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==Oliver Smith's evangelism==
Clayton Gospel Hall was the firstfruits of Oliver Smith's evangelistic ministry, which produced an assembly. He writes, "During the Winter of the year 1918 we began a few meetings in a schoolhouse in Clayton, Iowa, and God began to work from the very start of the meetings, and saved five souls before the end of the week. It was a great encouragement to us to see God's willingness and power to save through the Name of His dear Son.
One of these five was a drinking railroad man ([[Edward Osthoff]]) who today is living to 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 the 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 may have started in 1918 at the conclusion of the initial Gospel meetings that saw five saved, and fifteen later. It 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. The assembly presumably existed thru 1952 when Edward Ostoff died.
===Edward Osthoff===