Kentucky Clay: Eleven Generations of a Southern Dynasty

by Katherine R. Bateman

Book Overview

This sweeping history traces eleven generations of the Clays of Kentucky, a founding American family and Southern dynasty whose members include Henry Clay, who ran for president against James K. Polk; his cousin Cassius Marcellus Clay, a prominent abolitionist and Lincoln's advisor against slavery; and matriarch Kizzie Clay, who buried the family silver and escaped by flatboat to avoid marauding Union soldiers. The history of the early colonial...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1556527950
• ISBN13: 9781556527951
• Release Date: November 2008
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Fine Read, Genealogy Fans will Appreciate

Anyone who's ever engaged in researching family genealogy will find much of this book very interesting - the author is quite meticulous. Those interested in the history of the South, particularly Virginia and Tennessee, will enjoy the early chapters. Those interested in social aspects of American life, particularly the role woman play, will enjoy the entire book. I found it to be a very easy read and enjoyed it very much. History buffs who are interested in Henry Clay (the man who could have become President of the United States in the 1832 or 1844) will be disappointed as there is not much discussion of him (he's distant relative of the author).

Physically and verbally lush; great for all fans of american history.

I was impressed by Kentucky Clay for several reasons. For one, it details the story of eleven generations of the family that spawned Cassius Clay, infamous from the history of Lincoln. For another, my favorite aspects of history are the little-told stories, those tales of family members who lived average lives rather than the great magnates, presidents, etc. They are innumerably interesting to me for some reason. Kentucky Clay paints a vivid and poignant portrait of early settler history in the american south and east coast. I admit to not knowing much about the history of the South. This piqued my interest for that reason. The book is also a delight to hold and read from a more physical appeal. A large family tree fold-out is included and is masterfully done. The paper is high quality and nice against the fingertips. It reminded me of the simple joys inherent in reading books versus electronic versions, in a world where so many books are also mass-produced and cheap feeling. History books seem one of the last bastions of this art, alas. If you're greatly interested in early American history, and would enjoy learning more, this is a tremendous resource. Kentucky Clay is a reminder of how interconnected everything is, and of just how much one family can change history, and leave their own fingerprints there, lasting forever, much as a potter leaves theirs in real clay.

The difference between heritage and history.

This book gets five stars, because I think it does what it sets out to do. Don't look for any historical breakthroughs about Henry Clay or Cassius Clay. This is not a work of history but a work of heritage which seeks to find patterns in the dry family history, to flesh out the names on the ancestral chart, to find the discernable historical truth behind the family legends. We are all of the same clay, more closely related than you might think. Katherine Bateman provides a handy genealogical chart at the front of her book which includes many of the intermarried families, but that chart could easily be extended to include many other famous families as well, white, black, and red. Any reader who would like to see how these families connect to Kentucky's other famous/notorious families should not fail to read Chapter 3 of Alvin F. Harlow's WEEP NO MORE MY LADY. Again, this does not pretend to be a comprehensive history, but rather a work of family heritage. And as such, it is a splendid read.

Insights to a Southern Dynasty

I often feel like a voyeur when I read a good autobiography and this is no exception. Katherine Bateman is a wonderful storyteller and a compelling writer. She makes the reader feel as if one is a welcome guest having a long conversation with a favorite aunt. I was drawn to this book initially because it is about an old Kentucky family whose roots cover the same territory as my own. I spent many childhood summers ranging around Berea, Richmond, and some of the more "hillbilly" reaches of Kentucky. Bateman's story is not much different than what many geneologists uncover when they start digging into family history - unmentioned episodes of less than honorable actions by ancestors, the illegitimate or odd child, the death of the little Indian children, and in turn, the deaths of some of her own child ancestors by Indians. She also takes pride in her heritage, men of character and the history of strong women in her family. I have found that Southern women, in particular, exhibit an inner strength and fortitude that often seems lacking in other regional cultures. No story about Kentucky would be complete without mentioning the role the Civil War played in the family history. Although Kentucky was officially above the Mason-Dixon line, the division between North and South was very fuzzy for many residents. Bateman honestly depicts her own family's division over this national tragedy. In a time when most people barely know their grandparents or the names of their great-grandparents, in a time of becoming a nation of nomads, moving from one locale to another, this is a refreshing look in depth of one family's history in a place, and of a place. For those who may have preconceived notions of what it means to be a Kentuckian, Bateman's autobiography will shed light on a wonderful, multi-faceted area and people.

The Remarkable Journey of an Old American Family

OK, I am officially jealous! Katherine Bateman has done what I have dreamed of doing - taking my family history and writing it out in such a way that anyone - not just family members - would be interested in reading it. This is not a stodgy family history book filled with names and dates; it is something that, once I began to read, I had difficulty in putting down. As I read her "novel," I could see, just as Ms. Bateman could, her ancestors fighting the battles, dealing with the Indians, mourning the loss of children, and just plain living the everyday lives of our American pioneers. But, what I liked most about her stories is how she lets us know where she got her information and how she came to the conclusions that she did. Ms. Bateman's family history is all of our family history. And, contrary to today's PC police, it is something to be proud of - good and bad. Thank you, Ms. Bateman, for giving me the want to make the attempt to write out MY families' long journey from then til now in an exciting manner such as you have. (I promise that I will not plagiarize!!)