A native of Foxport, Fleming County, Kentucky, Clary joined the Navy from that state.

For his actions during the incident, Bonney was awarded the Medal of Honor a month later, on March 23, 1910.

Another sailor, Chief Watertender Robert Earl Bonney, received the medal for the same incident.

Hopkins for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession on the occasion of the accident to one of the boilers of that vessel, 14 February 1910.

[1]Clary reached the rank of chief watertender before leaving the Navy after a 30-year career.