Clay County 1858 and Walton County 1824 Founding Connections

Clay County was created as Florida's 37th County on December 31, 1858.
Clay County and Walton County, Florida have a historical connection through their namesakes. Walton County's namesake George Walton Jr.'s daughter, Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert, dedicated the statue of Henry Clay at memorial service in New Orleans in 1856. Clay's statue is now in LaFayette Square. I visited the Williams Research Center and printed copy off microfiche of "THE COURIER IS PUBLISHED DAILY, At No 80, Chartres-street. NEW ORLEANS: Thursday, April 7, 1825." The Waltons, Clay and LaFayette were all friends. Octavia had gone to see LaFayette in Mobile from her home in Pensacola, Florida. LaFayette was expected in New Orleans after his Mobile stop. "The Courier" printed on its front page "We have been informed by a gentleman arrived from Mobile, that the steamboat Natchez, capt. Davis, which left here on Saturday last, for the purpose of conducting General La Fayette to this place, had arrived at Mobile on Sunday afternoon. General La Fayette was expected in Mobile on the 9th." A later front page story said, "On Wednesday, Mr. Secretary Clay, and Mr. Secretary Barbour 

entered upon the discharge of the duties of the Department of State ... " Octavia and Clay often met socially in New Orleans. Walton County, Florida was founded Dec. 29, 1824 as Florida's Eighth County. Today if you take the St. Charles Streetcar in New Orleans, you will find Clay and Octavia streets side by side. ​

​Original research and photographs by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida (including Signature of George Walton, Jr.)