Important Daytonians

Adena Indians

Native Americans known as mound builders. Settled in Ohio, including the future sit of Dayton around 1000 BC. Earthen mounds encasing their dead as well as cultural artifacts still exist in Miamisburg, Huffman Prairie, and on Wright Brothers Hill.

Archer, Benjamin

Awarded the contract to build the first official courthouse for Dayton in 1806. The two-story brick structure was built on land donated by Daniel Cooper at the northwest corner of Third and Main streets. It was later replaced with the limestone structure that rests there today.

Banks, E.T.

African- American WWI veteran from Dayton who helped incorporate the West Dayton Y on Fifth, began the Linden Center, served on the committee that rewrote the city charter, and helped deal with economic problems in his community. In 1928, the Y was moved to a new building at 907 W. Fifth, which is now on Preservation Dayton’s most endangered structures list.

Barney, E.E.

The principal of the Dayton Academy who came to Dayton from New York in 1833. In 1845 he began educating females at the Cooper Female Seminary. By 1849 he went into business with Ebenezer Thresher to manufacture freight and passenger railroad cars and farm machinery. The Barney-Thresher business later became the very successful Smith-Barney Car Works, which produced luxury passenger rail cars for many years. A restored example of one of these cars exists at Carillon Park.

Bass, Reverend DeSoto

Served as the pastor of the First Wesleyan Methodist church from 1895-1928. He helped form the Colored Ministerial Alliance and brought bags of coal to people in need. Dayton’s, as well as the nation’s, first public housing complex is named in his honor.

Brown, Katharine Kennedy

Daughter of prominent Dayton lawyer Grafton C. Kennedy, and influential lifelong Dayton resident who was well known for her efforts in futhering women's rights on a local and national level. Later in life she held a high office in the nation Republican party and was a consultant to many politicians such as President Nixon.

Cooper, Daniel

Arrived in Dayton in 1794 with John Dunlap and surveying parties to assist Jonathan Dayton, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, Col. Israel Ludlow and Gen. James Wilkinson in breaking ground on “Dayton”. He is responsible Dayton’s pattern of “4 pole wide”, right-angled streets. He blazed a trail from Cincinnati to Dayton for early settlers, then became the government named proprietor of land titles. He created Dayton’s first city plan in 1802, and gave free lots to churches, markets, county buildings, graveyards and a park which still stands today. He is said to have brought Dayton’s first black resident to town in 1803, for which she named her first child, Harry Cooper. Ever industrious even if he only lived to be 45, Cooper continued to revise the town plat, and planned a town square (where Dayton’s courthouse square still stands), and laid out the area now known as the Oregon District. He donated the land and bell for Dayton’s first school in 1808, operated a general store, and organized a levee building at the turn of the Great Miami River to protect the village from flooding.

Cox, Dr, Lloyd: A prominent African-American doctor and brother to Dayton’s first black pharmacist, Cox had a home/office at 420 W. Fifth, until it was damaged by flood. He moved to 1301 Superior Ave. in the Dayton View neighborhood in 1917. He donated his services to the American Red Cross, helped establish Dunbar High School, Westside Community Center including the Palace Theatre on West Fifth, and was on the founding committee of the West Dayton Y with E. T. Banks.

Crowder, John: A black barber who teamed up with Jacob Musgrave to bring Dayton it’s first regular stagecoach service from Cincinnati in 1820.

Dayton, Jonathan: Lawyer, soldier and statesman who partnered with Gen. Arthur St. Clair, Col. Israel Ludlow and Gen. James Wilkinson to buy the “Miami Lands” at 83 cents/acre from John Cleve Symmes. One of Dayton’s first legal proprietors. He had a hand in crafting the U.S. Constitution. He is said to have never visited his namesake.

Davis-Broady, Charity: Born free in Kentucky in 1802, Charity came to Dayton as a child with her father. She was a “conductor” on the underground railroad, giving fugitive slaves shelter and clothing while in route to Canada. This home stood next to the First Wesleyan Methodist Church, near what is today’s Ludlow St. and the Route 35 overpass.

Deeds, Edward A. Col.: Engineer and longtime NCR executive who hired Charles Kettering to electrify the cash register. In their spare time, they began tinkering out of Deeds’ garage with William Chryst, another NCR employee on ideas to make a fortune in the auto industry. Went on to create a long list of automobile and engineering inventions and to head Dayton’s DELCO (Dayton Engineering laboratories Co.) operations with Kettering. DELCO later became part of General Motors. Deeds contributed to the rebuilding of Dayton and formation of the Miami Conservancy District after the flood of 1913, and took the job of military aircraft procurement at McCook Field in 1917, precursor to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, although located much at the present site of Kettering Field. He took over NCR in 1931 from John H. Patterson’s son Frederick, trying to restore stockholder confidence during the depression. Moraine Farm, an historic property now owned by NCR was once his sprawling estate. The Carillon Tower in Carillon Park is was funded by his wife and named after him. The historical elements of the park were the brainchild of Deeds himself.

Dunbar, Paul Laurence: Son of former slaves, and one of America’s first black poets, Dunbar was born in Dayton in 1872. He became Dayton’s most notable man of letters, internationally famous as a poet and author. He was also a lifelong friend to Orville and Wilbur Wright.

Dunlap, John: Arrived in Dayton in 1794 with Daniel Cooper, and surveying parties to assist Jonathan Dayton, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, Col. Israel Ludlow and Gen. James Wilkinson in breaking ground on “Dayton”. He is responsible Dayton’s pattern of wide, right-angled streets.

English: Struggled with the French in the late 1600’s, and then the Shawnee Indians (and other tribes) until 1764 to control lands within the Ohio Valley. Lost control of the Ohio Territories in 1783 when the colonies became known as the United States of America as an outcome of the American Revolution.

Folkerth, John: First Mayor of Dayton, elected Justice of Peace shortly after his arrival and had his first office in the Newcom Tavern. He held the office of JP for 52 years. John was one of the incorporators of the Dayton Academy, a founder of the Dayton Library Association, treasurer of the Presbyterian Church and recorder pro tem of the Select Council. John was one of the county commissioners who signed Daniel Cooper's 1809 plat of Dayton. John died in 1862 and is buried in Woodland Cemetery with his wife. The 'Vital Records' pages from the family bible of John Folkerth and Peggy Huey are held in the Local History department of the Dayton Public Library.

Fort Ancient People: Indian tribe which occupied the Dayton area around the 12th century AD. South Dayton’s Sunwatch Indian Village currently showcases this culture.

French: Struggled with the English in the late 1600’s to control lands within the Ohio Valley. Signed the Ohio Territories over to the English in 1763 after the Treaty of Paris, which ended the French and Indian War.

Gano, John Stites: In 1789, he and William Goforth negotiated for the land at the mouth of the Mad River from John Cleve Symmes and drew up plans to place a city there named “Venice.” The project was abandoned due to Indian conflict and Symmes difficulties with the government.

Gist, Christopher: An explorer who was attracted to the Miami Valley in 1751 to trade with the Miami Indians. He reported to the Ohio Land Company (based in New Jersey) that the countryside abounds with wild game.

Goforth, William: In 1789, he and John Stites Gano negotiated for the land at the mouth of the Mad River from John Cleve Symmes and drew up plans to place a city there named “Venice.” The project was abandoned due to Indian conflict and Symmes difficulties with the government.

Hedges, Lib: Madam of a large prostitution business in Dayton from 1876 through the early 1900’s, she operated out of a Pearl Street location and owned over 100 pieces of Dayton real estate. She was a big supporter of YMCA, YWCA and local charities. She is buried at Woodland cemetery and her monument is said to have inspired Thomas Wolfe’s first novel, Look Homeward, Angel in 1929.

Huffman, William: In 1813 he built the first stone residence in Dayton at the corner of Third and Jefferson, which was used as both a home and a store. He ran the Dayton Street Railroad Company with H.S. Williams from 1869-1900. This horse-drawn trolley line ran on rails down third street to the tracts of land the two of them owned on the city’s east and west sides. Huffman’s land to the east is now known as the Huffman Historic District.

Jewett, Dr. Adam: Housed and fed many escaped slaves in the 1830’s as part of the underground railroad.

Kettering, Charles: Came to Dayton to help NCR electrify their cash register in 1904. Worked with E.A. Deeds and William Chryst (the barn gang) to develop the auto ignition system in their spare time. Went on to create a long list of automobile and engineering inventions and to head Dayton’s DELCO (Dayton Engineering laboratories Co.) operations with Deeds. DELCO later became part of General Motors. Kettering, known as “Boss” by his many friend s and loyal workers, helped organize the Dayton Wright Airplane Company to help America win WWI in 1917, and tested the first guided missile one year later. He helped develop ethyl gas as a motor fuel in 1923. Ever generous, Kettering donated $3 million to Antioch College in Yellow Springs. founded the Charles F. Kettering Foundation for research in medicine and science, and founded the Sloan-Kettering Institute for cancer research in NYC in 1927.

Ludlow, Colonel Israel: Partnered with Jonathan Dayton, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, and Gen. James Wilkinson to buy the “Miami Lands” at 83 cents/acre from John Cleve Symmes. One of Dayton’s first legal proprietors, he is responsible for helping layout the first village and wide streets, one of which he named after himself.

More, Moses: Opened the Dahomey Amusement Park (Lakeside) near 1890 in the Lakeview/Gettysburg area. It was torn down in 1967 to make way for Route 35.

Moskowitz, Jacob: English-speaking, Hungarian born man from Toledo who came to Dayton to recruit workers for the Dayton Malleable Iron Works Company. He brought in Eastern-European laborers to Dayton for this purpose and set up housing for them in the West Side Colony, bordered to the west by what is now known as the Wright-Dunbar Historic District.

McGee, James: Dayton’s first black mayor, elected in 1973 and a lawyer who fought on behalf of the NAACP to end discrimination in restaurants and other public facilities. He had an office in the historic section of West Fifth St.

McPherson, Samuel: A tanner by trade, he moved to the Miami Valley in 1829, and platted the McPherson Town neighborhood in 1845.

Newcom, Colonel George: Traveled with a land party to Dayton in 1796 and is said to be among Dayton’s first settlers. In 1798, he built Newcom’s Tavern at the southwest corner of Main and Monument. It served as the town’s first store, church, post office, courthouse and jail. It still stands today, but has been dismantled and moved to Carillon Park. Newcom also served as Dayton’s first Sheriff until 1809.

Olmstead, John Charles: The landscape designer for New York’s Central Park, brought to Dayton by John H. Patterson to create a plan for greenspace around the city. This plan includes what exists today as the River Bikeway, Hydrobowl Lake, Eastwood, Triangle and Island Parks, Kettering Field, Deeds Point, Van Cleeve, Bomberger, McKinley, Five Oaks, Carillon, Hill and Dales Parks, and the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.

Patterson, John H.: Purchased with his brother Frank a cash register manufacturing business from James Ritty in 1884, which he renamed the National Cash Register Co. (now NCR) Patterson took “the Cash” to new levels of success, and shared his wealth with Dayton. He took the shack-filled Slidertown and created a park and garden-filled community of worker housing, now known as South Park Historic District. He brought the landscape designer for New York’s Central Park, John Charles Olmstead, to Dayton to create a plan for greenspace around the city. This plan includes what exists today as the River Bikeway, Hydrobowl Lake, Eastwood, Triangle and Island Parks, Kettering Field, Deeds Point, Van Cleeve, Bomberger, McKinley, Five Oaks, Carillon, Hill and Dales Parks, and the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. Patterson led rescue, recovery efforts and rebuilding of Dayton after the devastating flood of 1913. He introduced Dayton’s current system of city government (Manager and commission) in 1896. He could also be considered Dayton’s first preservationist, as he was responsible for moving Newcom’s Tavern to Carillon Park to save it from the wrecking ball, however, he also spearheaded the campaign to get rid of the historic canal in downtown Dayton in 1907.

Patterson, Col. Robert: Father of John H., a prominent Dayton businessman, and key figure to Dayton in his own right, the Colonel bought land from Daniel Cooper and moved his family to Dayton from Lexington, Kentucky in 1806. This land included Cooper’s cabin, farm, sawmill, gristmill and distillery. This 2,038 acre homestead contained much on the land on which his son’s business, NCR, grew. The parcel containing the farmhouse is now a museum and is owned by the Montgomery County Historical Society. Col. Patterson also served as quartermaster of state militia for the War of 1812 against the British.

Phillips, H.G.: One of Dayton’s first prominent business men. He owned a general store at First and Main and helped bring the canal system to Dayton. Namesake of the Phillips House, a hotel built in 1850 by his son J.D., which stood at the southwest corner of Third and Main streets and was Dayton’s social center for some 80 years.

Ritty, James: Developed the first cash register in 1873 to hinder dishonest bartenders from pilfering at his Pony House Restaurant. He sold his interest in the cash register business to John H. Patterson in 1884.

Robert, James: A professor and former principal at the Cooper Seminary, James help develop the former pasture and gypsy campground between the river and the old levee, between Third Street and the Dayton View Bridge. This led to the magnificent homes of Robert Boulevard, home to many of Dayton’s most prominent families in the 1890’s. This area is one of Dayton’s greatest architectural losses...as most of the 96 structures were leveled in the 60’s and 70’s to make way for Interstate 75 and Sinclair Community College.

St. Clair, General Arthur: Partnered with Jonathan Dayton, Col. Israel Ludlow and Gen. James Wilkinson to buy the “Miami Lands” at 83 cents/acre from John Cleve Symmes. One of Dayton’s first legal proprietors. Namesake of one of Dayton’s first streets.

Steele, James, John and Samuel: Brothers who purchased land known as the Pearson Community in 1819, after the community failed. This later became the Grafton Hill neighborhood. John built a Greek Revival farmhouse in 1835 which still stands today at 40 Central Avenue. John was a doctor who among other things, erected a tent hospital on the courthouse lot to care for the wounded in the War of 1812. James rallied for schools, libraries and churches as well as constructed a dam in 1830 on the great Miami River, later named the Dayton View Hydraulic, which provided power for industry.

Steele, Robert: A Dayton leader throughout most of the 1800’s, he contributed to the construction of Woodland cemetery as well as Dayton schools and libraries, county fair board, the sanitary commission, and the YMCA. The former Steele High School was named in his honor in 1894. His home at 225 Wilkinson St. is now home to the Dayton Woman’s Club, and one of the oldest existing residential structures left downtown.

Stites, Benjamin: Explorer who traveled to Ohio from New Jersey in 1787 with John Cleves Symmes. The two asked the government for a land grant for the land between the Miami Rivers and then proceeded to deed 10,000 acres. In turn they promised deeds to settlers...but the government never approved the transaction and the deal fell through.

Stoddard, Charles: Legacy to the Stoddard Manufacturing Co., which made farm machinery until 1905 when Charles decided to start making automobiles. He renamed the company the Dayton Motor Car Company and manufactured Stoddard-Dayton’s, one of which won the first race in Indianapolis in 1909.

Symmes, John Cleve: Judge who traveled to Ohio from New Jersey in 1787 with Benjamin Stites to buy land. The two asked the government for a land grant for the land between the Miami Rivers and then proceeded to deed 10,000 acres. In turn they promised deeds to settlers...but the government never approved the transaction and the deal fell through. In 1789, he negotiated to sell the land at the mouth of the Mad River to John Stites Gano and William Goforth who drew up plans to place a city there named “Venice.” He later sold his “Miami Lands” to Gen. Arthur St. Clair, Jonathan Dayton, Col. Israel Ludlow and Gen. James Wilkinson, who founded “Dayton.”

Thompson, Catherine: An early settler of Cincinnati and mother of Benjamin Van Cleve, she is believed to be the first settler on the riverbank in Dayton in 1796. She later married Samuel Thompson, after her first husband was killed by Indians in Cincinnati. She was the great-great grandmother of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the Daytonians who invented flight.

Thompson, Samuel: Explorer who is said to be the first to arrive with settlers by boat in 1796. Among his boat party was Benjamin Van Cleve. He later drown in the Mad River.

Thresher, Ebenezer: Went into business with E.J. Barney in 1849 to manufacture railroad cars and farm machinery. The Barney-Thresher business later became the successful Smith-Barney Car Works, which produced luxury passenger rail cars for many years.

Troy, Louise: An African American teacher in Dayton from 1878-1920. She taught Paul Laurence Dunbar and other young students to take their place in the community. She also helped organize the YWCA in the black community, which continues today as the oldest continuous black YWCA in the country. At one time it was housed in a structure at Fifth and Horace Streets in what is now the Wright-Dunbar Historic District.

Turner, William and Joseph: Bothers from West Carrollton who decided to build an opera house downtown in 1861. Despite fire and flood, it still stands today and is known as the Victoria Theatre.

Van Cleve, Benjamin: Was among Dayton’s first settlers in 1796, arriving in the boat party of Samuel Thompson. He served as Dayton’s first postmaster, school master and clerk or courts. Father of Dayton’s first born male child, John Whitten Van Cleeve in 1801. The elder Van Cleve also served as the custodian to Dayton’s first library.

Van Cleve, John: In 1828 became owner of the Dayton Journal, contributing articles and editorials. Prior to this he was the choirmaster and organist of Christ Church, and known for his public speaking. In 1840 he acquired the land and founded what is now known as the historic Woodland cemetery. He also sat on the special commission to prepare a grand new courthouse, which was constructed out of limestone (Dayton “Marble”) in a Greek temple style from 1845-50.

Wayne, General Anthony: Battled with Indians at Fallen Timbers. Signed the Treaty of Greene Ville in 1795 to open Miami Valley to peaceful settlement.

Welsh, Dr. James: A Presbyterian minister who in 1810, established a ferry from the foot of First Street to a spot close to where Salem Avenue starts. This was platted as “North Dayton,” but is now known as Dayton View Historic District.

Wheeler, Joseph: A freed slave who came to Dayton in 1824. He was a member of the American Sons of Protection, which formed in 1849 to help black Daytonians who were denied benefits paid for by money collected as taxes. This society helped the black community prosper, and aided flood victims in 1913. His descendants played a significant role in Dayton’s history in the areas of law enforcement, preservation of black local history, music, and community/fraternal organizations.

Wilkinson, General James: Partnered with Jonathan Dayton, Col. Israel Ludlow and General Arthur St. Clair, to buy the “Miami Lands” at 83 cents/acre from John Cleve Symmes. One of Dayton’s first legal proprietors. Namesake of one of Dayton’s first streets.

Williams, H.S.: Set up the Dayton Street Railroad Company with William Huffman in 1869. This horse-drawn trolley line ran on rails down third street to the tracts of land the two of them owned on the city’s east and west sides. Williams’ land was on the west edge.

Wright, Orville and Wilbur: The sons of a bishop and his mechanically minded wife, and Orville and Wilbur had a legacy which drew them back to Dayton each time their father’s preaching took them away. Their great great grandmother, Catherine Van Cleve Thompson had been Dayton’s first settler in 1796. While in high school in Dayton, the pair became good friends with the only black student in the school, Paul Laurence Dunbar. As adults, they went on to open a print shop which published the West Side News, Snap Shots and the Dayton Tattler with Dunbar. They were inspired by America’s bicycling craze and opened their own series of bike repair shop and showrooms in 1892, which led them to build their own bikes to sell in 1896...the first of which was named for their great great grandma, the Van Cleve. Tinkering with bikes, led them to tinkering with gliders in 1897, for which they left printing behind to pursue. On Dec 17, 1903 the brothers made there hard work pay off when they were the first men to achieved successful powered flight, with aero plane constructed from bike parts. They went on to master controlled flight and received patents for their flying machines, changing the way humans look at travel forever.