My Genealogy Hound

FREDERICK A. DAYTON, Superintendent of Streets at Northampton, Mass., was born in his present residence, February 27, 1856.

Mr. Dayton is a son of Charles Dayton, who was born in 1807 in Norwich, Conn., and in 1837 married Abbie Brown, the daughter of Brigham Brown, of Leicester, Mass. After their marriage the parents settled on the fifty-acre farm in this town. In addition to tilling the soil, Mr. Dayton established the first milk route in Northampton, carrying the milk from house to house suspended from his broad shoulders by means of a yoke, often sixty quarts at a time. He was very enterprising, and became quite influential. He was Highway Surveyor for many terms. He and his wife were among the early Methodists of this place, worshipping with that denomination when their meetings were held in the Town Hall. They had seven children that grew to maturity. They were as follows: Henry E., an artist, painter, and decorator, who died in the summer of 1894, leaving one son, George E.; Franklin O., for many years a prominent business man of Chicopee, now living retired in Springfield; William H., formerly a partner with his brother Franklin O. in Chicopee, who died in May, 1884, leaving a widow; Hammond B., a machinist, and for many years a gauge and tool maker at Smith & Wesson’s, who died in January, 1883, leaving a widow, who passed away about a year later; Julia E., wife of C. E. Hubbard, of Hatfield, and mother of Dr. Hubbard, of South Hadley; Ellen M., wife of G. W. Fitch, a dairy farmer in Amherst, who is the son of George C. Fitch, a wealthy farmer; and Frederick A., the subject of this review. The mother died in 1881, having reached threescore years and ten. The father died in February, 1884.

Frederick A. Dayton was educated in the grammar schools of Northampton. After reaching the age of twelve years, he was unable to attend school except during the winter months. He assisted on the farm of his brother-in-law during the summer season until he attained the age of sixteen. In the spring of 1873 he began to work at the carpenter’s trade, which he followed for fourteen years. In that period he became the head mechanic and builder for Smith & Livermore. In 1885 he bought the Justin Thayer farm, adjoining the old Dayton homestead, and engaged in farming and dairying. He succeeded to the milk business of his father, but conducted it on a much larger scale, employing fine teams to take the milk over the long route. He was very successful during the eight or nine years in which he was employed in this way. He brought his farm to a high condition, and built a fine stock barn for the accommodation of his dairy of twenty cows. In all Mr. Dayton had the assistance of a kind-hearted and wealthy uncle, Lucien Brown, of Philadelphia. He sold his farm in June, 1894, to the Boston & Maine Railway Company at a handsome profit. He intends soon to build a family residence on Washington Avenue.

Mr. Dayton was first married May 12, 1874, to Rebecca McCandless, who died in 1885, leaving one daughter, Abbie B., the wife of Arthur O. Sanford, of Springfield. They had another daughter, Hattie R., who died in 1883, at the age of six years. Within a year of his first wife’s decease Mr. Dayton married Laura H. Clapp, the daughter of R. W. Clapp, of Westhampton, a descendant of one of the early settlers of that town, and a relative of the first ordained minister of Westhampton. Two children have come of this union, namely: Laura C., born in 1889; and Frederick A., Jr., born in 1892. Mr. Dayton belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in politics is a stanch Republican. He has filled his present position as Superintendent of Streets for the past three years, giving universal satisfaction to all.