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edits
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added Oliver Smith's recollections
==Clayton history==
Clayton, Iowa is in the same county as Garnavillo, where [[Garnavillo Gospel Hall, IA|Garnavillo Gospel Hall]] has operated for many years. It is located in Clayton County, Iowa in northeastern Iowa directly on the Mississippi River, and is only accessible via a very steep road. The population was 43 in the 2010 Census, down from 55 in the 2000 Census, though many others have summer homes there due to its proximity on the Mississippi River. The town was founded in 1849. In 1880, it had its peak population of 383, though shrinking to 170 by 1920, and has continued to shrink.
==Oliver Smith's evangelism==Clayton, Iowa is in the same county as Garnavillo, where [[Garnavillo Gospel Hallwas the firstfruits of Oliver Smith's evangelistic ministry, IA|Garnavillo Gospel Hall]] has operated for many yearswhich produced an assembly. It is located He writes, "During the Winter of the year 1918 we began a few meetings in a schoolhouse in Clayton County, Iowa in northeastern Iowa directly on the Mississippi River, and is only accessible via a God began to work from the very steep road. The population was 43 in start of the 2010 Censusmeetings, down from 55 in and saved five souls before the 2000 Census, though many others have summer homes there due to its proximity on end of the Mississippi Riverweek. The town It was founded in 1849a great encouragement to us to see God's willingness and power to save through the Name of His dear Son. In 1880, it had its peak population One of 383, though shrinking these five was a drinking railroad man ([[Edward Osthoff]]) who today is living to 170 by 1920, the praise and honor of God. Another man was a poor fisherman who also has proved that he was made rich through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as he has continued in the things of God to shrinkthe present day. From time to time I continued to go there until a number had professed... about twenty in all as I remember it. As a result of these meetings held there an Assembly was formed later on."
==Clayton Gospel Hall==
The assembly in Clayton was at least in operation by 1927, as per the assembly address book from that year, and continues to be listed in 1936, and 1943, but is absent by 1965.
===Edward Osthoff===
The correspondent in all three editions was [[Edward Osthoff]], Box 27. In 1930, Edward was working as a section foreman for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. His son, Edwin, was employed the same year as a foreman in the steam railroad industry. He and his wife Louisa Franz had two children, Edwin and Lorraine, before Louisa's premature death in 1909. In 1910, Edward remarried Frances E. Broessel, having one more daughter Vivian, never married. See Edward's bio for more detail.
===Letters of Interest===
A series entitled Pioneer Work in Iowa by W.R. Simpson , in September 1946, credits Oliver Smith for the start of the Clayton assembly, from the time of his conversion in 1913 at [[Waterloo Gospel Hall, IA|Waterloo]]. The Clayton assembly is on a list of “good-sized assemblies” as a fruit of Oliver’s, along with [[Manchester Gospel Hall, IA|Manchester]], [[Garnavillo Gospel Hall, IA|Garnavillo]], [[Stout Gospel Hall, IA|Stout]], [[Hitesville Gospel Hall, IA|Hitesville]], [[Aredale Gospel Hall, IA|Aredale]] and [[Cylinder Gospel Hall, IA|Cylinder]].
==Post-Clayton Gospel Hall==
In 1956, there was a “School of Missions” series teacher named Frances Osthoff that was honored at St. Luke’s Methodist in Dubuque.
==Possible alumni==
In 1930, Edward and Frances Osthoff had a boarder, an unmarried schoolteacher named [[Emma L. Jacobs]], who may have been in fellowship with the Clayton Assembly. In 1940, Emma was lodging with [[Mary Crefeld]] (1872-1945), still in Clayton, IA.
* Letters of Interest, 1946 September
* Oliver Smith's testimony concerning Clayton was originally written in 1929 entitled "Pioneering in Iowa", in a scrapbook entitled "With The Lord", compiled by Pauline Van Mill.