Title: White Hall Historical Collection, 1787-2011
Administrative/Biographical History
White Hall’s beginnings stem from Green Clay, who moved from Virginia to Madison County in the 1780s and built Clermont in 1799. Green Clay served in the Kentucky legislature and as a military officer in the War of 1812. Green Clay married Sally Lewis and had several children, including Cassius M. Clay and Brutus J. Clay. Cassius M. Clay was a prominent anti-slavery figure and served as a military officer in the Mexican American War. He also served as the United States ambassador to Russia from 1863-1869. After the death of his father in 1828, Cassius added the White Hall addition to Clermont, the construction of which was overseen by his wife, Mary Jane Warfield Clay, daughter of Dr. Elisha and Maria Warfield. Cassius and Mary Jane had several children, including Laura Clay and Mary Barr Clay, both of whom were prominent in the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Cassius also had an adopted son, Launey Clay. After divorcing Mary Jane in 1878, Cassius went on to marry Dora Richardson, who was far younger than him, but they were later divorced as well. Cassius died at White Hall at the age of 92 in 1903.