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Show Judge Clay, 95 Closes Colorful Career Friday Elwin W. Clay, 95, early Utah territorial judge and rancher in west Millard , died Friday about 9 p. m. in the Milford hospital o'f causes incident to age. He had been there for the past year. His long life had spanned colorful color-ful years, and he was a well known and highly esteemed figure. fig-ure. His hospitality and friendship were valued by a wide circle of friends. He was born in Adrian, Mich., June 5, 1857. He came west with his parents, via the overland route when he was 4 years old. For several sev-eral years he lived at San Luis Obispo, California, where he later was a jockey 'for a short time. When he was 15 years old he first came into tis country with a herd of horses. They drove them from California, and stopped near Monroe, Utah. These were the first dratt horses to he brought into Sevier valley. About 1876 he began working for the Willard Burbank ranch, one of the early larger ranches of Snake Valley. HOME AT BURBANK While working there he met Laura M. Burbank, and they were, married Dec. 31, 1884, at the Cleve land ranch in . White Pine county, Nevada. They moved into a log cabin he had built near a large spring on the ranch. This site later lat-er became the town of Burbank, Millard county. This was the first U. S. Post Office in that area, a stage station and a regular stopping stop-ping place for all travellers. Early travellers watered their horses at the spring, and through the years counties person's had stopped for a drink of the cool water and a visit with Mr. and Mrs.. Clay, who were known a'far for their kindliness and hospitality. The history of the Clay family is the history of Snake Valley. . The "Judge" and "Aunt Margie" as they were known to all, made their home the center of social life in that area. Hundreds of weddings were .performed in their living room, and dances were 'frequent 'fre-quent and welcome occasions, with Judge Clay providing music on his fiddle. APPOINTED JUDGE Before the turn of the century V. W Clav was lannointed the first territorial judge in that area. He figured in a few renegade Indian arrests and the apprehension of many early day bad men. Judge Clay was one of the 'first men to explore Lehman cave, at Baker, Nevada. His alst public appearance was there at Beaver County Day in 1949, when he was recognized and honored by Gov. J. Bracken Lee and Gov. Vail Pitt-man. Pitt-man. Judge Clayw as the last of the original Snake Valley pioneers. Mrs. Clay died Nov. 14, 1950. Surviving are two sons,, Leslie G.I Clay, Milford, and Burton Clay, Salt Lake City four grandchildren and six great grandchildren'. Funeral services were conducted Monday morning in Milford Methodist Meth-odist Church, by The Rev. Arthur Kent, pastor. Burial was in the cemetery at Garrison. |