Ready for some more Dayton Firsts?
First Cabinet Maker – Matthew Patton
First Tailor – Thomas McNutt.
Tag Archives: Dayton history
Prominent Local Figures: Jonathan Dayton
Jonathan Dayton (Source)
Although he is not from Dayton, and had never actually visited Ohio, we owe our city’s name to a relatively unknown historical figure, Jonathan Dayton.
Jonathan Dayton was born in Elizabethtown (presently named Elizabeth), New Jersey in 1760. His father, Elias Dayton, was a storekeeper and active in local and state politics. Jonathan entered into the Continental Army after graduating from the College of New Jersey, which was later renamed Princeton.
Dayton served under his father, General Elias Dayton, and became Captain by the age of 19. Some of the men serving under him were Israel Ludlow, James Wilkinson, and Arthur St. Clair, who would later purchase the land that bears his name.
Dayton Sideshow
Sideshow 11
When: Friday May 13 from 5pm to 1 am and Saturday, May 14 from 3pm to 1 am
Where: Old Yellow Cab Building, 700 East Fourth Street, Dayton 45402.
This weekend is Sideshow 11, Dayton’s community arts festival. You will see paintings, sculptures, and art installations and hear live musical acts. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. This is a family friendly event, so bring the kids along as you explore different styles of art and self-expression. Food trucks and local brews will be available as well, so make a night of it.
Dayton Firsts Parts 1
Curious about the early days of Dayton? Here’s a little more information:
First Surveyor – Daniel C. Cooper, of New Jersey. He laid out lands now embraced within the city of Dayton.
First Blacksmith – The first blacksmith to open up a shop in Dayton was John Burns. Others opening in competition with him were Obadiah Conover, Jacob Kuhn and James Davis.
Local Street Names – Part 5
If you’re familiar with Dayton, you might wonder about some of the names of local streets.
Here are a few!
- Soldier’s Home Road – named for the Soldier’s Home that was formerly in Dayton
Charlotte Reeve Conover – Dayton Historian
“Mrs. Conover was Dayton’s outstanding historian. Her manifold writings about Dayton and its people have place on bookshelves far and wide…” —Dayton Daily News, September 1940.
Charlotte was born to Doctor John Charles and Emma Reeve in 1855. She was given a stellar education from the start, even traveling to Geneva, Switzerland after completing high school. Marrying Frank Conover and raising 4 children did not stop Charlotte from traveling, studying, or writing.
In 1900, her first book, Some Dayton Saints and Prophets, was published. After that her writing didn’t stop. Charlotte also contributed writing to Ladies Home Journal, Atlantic Monthly, and Harper’s. She also became a French scholar, specializing in lectures about Molière.
Fun Facts about Dayton – Part 2
It’s that time again! We love sharing the interesting little tidbits we learn during our research. Occasionally, they aren’t enough fodder for an entire entry, so we compile a list to share with you all at once:
Fun Facts about Dayton – Part 1
There are many things to know about the Dayton area, and sometimes Dayton Unknown learns a few new things that are interesting, but not long enough for an entry. Here are a few fun facts we have learned:
On this day in 1796…
In March of 1796, the Thompson party started its journey from Cincinnati to Dayton. Split into two groups, one by land and one by water, they traveled 60 miles, pulling the boat through shallow channels with a rope tied to a tree, sometimes for miles. On land, they lead the Thompson cow that paid for itself in milk.
Dayton Unknown 