Ambrose Gilbert Clayton was born April 1, 1832 in Kentucky to Francis Huel "Frank" Clayton Sr and Elizabeth "Betsy" Bourland. Ambrose and Susan Ford were married in Marshall County, Kentucky on September 26, 1850. They had three children in Marshall, Samantha I (1851-), Richard A (1853-1972), and Sarah Elizabeth "Sadie" (1854-1928). Between September 1854-August 1857, Susan and Ambrose moved their family to Harristown, Macon County, Illinois where three children were born, Stephen Francis "Frank" (1857-1930), John Allen (1859-1936), and Julia Ann (1860-). On November 1, 1861, Ambrose enlisted in Civil War, Kentucky 6th Regiment and mustered out November 15, 1862. The couple had a son later that December, William (1862-1948). Between January 1863 and February 1864, the family moved from Harristown to Illiopolis, Sangamon, Illinois and Minerva F (1864-1869) was born.

In 1865, as the Civil War raged on, widow Susanna Redman Hawn and her brother Charles Redman left their home in Clark County, Illinois, walking, to find jobs. Susan Ford was ill and Susanna found work with the Clayton family, taking care of Susan and the children while living with Ambrose and Susan in Illiopolis. Susan Ford died in 1866.

In February 1867 Ambrose briefly married Nancy Jane Garrett Maxwell (1844-1931) in Christian, Illinois. They had one son, James Albert (Dec 1867-1924). The 1870 Census enumerated in May shows that James Albert lived with Ambrose and his 1/2 siblings. Neither Nancy Maxwell or Susanna Redman were listed. The 1880 Census shows James Albert as adopted by James and Martha Fletcher.

On June 23, 1870 Ambrose and Susanna Norred Redman Hawn were married in Decatur, Macon, Illinois.
Between 1870-1872, the family moved to Taney County, Missouri where four children were born, Anna Bourland "Annie B" (1874-1968) Farris Hillary "Bud" (1876-1901) Willard C (1875-1960) Lynn Boyd (1880-1957). Two more children were subsequently born in Boone, Searcy, Arkansas, Ambrose Gilbert Jr (1882-1949) and Susanna Sabina (1886-1969)

Between July 1886-January 1900, the Clayton family, excluding Annie B who was by then married to James Riley Turner, moved to Putnam, Dewey, Oklahoma. Ambrose died in 1914 at 82 and Susanna died in 1917 at 71, both in Putnam Dewey.