DAYTON, Cyrenus G.

DAYTON, PATCHEN, GALE, ELAM, KILMER, KNESEL

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/3/2014 at 11:45:24

HISTORY of CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IOWA
WHEELER, J.H. Vol. II. Pp. 559-60. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910

BIOGRAPHY ~ CYRENUS G. DAYTON

A prominent business man of Mason City, Iowa, and one of its most highly esteemed and respected citizens, Cyrenus G. Dayton, is widely known as proprietor of the Mason City Marble and Granite Works. A son of Isaac and Mary A. (Patchen) Dayton, he was born August 1, 1851 [1852 on his gravestone], in Delaware county, New York. His parents migrated from that county to Wisconsin in 1865, locating on a farm in Columbia county, where both spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying at the age of seventy-six years, in 1891, and the mother in 1893, aged seventy-five years. Of their ten children six are living, as follows: N. B., of Mason City; Cyrenus G.; Charles M., of Los Angeles, California; Emory S., of Randolph, Wisconsin; E. H., of Fall River, Wisconsin; and Ambrose, of Wisconsin .

Having acquired a practical education in the district schools, Cyrenus G. Dayton left the home farm when fifteen years old and served an apprenticeship at the trade of a plasterer and mason, which he followed several years. He was passenger in the fall of 1869 on the first work train that entered Mason City, and he subsequently worked at his trade here summers, during the winter season being employed in a marble-cutter's shop. In 1872 Mr. Dayton bought Mr. T. B. Gale's marble shop, and not only conducted that but was a contractor for mason and plaster work for a number of years. He has the finest and most modernly-equipped marble shop in northern Iowa, and manufactures all of his monuments from the rough material, being an especially skillful and artistic marble worker. He has acquired considerable property in the city, in 1893 having erected his present building. He is independent in politics, voting regardless of party restrictions, and fraternally belongs to the Knights of Pythias.

On February 9, 1876, Mr. Dayton was united in marriage with Mary A. Elam, who was born in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, November 17, 1853 [October 10, 1852 on her gravestone], and they had four children, but Beatrice Dayton is the only one living. Ruth E. married A. J. Kilmer, a druggist here, and she died at the age of twenty-seven years, leaving two children. Jerald (sic) died at the age of two years, and Edgar died at the age of fifteen years.

NOTE: Cyrenus Dayton died on October 2, 1938. Mary A. (Elam) Dayton died on September 27, 1925. Edgar Elam Dayton was born on February 14, 1889, and died on November 29, 1903. Gerald Cyrenus Dayton was born on November 4, 1884, and died on January 23, 1887. Ruth E. (Dayton) Killmer was born on August 3, 1878, and died December 8, 1905. Beatrice (Dayton) Knesel was born on March 24, 1887, and died September 16, 1946. They were interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City IA.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014