Dayton, P.H.

DAYTON, COLEMAN, FISHBURN

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 10/7/2020 at 15:01:12

P.H. Dayton is the second son of Lenox and Anna (Coleman) Dayton. He was born in this county on section 30, Cedar Township, in 1842, where he now owns 100 acres of land and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married, in February, 1864, to Martha Fishburn, a native of Illinois, and daughter of Henry Fishburn, a native of Ohio. They are the parents of six children – Jefferson, Aurilla, James, Webster, Bessie and Ora.

In May, 1861, Mr. Dayton enlisted in Co. A, 7th Iowa Vol. Inf., and served twenty-two months, when he was discharged for disability. Returning home, he resumed his former occupation of farming, and remained until February, 1864, when, having recovered his health, he again enlisted, in the 45th Iowa Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was first Sergeant while a member of the 7th Regiment. While in the service he participated in the battles of Belmont, Mo., Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, and first and second Corinth. Politically, he is a Republican.

In 1859 Mr. Dayton went to California, by way of New York and the Isthmus of Panama, and returned in the winter of 1860 on the “Star of the West,” the last trip made by that vessel before she was fired upon at Ft. Sumter. While in California he was engaged in mining. With the exception of the time spent in California and in the service of his country, Mr. Dayton has been engaged in farming. In 1886 he suffered the loss of his home by fire, since which time he has been residing in the village of West Chester.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of P.H. Dayton, page 338.