Clay, Henry De B
soldier, was born June 22, 1843, in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1860 he graduated from Mount Pleasant military academy of Sing Sing, N. Y. He served through the civil war as captain, and after the war accompanied his regiment to the frontier, and served in Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington territory, and signed from the army in 1870. In 1876 he was called to reorganize and command as colonel the Centennial Guards, a semi-military police of twelve hundred men. In 1883 he was president of the Eastern Lunatic asylum of Williamsburg, Va., and for two years was collector of customs at Newport News.
In 1885 he was commander of the G. A. R. department of Virginia and North Carolina, and received the re-election the following year. During 1891-96 he was president of the state league of republican clubs of Virginia, and for three years was again collector of customs at Newport News, during 1890-93.