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==Clayton area history==Clayton, Iowa is in the same county as Garnavillo, where [[Garnavillo Gospel Hall, IA|Garnavillo Gospel Hall]] has operated served for many years, as the second assembly planted by [[Oliver Garfield Smith]]. 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 Gospel Hall was the firstfruits of [[Oliver Garfield Smith|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."
===Letters of Interest===
A series entitled Pioneer Work in Iowa by W.R. Simpson , in September 1946, credits [[Oliver Garfield Smith |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. Not certain this is the same one.
==Possible alumni==