Sarah Maria Dayton

Sarah M. Dayton donated the land on which the Carnegie-Dayton Library was built at 6th and Main Streets in Cedar Falls.

Published in the Cedar Falls Record February 4, 1915: DEATH COMES TO MRS. M. N. DAYTON ___________

One of Cedar Falls Long Time and Public-Spirited Citizens Passes To Her Eternal Rest ___________ HER DEATH CAME PEACEFULLY ___________ Was Donor of Public Library Site Given in Memory of Her Husband. ___________

From Wednesday's Daily. Mrs. M. N. Dayton, one of the early residents of Cedar Falls, passed into eternity at 6 o'clock this morning at her home, 601 Main street, following a year or more of invalidism. Death visited her during her sleep and was peaceful. She was nearly 85 years of age. Mrs. Dayton was born in Florence Pa., May 23, 1830. She was married to Martin Nathanial Dayton in Martinsburg, Ohio, where they lived for several years and where all of their children were born, excepting one, the youngest. The family emigrated to Cedar Falls forty-odd years ago and has since been among the best known and most highly respected in this section. Mrs. Dayton was the donor of the site for the Carnegie-Dayton library, corner of Sixth and Main, which was dedicated in 1903, the dedicatory services being conducted by the late Hon. George D. Perkins for years editor of the Sioux City Journal. This beautiful improvement will ever call to mind the generosity of Mrs. Dayton, and also perpetuate the memory of her husband, who was for years one of the city's public spirited and honored citizens. Mr. Dayton died in 1899. The following children and grandchildren survive, Mrs. J. W. Robinson and three children, Florence, Sarah Merle and Dayton; Mrs. Geo. S. Mornin; Gail R. Dayton and son Martin N., all living in Cedar Falls; Mrs. P. H. Boysen and son Dayton of Cedar Rapids and Mrs. Robert M. Karr, of Omaha, Neb. Stella the first born died at the age of four years. These youngsters survive. Miss M. M. Bowland, who, for eight years, has been a member of the family circle and upon her the loss falls heavily. One niece, Mrs. Owen, of Chicago, and two nephews are well known here, one living in New York City and one in the west. Twenty-one years ago while working with her flowers, Mrs. Dayton was stricken with a trouble in her head from which she never fully recovered, but no one ever heard her complain only from extreme weakness and her every want has received prompt and tender attention almost before it had been expressed. Her helpfulness and her dependence upon the members of her family leaves a void which is all the more felt and will be as the days go by. For nearly three years Miss Bertha Bishop has been her professional nurse and the bond of sympathy was nearly like that of kinship. Funeral arrangements will not be definitely made until the arrival of the two daughters, but will probably be Friday afternoon. Announcement will be made tomorrow.