LEWIS DAYTON, a son of Matthew and Margaret (Taylor) Dayton, was born on Sec. 4, T. 9, R. 13 west, in this county. He was born June 26, 1826, and in the ten years over half a century which has elapsed since that time, he has never called any place home except the section on which he now resides, and the adjoining section 9. His father, Matthew Dayton, was one of the oldest pioneers of the county, and is mentioned at length, elsewhere. Lewis, although reared in this county, at present so well settled and prosperous, grew up among scenes of wildness, it being then a wild, unimproved country. What schooling he received was in a little stone building, at what is now the station of Eldred, in Bluffdale township. Although his entire time of attendance did not exceed over two years, yet it was as good an education as the children of any of the neighbor's families received. Amid such circumstances he grew up, the principal features of his life being the hard work incident to clearing up the land, and the consequent hearty enjoyment of all opportunities for pleasure and recreation. Mr. Dayton was married on the 24th of March, 1853, to Sarah Ann Anderson, daughter of William and Nancy Anderson. They were all natives of Kentucky, and came to Greene county, Ill., in 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Dayton were the parents of six children - Lucetta L., deceased; Sarah Jane, wife of William S. Miller, living in this township; Nancy M., wife of Henry J. Keyes, living at Roodhouse; Mary Ellen, deceased, and two who died in infancy. Mrs. Dayton died on the 20th day of Oct., 1876, and is buried in the Dayton cemetery. Mr. Dayton is a member of the Forest Oak church, of Woodville township, and is a well respected citizen of the community in which he lives.