetery.
  1. Thelma Cecila Dunn was born on 3 September 1924 in Butte, Montana. She married Richard Dale Houts on 25 June 1947.²⁵ Thelma died on 18 October 2000 and Richard died on 24 March 2009, both in Reno, Nevada.
  2. James Lester Dunn was born on 14 July 1926 in Butte, Montana. He married Drea J. Belangie on 15 March 1948 in Butte, Montana.²⁶ James died on 18 July 1974 and Drea died on 25 April 2003, both in Butte, Montana. They are buried together there in Mount Moriah Cemetery.
  3. Frank Elton Dunn was born on 24 June 1928 in Butte, Montana. He married Catherine Ann Varelia on 19 May 1950 in Butte, Montana.²⁷ Frank was kicked in the head by a bronco after being thrown in a rodeo and died the next day on 29 June 1957. He is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Butte, Montana. Catherine died on 27 November 2009 in Butte, Montana. They had one son. After Frank’s death Catherine married William Maloney and had several more children.
  4. Margaret Elaine Dunn was born on 20 October 1930 in Butte, Montana. She married Milton Carol Morley on 13 March 1948.²⁸ Milton died on 7 December 1959 in Butte, Montana. She then married Robert Lyle Rowe.²⁹ Margaret died 14 February 1986 and Robert died on 12 May 1998, both in Butte, Montana. Margaret is buried there in Holy Cross Cemetery.
  5. Edward Dunn was born on 15 May 1933 in Butte, Montana. He married a woman named Gloria.
  6. Leona Dunn was born on 7 August 1935 in Butte, Montana. She married Paul Martinez.
  7. Joyce Myrtle Dunn was born on 31 January 1938 in Butte, Montana. She married (1st) in 1957 to Virgil D. Merrill (1935-1959), who died in Yellowstone and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery. She married (2nd) on 11 February 1961 in Butte to James Fayette Ruckdaschel (1935-2005). Joyce gave birth to three daughters, as well as one son who died at birth. Joyce died on 8 March 2014 in Butte and is buried there with James in Holy Cross Cemetery.
  8. William Charles Dunn was born on 29 August 1940 and died on 22 August 1947, both in Butte, Montana. He is buried there in Holy Cross Cemetery.
3. John “Jonnie” Claybourn was born on 5 August 1910 and died on 24 August 1910, both in Butte, Montana. He is buried there in Mount Moriah Cemetery.
4. Myrtle Claybourn was born on 28 September 1918 in Butte, Montana to Les and Maggie. She married John Frederick Buck on 30 January 1942 in Butte.³⁰ Myrtle died on 20 December 1965 in Seattle, Washington, and Myrtle’s mother Maggie died in Seattle the following year on 15 November 1966. They are both buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in King County, Washington. John died on 20 May 1984 in Everett, Washington.
Everett Elton Claybourn was born on 19 April 1883 in Jefferson County, Illinois. Everett was rated a very good soft shoe dancer. He married Margaret “Maggie” Sennett on 9 May 1911.³¹ The couple had no children together. Everett died on 15 April 1915 in Butte, Montana. His is buried there in Mount Moriah Cemetery. As noted above, Maggie would later marry her brother-in-law Les.

Mary “Mae” Harrington, Les Claybourn’s first wife.

Footnotes

1
Mary McMillan was born on 11 May 1848 in Illinois.
2
William Boyer was born on 9 August 1863 in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. More on William’s heritage can be found here.
3
Walter Smith was born on 18 February 1885 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.
4
Dorothy Sanger was born on 3 October 1914 in Silver Bow County, Montana. The two married in Silver Bow County, Montana.
5
Melissa married Jesse Lee McClenahan (born on 6 December 1979) and they had two children: Madison Marie McClanahan (born on 5 July 2006) and Ryan Lee McClanahan (born on 27 February 2008).
6
Joseph Harris was born on 2 September 1897 in Nova Scotia, Canada (English) and died on 23 January 1978 in Issaquah, Washington.
7
Gene Filar was born on 2 May 1914 in Bristol County, Massachusetts.
8
Norah Nelson was born on 3 October 1891 in New York.
9
Blanche Martin was born on 25 January 1890 in Kansas City, Missouri.
10
Mollie O’Brien was born in April of 1898 in Butte, Montana.
11
Ora was born on 10 April 1904 in Montana. At some point, most likely after her first husband’s death, she married John Samuel Caddy, born 1 November 1902 in Silver Bow Co., Montana. John died in March of 1985 in Butte, Montana.
12
Mary Farren was born on 4 April 1905 in Silver Bow County, Montana.
13
Doris Mayer was born on 1 April 1907 in Silver Bow County, Montana, had previously been married and divorced from John E Ramsey.
14
Robin Kelley was born on 2 February 1912 in Butte, Montana.
15
Robin Kelley died in August of 1976 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
16
Albert Murrish was born on 23 May 1908 in Butte, Montana.
17
Mary Kurvink was born in about 1861 in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. She was previously married on 9 October 1878 in Plymouth County, Iowa to John David Szitnick (1855-1917).
18
Elsie Aldrige was born in September of 1881 in Kansas. She had previously married James Calvin Hungate (1872-1924) on 26 August 1900 in Beaverhead County, Montana but had divorced by 1910.
19
She married Joseph P. Longley (1874-1947) on 16 September 1920 in Butte, Montana.
20
Jack Daniels was born on 1 January 1869 in Wales.
21
Mae Harrington was born on 23 June 1883 in Deer Lodge County, Montana.
22
Maggie Sennett was born on 24 June 1885 in Rock Island County, Illinois. Before marrying Everett Claybourn and Les Claybourn, she first married Bernard Barish on 2 January 1904 in Butte, Montana. He was born about 1885 in England and died on 24 August 1908 in Butte, Montana. They had two sons. Joseph Barish was born on 14 June 1904 and died on 27 January 1907, both in Butte, Montana. He is buried there in B’Nai Israel Cemetery. Bernard Barish, who was born on 2 January 1907 and died 16 February 1987 in Kingman, Mohave County, Arizona.
23
Eula Bentley was born in about 1907 in King County, Washington.
24
Frank Dunn was born on 27 December 1902 in Boulder, Colorado.
25
Richard Houts was born on 4 July 1926.
26
Drea Belangie was born on 1 August 1925 in Butte, Montana.
27
Catherine Varelia was born on 30 September 1928 in Deer Lodge County, Montana.
28
Milton Morley was born on 30 November 1927 in Washoe County, Nevada.
29
Robert Rowe was born on 30 August 1921 in Butte, Montana.
30
John Buck was born on 9 November 1914 in Butte, Montana.
31
Maggie Sennett was born on 24 June 1885 in Rock Island County, Illinois. She was the widow of Bernard Barish (1885-1908), with a young son Bernard Barish (1907-1987).