Abram Dayton (1815-1901)

DAYTON, POTTER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 8/23/2020 at 14:18:02

From Nevada Representative March 20, 1901 (page 7)

Abram Dayton died at Council Bluffs Wednesday, March 13, 1901, aged 86 years and 6 days. He passed away in the fullness of years, leaving a host of friends and no enemies. Mr. Dayton was born in Connecticut March 7, 1815, moved with his parents in childhood to Alleghany county, New York, where he grew up and married. He came west in 1838, settling first in Racine (now Kenosha) county, Wisconsin where he remained until 1855. After that he spent five years in Illinois, two years in California and four years in the state of Nevada returning thence in 1866 to this city, which was the only place he ever after really acknowledged as home. Here he and Mrs. Dayton settled down in their cottage on the west side of town and remained until Mrs. Dayton died after a protracted illness in 1888. After this bereavement Mr. Dayton never secured long content in any one place, and he lived at different times at Marshalltown, at St. Paul and at Council Bluffs, always, however returning to Nevada. Here he was universally known and by everyone esteemed and respected. His two sons had gone west many years ago and stayed there and his death, therefore, breaks no home circle; but it takes permanently away from the community where he was best known an upright and kindly, though often absent citizen.

Mr. Dayton was very faithful member of the Odd Fellows lodge; and his burial was conducted by the brethren he loved to well on Sunday afternoon at the Nevada cemetery.

On receipt of the news of Mr. Dayton's death J. A. Mills went to Council Bluffs to bring the body back to Nevada; but word from one of the absent sons, Thos. J. Dayton of Larramie, Wyoming, caused him to leave it for the later who arrived with it on Saturday evening and who was the sole representative of the family at the father's funeral, his elder brother Robin P.* of Salt Lake City not being able to come. The son's errand in bringing back his father's body to their old home was very sad and to Mr. Mills and others who helped to lighten his burden he wishes his gratitude expressed.

*SUBMITTER'S NOTE: The elder son of Abram Dayton and Sophronia (Potter) Dayton was Ruben Potter Dayton, not "Robin P." as stated.