Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-08-01
WILLIAm LEWIS DAYTON.

I 7
Republic by a Convention which, in point
Of chara ter, ability, and influence of the
gentlemen composing it, is without an equal
In the political history of the nation, is
known and honoFed not only in his own State
but throughout the Union. His career as
o statesman has conferred honor upon his
native land, and his name has long been
enrolled with those of Stockton, Wither-
spoon, Southland, Frelinghuysen, and the
long line of worthless who have shed lustre
upon the historic annals of New Jersey.
WIN. L. DAYTON is native of the coun-
ty of Somerset, which county has perhaps
given birth to more eminent men than any
other in the in the State. His ancestors for
many generations were also native Jersey
men. His grandfather, Jonathan Dayton,
who was of English descent settled at Eliz-
abethtown, Essex county, as early as 1928,
and about the same time his mothers grand
father removed to Baskenridge, Somerset
county where he erected the first frame
dwelling in that section of the county,
His ancestry, on both the fathers and moth
er's side, took an honorable part in the Rev.
olutionary struggle, and some of the family
distinguished themselves. Elias Dayton,
the brother of his grandfather, became a.
Rrigadeir General, and his son, Jonathan
Dayton became eminent as the Speaker of
the House of Representatives of the Fourth
Congress. His maternal grandfather, Ed
ward Lewis, was a commisSary in the
Revolutionary army, and served as such du-
ring the entire war. The mother of the
late Samuel L. Southland (who died presi-
ding officer of the Senate) was the sister of
this grandfather.
Robert Dayton, the grandfather of the
candidate for the Vice Presidency, removed
his family shortly after the Revolutionary
War from Elizabethtown 10 a farm near
Baskenridge, and here ne sfterward contin-
ued to reside. Here his son Joel resided,
and here VIM. L. Dayton was born, on the
18th day Of February, 1907. He was the
eldest of the family, and was placed, while
in his twelfth year, under the care of the
celebrated DR.. Brownlee, afterwards of New
York. DR.. B. prepared him for the college
of New Jersey at Princeton, from which
institution he graduated in 1925. His
health suffered severely in college. He af
forwards commenced reading law with Gov.
Vroom, and was admitted TO the bar in
the spring of 1880. He settled in Mon
mouth county, opening an Office in Free
hold, where he continued to reside for about
seven years.
At the age Of thirty he entered political
life, being elected to the upper house of the
LegisIature-the Legislative Council from
the strong Democratic county of Monmoth.
Mr.. Dayton was placed at the head of the
Committee on the Judiciary. Here he
principally aided to effect most salutary
reform in the constitution of our courts,
which has been carried still further by the
revision of 1855. He brought forward a
proposal to add two more Justices to the
Supreme Courts increasing the number of
circuits and giving to the Circuit Court I
original jurisdiction in all cases at common
law. This plan was generally approved, as
it removed the embarrassments that previ-
ously existed by the defective organization 7
of the Common Pleas and Circuit Courts.
It presented to suitors and counsels a
of choice of courts, and the legal business
the State naturally found its way into Y
the court where it was most promptly and
intelligently disposed Of.
At the close of this session, Mr. Day
ton was appointed one of the Justices of :
the Supreme Court; and though one of the
he was yet one of the most emil
mont Of the learned and distinguished legal
gentlemen who have filed similar honorable
positions. After serving three years on the
bench he resigned his seat, and returned to :
the practice of his profession, where his
splendid abilities as an advocate soon placed
him In the front rank of the New Jersey
bar. al
The Hon. Samuel L. Southland died in
juno, 1912, and left vacancy in the SEN C
ltorial delegation from New jersey. Gov.
Pennington rendered the appointment to "
Mr. DAYTON, and the latter accepted it, and Ia
.ook his seat on the 9Th Of July. The leg
stature, during the winter, elected him for te
The uhexpiring term, and in 1915 he was 4,
reelected for the full term of six years, al
which expired in 1851. Owing to local
difficulties, and to a party disorganization d,
.esulting from iealousies and eart-buruings N
he election Of 1850 resulted most disas-
rously to the Wings; the Democrats cleo v
ing their Governor by large majority and "
securing small majority on joint ballot in -
he Legislature. The Legislature met in II
1851, and after a long struggle Commodore -
stockton was chosen Senator over Mr.. Day pc
on by very close vote.
Since the expiration of his Senatorial H
ern Mr.. Dayton has devoted bis time to =
lis profession, and his practice which had
Uttered from his absence, was at once re-
ived and greatly extended, and he pFoba- ~
ly to-day enjoys as large practice as any i
ther lawyer in the State. He was not, !
oweyer, an Indifferent spectator of the po- Co
teal events of the day. He was dele
ate to the Baltimore Convention, where he
,as one of the most prominent of the many -,
minent men who supported Gen. Scott Ry Ry
)uring the campaign he was active andun- o.
ring in his exertions in behalf of that gal ~
INT soldier. Since that time, Mr.. Dayton
ook no prominent part in politics, until the On
epeal Of the Missouri compromise aroused
very man of the North. This unpardona-
lie violation of good faith Judge Dayton :
as never hesitated to characterize in the j
T., L. ,,,ooob -, 4oI-,,a.