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John Little Clayton Age 41 Native: Virginia Sept. 8, 1879 Accident. Enlisted: Company G 3rd West Virginia Infantry Occupation: Carpenter and Farmer.

John Clayton had a son C. Frank Clayton who was killed in an automobile accident in San Francisco February 4, 1939 at the age of 83. Frank Clayton's body was shipped back to Santa Cruz for interment at SCIOOF.

Editorial Notes from Robert L. Nelson (January 26, 2004)

John L "Cayton" Clayton was born in Marion Co Virginia about 1838. While farming in the area of Clarksburg VA in April of 1861, Virginia seceded from the union. Western counties of that state chose to remain in the union and on June 27, 1861 John enlisted as a drummer in Co. G of the 3rd West Virginia Mounted Infantry. After serving out the term of his enlistment, he re-enlisted as a Private in the Veteran Volunteers on Jan. 22, 1864. He was transferred into Co. B of the Sixth WV VV Cavalry when the two units were consolidated on January 26, 1864. John Clayton probably mustered out June 12, 1865 at the end of the war.

The Third WV Mounted Infantry was organized as a regiment of Virginians loyal to the federal government and was first called the Third Virginia Infantry. During the war they protected the border counties and participated in most of the campaigns in the mountains and Shenandoah Valley. On January 26, 1864 they were consolidated with the Sixth WV Cavalry and assumed that name. They continued to serve in that area and in June 1865 they were moved to Washington DC where many of the veterans were mustered out. The unit was then transferred to Kansas where it remained until 1866. The exact date of John's discharge has not been determined.

Date of Birth: 1838

Date of Death: 1879-09-08

County: Santa Cruz

Cemetery/City of Burial: Soquel Cemetery

Occupation: Farmer

Last City: Soquel

Native of: VA

Enlisted: 1861/06/27

Discharged: 1865/06/12

Military Unit: WV_ 3 Inf_ Co G

Rank: Pvt

Military Notes: Also 6th WV 01/1864

GAR#: N/R

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: SEN 1895/06/30