James Daughton was born in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1849. At the age of three years, he came with his parents Maurice and Ellen Daughton to New York City. They moved to Trenton, New Jersey, in May, 1852, and to Columbus, Ohio, in June 1854, where they resided until September, 1856, at which time they moved from Ohio and settled in Decatur County, ten miles southeast of Leon.

On September 26, 1876, he was united in marriage, at Woodland Township Church to Hannah Griffin, daughter of Michael and Margaret Griffin, who was born in New Jersey in 1851. To this union nine children were born: William, Amy, James, Margaret, Walter, Emmett, Fred, Ralph and Leo. In 1878, the family moved to a farm three miles west of Grand River. The remainder of their lives was spent in and near Grand River.

Hannah Daughton died July 31, 1993; and James Daughton died November 23, 1938. Both are buried at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Woodland Township.

The only surviving member of the family pictured above is Fred Daughton, age 92, who now lives at Mt. Ayr, Iowa.

Several descendants of this pioneer family still live in and near Grand River. .....

To read the rest of this Family Biography please email Stacey Dietiker