Background
Dayton, Alston Gordon was born on October 18, 1857 in Philippi, Virginia (now West Virginia). Son of Spencer and Sarah (Bush) Dayton.
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Dayton, Alston Gordon was born on October 18, 1857 in Philippi, Virginia (now West Virginia). Son of Spencer and Sarah (Bush) Dayton.
Bachelor of Arts, West Virginia University, 1878, Master of Arts, 1880.
Born in Philippi, West Virginia (then part of Virginia), Dalton received an Bachelor of Arts from West Virginia University at Morgantown, West Virginia in June 1878. He read law to enter the Bar in the same year, entering practice with his father, Spencer Dayton, in Philippi. He received an Master of Arts from WVU in 1880.
He received an appointment to fill an unexpired term as the prosecuting attorney of Upshur County, West Virginia in 1879, serving until 1884.
He followed this term by serving as prosecuting attorney for Barbour County, West Virginia from 1884 to 1888. He thereafter returned to private practice in West Virginia from 1886 to 1895.
He served in the 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th, and 59th United States. Congresses, serving from March 4, 1895, until his resignation ten days into his sixth term, on March 16, 1905, to accept a judicial position. On March 7, 1905, Dayton was nominated by President Theodore Roosevelt to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia vacated by the long-serving John Jay Jackson, Junior.
Dayton was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 14, 1905, and received his commission the same day.
He served thereafter until his death, in Battle Creek, Michigan. He was buried in Fraternity Cemetery in Philippi.
Member 54th to 58th Congresses (1895-1905), 2d West Virginia.
Married Columbia M. Sinsel, November 26, 1884.