Representative Henry Dayton View All Years

HON. HENRY DAYTON

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee appointed to prepare a resolution commemorating the life, character and public service to the state and nation of the Honorable Henry Dayton, late of Waukon, Iowa, and formerly a member of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth General Assemblies from Allamakee county, Iowa, respectfully submit the following:

Henry Dayton was born on a farm in Saratoga county, New York, September 30, 1836.

His family was of old English origin. The founder of the American branch, spelling his name Deighton, came to America in 1639. His mother’s ancestry, named Fletcher, came in 1630. In the acquirement of an education, Mr. Dayton attended the public schools of his native county, and at the age of nineteen, attended a local college and seminary. In his youth he was a school teacher in New York and Iowa.

In 1857 Mr. Dayton came to Iowa and located at Hardin, Allamakee county, and taught the winter term of school there. He went to Arkansas in the spring of 1858 and there entered a law office. Three years later he returned to Iowa, and after reading law some months with M. V. Burdick of Decorah, was admitted to the bar in Howard county in November, 1861. Then for eight years he was again the schoolmaster, teaching school during the winter months, and acting as deputy surveyor of Allamakee county during the summer months. In the fall of 1870 he entered a partnership in law practice with George B. Edmonds of Waukon.

In 1873 he with his nephew, John F. Dayton, formed the partnership of Dayton & Dayton, which partnership endured for many years, was widely known and well trusted.

In politics Mr. Dayton was a Democrat. In 1865 he was elected county surveyor and held that office two terms. In 1871 he was elected to represent Allamakee county in the State Legislature and was returned to that office for a second term.

In 1888 he was elected county attorney for Allamakee county, which office he held six consecutive years. Later, when in his eightieth year, he was again elected to that office and served one term.

For more than a half century Henry Dayton gave unreservedly of his energy and wise counsel for the advancement of his community. His activities influenced in an important and helpful way the solution of many problems in his community and to him came, as the reward of an upright life, high in its purpose and constructive in its effort, the respect, the admiration and the love of his community.

On May 24, 1874, Mr. Dayton was married to Miss Mary M. Wilcox at Waukon. To this union were born a son, Harry L., and a daughter, Ruby, now Mrs. W. H. Niehaus, at whose home he died on April 19, 1928. He is survived by his daughter and eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Mr. Dayton was over ninety-one years of age at the time of his death. Until a few months before his death he visited his office daily. He was an honored member of his profession and a cultured, courteous gentleman, a scholar of the old school. He was a master of the English language and his conversation as well as the pleadings and arguments submitted to the court by this scholarly dean of the Iowa bar were perfect in composition and expression and were enjoyed and appreciated by all.

Words are inadequate to give expression to anything that would add to the character and conduct of this honest, honorable gentleman, who was truly an honor to his profession and a credit to his race. One of the very last of that sturdy and rugged generation that laid the foundation of his beloved state, broad, strong and deep. One more of Iowa’s sturdy oaks has fallen. His service and devotion to his state, family, neighbors and friends will be forever treasured in our memory until we meet and greet him over there.

Although he lived well over his alloted time, his county and state and the community in which he lived will sadly miss this scholarly, high souled, Christian gentleman. In recognition of the value of his exemplary life and service and as an expression of our appreciation of the character of this splendid American,

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Forty-third General Assembly, That in the death of Honorable Henry Dayton, this state has lost a public spirited citizen, and the bar of Iowa one of its most distinguished and honored members and this House by these resolutions extends its sincere sympathy to his surviving relatives.

Be It Further Resolved, That this resolution be spread on the records of this House, and an enrolled copy thereof be sent to the surviving relatives.

J. E. O’BRIEN,

C. J. ORR,

A. T. ISTAD,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted April 8, 1929.