U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dayton, Alston Gordon (1857-1920) ------------------------------------------------------------------- The History of Barbour County, West Virginia, From its Earliest Exploration and Settlement to the Present Time by Hu Maxwell The Acme Publishing Company, Morgantown, W.Va., 1899 Pages 374-377 Alston Gordon Dayton, son of Spencer Dayton, was born in Philippi, October 18, 1857, and on November 26, 1884, was married to Miss Lummie; daughter of Arthur Sinsel of Grafton. Their son's name is Arthur Spencer. After attending the public schools, Mr. Dayton entered the West Virginia University and graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1878; and on October 18, of the same year, it being his twenty-first birthday, he was licensed to practice law and entered into a partnership with his father. Two years later he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney of Upshur County; and immediately thereafter he received the nomination on the Republican ticket for that office in his native county. He was defeated by a small majority, but ran ahead of his ticket, and in 1884 his party again nominated him for the place, and he was elected, being the first Republican to fill the office after the war. In 1888 he was a candidate for judge of the circuit court and failed by only two votes of receiving the nomination. Two years later his friends presented his name before the Republican Convention at Piedmont as a candidate for congress in the Second West Virginia District, which position was then held by Hon. William L. Wilson, author of the Wilson Tariff Bill. Mr. Wilson was a formidable antagonist, and the belief was general that only a man from east of the Alleghanies could defeat him; and in the convention the choice fell on Hon. George Harman, a wealthy farmer of Grant County, while Mr. Dayton received a strong support from counties west of the mountains. In 1894 he was nominated for congress in the convention at Elkins; and Mr. Wilson, who was still in congress, was again in the field, the champion of a party confident of victory. The campaign was a memorable one, and was fought from start to finish with a bitterness seldom equalled in politics. Mr. Dayton, figuratively speaking, asked no quarter and gave none in the discussion of the political questions brought into the campaign. The result was an overwhelming victory for Mr. Dayton, whose majority was over two thousand. In 1896 he was again elected, and again in 1898, and his present term will expire in 1901. Mr. Dayton's career in congress has been one of steady increase of influence. Soon after he entered that body he was appointed on the Naval Committee, and he at once became a working member, and later a leader in the important measures originating in or formulated by that committee. When he entered congress we had three battleships in commission and three in course of construction. He was a believer in a strong navy, and on every occasion he advocated the construction of war ships of the most powerful class, instead of small vessels that could be built cheaply. He wanted something that could pound and withstand pounding. The result is——and it is due in no small measure to his efforts——we now have complete and in course of construction nineteen battleships. The naming of the powerful armored cruiser "West Virginia" was largely as a compliment to him. This vessel is designed with a displacement of 12,000 tons, and 23,000 horsepower, and it will belong to a class of the most formidable fighting machines in the world. It will have the speed of the cruiser and the fighting ability of a battleship. When Mr. Dayton first took his stand in favor of battleships, as against torpedo boats and other small craft, there never had been a battleship in action. That class of vessels was an experiment. But with the battle of Santiago, July 3, 1898, it was demonstrated that the solid work is done by the big ship. Mr. Dayton took a foremost place in the controversy in congress, concerning the construction of dry docks. Before the Fifty-Fifth Congress the ruling had been that appropriations could not be made for dry docks unless a bill had been passed, establishing dry docks; but Mr. Dayton was instrumental in having that ruling reversed, and dry docks were classed with the naval establishment; and the result was that four such docks were provided for, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Boston, League Island, Pennsylvania; and Algiers, Louisiana. Mr. Dayton introduced a bill which passed the senate, providing for promotion upon the retired list of Lieutenant R. M. G. Brown, of the navy, in recognition of his services in saving lives and property during the great storm at the Simoan Islands. Lieutenant Brown is a native of Preston County. Mr. Dayton was largely instrumental in securing the appropriation of over $5,000,000 to open up the Monongahela to free navigation and to build locks and dams between Morgantown and Fairmont. He also was prominent in an important feature of the United States Geological Survey. Although the work of surveying had been in progress over fifteen years, by a strange oversight no provision had ever been made for setting up monuments to mark permanently the work, so that additional investigation or survey might be taken up anywhere with exact data at hand from which to begin measurements. Mr. Dayton called the attention of congress to this defect, and provision was made for setting up a stone in every county seat in the United States, on which the true north and south line of the place is marked. The territory of Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1866, and provision was made that the laws of Oregon should be in force in Alaska, and thus the matter stood until 1898, although in many particulars the Oregon laws did not suit the different conditions in the far north. A congressional committee Was appointed in 1898 to provide a code of criminal law for Alaska, and Mr. Dayton was a member of the committee, and did a large share of the work of framing and writing the laws. A committee consisting of the whole House debated the bill, containing the code, ten days, and Mr. Dayton championed the measures and debated them successfully with the best lawyers in congress, and the bill passed. Perhaps the most noted and lasting work done by Mr. Dayton was in connection with the Navy Personnel Bill. The object of this bill was to regulate the line of promotion in the navy; to give all an equal chance; to equalize the pay received by naval and army officers, and to change the course of study in the Naval Academy at Annapolis. It should be explained that graduates from the Naval Academy were arbitrarily divided into two classes; the one became engineers and machinists; the other became officers who might rise to the highest grade. The new law places all on an equal footing as to promotion. Under the old law it was nearly impossible for an officer to rise above a lieutenant until he was over fifty years of age, because promotion was more on account of age than of service; and the Civil War had left so many officers that they became lieutenants, and seldom could get beyond it. The new law removed this disability and provided avenues for promotion without much increasing the expense of service. The pay of the officers of the navy was made equal with that of the officers of corresponding rank in the army. Provision was made for the enlistment of competent machinists who had never attended the Naval Academy; and other important provisions were made which practically changed the whole service of the navy. It brought about a reform of the most sweeping kind. There had been about fifty ranks in the navy. This clumsiness was abolished. Mr. Dayton was recognized as the champion of the bill when it came before the House in 1899. It was of the greatest importance to naval men, and they watched its progress with anxiety. Mr. Dayton made a number of speeches on the bill, showing that he had thoroughly mastered the subject, and had become an authority on naval affairs. The bill successfully passed and became a law. The naval officers at Washington gave a banquet to the congressmen who had championed the cause which at last had brought relief to the navy. It was a work whose good results will be seen in future years. Rear Admiral W. T. Sampson, the hero of Santiago, who took a deep interest in this measure, stated publicly that Mr. Dayton's speeches on this bill disclosed the most accurate knowledge of the difficult and obscure mechanical and other details of naval affairs and personnel, and the clearest insight into them, ever displayed in debate in congress, and that the naval corps generally conceded this. The extent of this commendation can only be appreciated by those who know how little the Admiral is given to passing compliments. After the blowing up of the Maine in Havana Harbor there was a time of waiting. Congress had appropriated money to be spent in preparations for war, but the first speech in the House of Representatives, plainly intimating that Spain must be pushed from Cuba, was made by Mr. Dayton. His concluding remarks on that occasion were: Two hundred and sixty-six brave men are dead today as a result of the Maine tragedy. Over 200,000 are dead in Cuba and 250,000 more, largely helpless women and children, are being held in imprisonment and starved to death there today. We do not know as yet that the Spanish authorities blew up the Maine and destroyed the lives of our seamen, but we do know that Spanish authority is responsible for this wholesale deadly murder in the first degree going on within a hundred miles of our shores. With food and raiment in one hand and with its strong power backed by the righteous will of 70,000,000 of freemen, this Administration must intervene, stop this horror, and give Cuba her freedom. This intervention may be done, I hope, peacefully. If so, God be praised; but if not, and it can only be done by war, let it come. Humanity, mercy, charity, and all the attributes of God himself will be with us, and Cuba will be free. During his terms in congress Mr. Dayton has kept up his law practice and has engaged extensively in outside business, operating in coal lands and in other properties. He is now a director of the Tygart's Valley Bank at Philippi. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, is an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 539-542 HON. ALSTON GORDON DAYTON, Member of Congress from the Second Congressional District of West Virginia, and the junior member of the well known law firm of Dayton & Dayton, with whom is associated Frederick D. Blue, at Philippi, Barbour County, West Virginia, was born in that town October 18, 1857, Barbour County then being a part of the State of Virginia. Mr. Dayton attended the public schools and entered the West Virginia University as a student, at the age of 16 years, where he was graduated in June, 1878, with his degree of A. B. During his college course he had devoted time to the study of the law, and he was admitted to the bar on his 21st birthday, and immediately entered into partnership with his father, which partnership still continues. Two years later he was appointed prosecuting attorney of Upshur County, and soon after received the Republican nomination for the same office in his home county of Barbour, but, while running considerably ahead of his ticket, was defeated by a small majority. In 1884 he again received his party's nomination for the same office, and was elected, being the first Republican to fill the office since the Civil War. In 1888 he was a candidate for judge of the Circuit Court, but failed of receiving the nomination by two votes. In 1890 his friends presented his name before the Republican convention at Piedmont, as a candidate for Congress from the Second Congressional District of West Virginia, which position was then held by Hon. William L. Wilson, author of the "Wilson Tariff Bill." Mr. Wilson was a most formidable antagonist, and the belief was general that only a man from the eastern part of the State could defeat him, so the choice of this convention was Hon. George Harman, a wealthy farmer of Grant County. In 1894, however, Mr. Dayton was the choice of the convention which met at Elkins, to run against Mr. Wilson, who was still in Congress, having defeated Mr. Harman in 1890. Mr. Wilson stood as the victorious champion of a victorious party and was confident of success. The campaign was a memorable one, unequaled in the campaigns of the State, but Mr. Dayton showed that he was well equipped to meet the redoubtable Wilson and no quarter was either given or asked. The discussions were warm, although waged with the courtesy and fairness for which both statesmen are noted. The result was an overwhelming victory for Mr. Dayton, his majority being over 2000. In 1896 he was re- elected; again in 1898, and in 1900 and 1902. He is now serving his fifth consecutive term. Mr. Dayton's career in Congress has been one of steady and powerful influence and growth. He was first placed on the naval committee, then one of the smallest and least consequential committees in the House. He took up the work in earnest and took a leading part from the start, and to him as much as to any other member is due the distinguished credit and honor of bringing this branch of the government up to its present prominence and power. When he entered Congress we had only three battleships in commission, and three in course of construction. He was a believer in a strong navy and advocated the construction of war ships of the most powerful class. The result is the splendid naval armament we now have. The naming of the powerful armored cruiser, "West Virginia," was a compliment to him. When Mr. Dayton first took his stand in favor of battleships as against smaller craft, there had never been a battleship in action, for that class of vessels was an experiment; but with the battle of Santiago, July 3, 1898, and the advent of such vessels as the "Oregon" it is no longer an experiment. Mr. Dayton took a foremost place in the promotion of dry docks as a part of the naval establishment, and four such were provided, at Portsmouth, Virginia, at Boston, at League Island and at Algiers, Louisiana. Among other notable services rendered his constituents, Mr. Dayton has taken great interest in the veterans of the Civil War, and has been able to procure many pensions and promotions for the soldiers of West Virginia. He introduced a bill which passed the Senate, providing for the promotion of Lieut. R. M. G. Brown, of Preston County, West Virginia, upon the retired list of the navy, in recognition of his services in saving lives and property during the great storm in the Samoan Islands. He aided materially in securing the appropriation of $5,000,000 to open the Monongahela to free navigation, and for the construction of locks and dams in the river between Morgan town and Fairmont. Mr. Dayton has rendered valuable services in the geological surveys of the State, and rectified in Congress the mistakes made in the omission of data and visible monuments on which, in every county seat in the United States, the true north and south line of the place is marked. Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1866 and the laws of Oregon were made to apply to that territory. In 1898 a Congressional committee was appointed, of which Mr. Dayton was a member, which prepared a code for Alaska, in which Mr. Dayton did a large part of the work. For 10 days the House debated the code, during which time Mr. Dayton championed the bill, debating with the best lawyers, and Congress passed the bill. His best work, up to that time, was in connection with the "Navy Personnel Bill," — to regulate the line of promotions in the navy; to give all an equal chance; to equalize the pay of both civil and naval officers and to correct and regulate the course of study at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. By this bill a great and practical reform was brought about in the navy. Mr. Dayton was its champion and made a number of speeches that showed his mastery of the subject; and he has since been noted in the House as an authority on naval affairs. The bill became a law and the naval officers gave a banquet at Washington to Mr. Dayton and his confreres. The whole country is beginning to see the wisdom of his foresight and courage. He received the commendation of Rear-Admiral W. T. Sampson and other noted naval officers. After the blowing up of the "Maine" in Havana harbor, there was increasing excitement in Congress and the country. It was a time for coolness and courage. It was for the Congressman from the Second Congressional District of West Virginia to make the first speech in the House, advocating the independence of Cuba from Spanish rule. He concluded his remarks with these memorable words: "Two hundred and sixty-six brave men are dead to-day as a result of the 'Maine' tragedy. Over 200,000 have died in Cuba and 250,000 more, mostly women and children, are being held in imprisonment and starved there to-day. We do not know as yet that the Spanish authorities blew up the 'Maine' and destroyed the lives of our seamen, but we do know that Spanish authority is responsible for this wholesale deadly murder in the first degree going on, within 100 miles of our shores. With food and raiment in one hand and with its strong power, backed by the righteous will of 70,000,000 of freemen, this administration must intervene, stop the horror and give Cuba her freedom. This intervention may be done, I hope, peacefully. If so, God be praised; but if not, and it can only be done by war, let it come. Humanity, mercy, charity, and all the attributes of God Himself, will be with us, and Cuba will be free." During his terms in Congress, Mr. Dayton has kept up his law practice and has taken an active interest in promoting the industrial development of his State and is connected with many private business enterprises. He is a director of The First National Bank at Philippi. On November 26, 1884, Mr. Dayton married Lummie Sinsel, of Grafton, West Virginia. Religiously he is connected with the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally, he belongs to the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. He owns one of the most beautiful homes in his town and is a power for good in his community. His popularity in the State on account of his distinguished services, is not limited to the Second Congressional District. The dean of the West Virginia Congressmen, he has won a position of eminence from which his friends desire him to retire only to accept higher honors. ------------------------------------------------------------------- (wife of Alston Gordon Dayton) DEATH CERTIFICATE, Cabell County WV, #7086 FULL-NAME: Mrs. Alston G. Dayton BIRTH-DATE: December 8, 1861 BIRTH-PLACE: Grafton, W.Va. DEATH-DATE: June 13, 1924 (at age 63y-6m-5d) DEATH-PLACE: Steinbergen Hospt., Huntington, Cabell County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Widow OCCUPATION: Hwk. FATHER: Arthur Sinsel (born in W.Va.) MOTHER: Hannah See (born in W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Pernicious Anemia INFORMANT: Arthur S. Dayton (of Charleston, W.Va.) BURIAL: Philippi, W.Va. Tombstones are in Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston, Kanawha, WV Alston Gordon Dayton (Oct 18, 1857 -- July 30, 1920) Columbia Sinsel Dayton (Dec. 8, 1860 -- June 13, 1924) ------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. FEDERAL CENSUS 1880 Census, Barbour County, WV Philippi District, ED:74, Page No. 31 Lines 47-50; Enum-Dwelling #238; Enum-Family #245 DAYTON, Spencer (60) Atty at Law, Conn-Conn-Conn ", Sarah B. (60) wife, Keeping house, Mass-Mass-Mass ", Imogene L. (27) dau, Keeping house, Va-Conn-Mass ", Alston G. (22) son, Atty at Law, Va-Conn-Mass 1900 Census, Barbour County, WV Philippi, Philippi Township, ED: 5, Sheet 11A DAYTON, Gordon A. (head) born-Oct-1857, WV-Conn-Mass, Lawyer ", Columbia S. (wife) born-Dec-1859, 1-child/1-living, WV-WV-WV ", Arthur G. (son) born-May-1889, WV-WV-WV 1910 Census, Barbour County, WV Philippi City, Ward 3, ED:6, Sheet 7A Walnut Street; Lines 31-33; Enum-Dwelling 177; Enum-Family 177 DAYTON, A. G. (head) 51, m1-25yrs, WV-WV-WV, Judge, U.S.Court ", Columbia S. (wife) 49, 1-child/1-living, WV-Va-Va ", Arthur G. (son) 22, single, WV-WV-WV, Lawyer, Office Work 1920 Census, Barbour County, WV Philippi City, Ward 3, ED:10, Sheet 6A Walnut Street; Lines 42-46; Enum-Dwelling 127; Enum-Family 133 DAYTON, A. G. (head) 62, WV-Conn-Mass, Judge ", Columbia (wife) 59, WV-WV-WV HARGRAVE, John (servant) 39, NC-NC-NC, Messenger ", Fanny (cook) 40, GA-GA-GA, Cook BELLE, Natt (helper) 13, GA-GA-GA, Helper ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Barbour County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/barbour/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------