CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD
1749-French Major Celoron de Bienville ascended the La Roche or Big Miami River.
1751-Gist visited the Twightwee or Miami villages.
1780-General George Rogers Clark led an expedition against the Indians of the Miami region, one of his
officers being Colonel Robert Patterson.
1782-November 9, A skirmish between American soldiers under General Clark and the Indians on the site
of Dayton, in which the Americans were victorious.
1786-Americans under Colonel Logan again defeated the Indians on the site of Dayton, one of the
brigades being commanded by Colonel Robert Patterson.
1789-Plans formed for a town named Venice on the site of Dayton.
1795- August 3, A treaty of peace made with the Indians at Greenville, Ohio, by General Wayne- August
20,The site of Dayton purchased by Generals St. Clair, Dayton, and Wilkinson, and Colonel
Ludlow-November, The town laid out by Colonel Israel Ludlow.
1796-April 1, Arrival of first settlers, by the Miami River, landing at the head of St.Clair Street; two other
parties coming a few days later by land-Newcom’s first log cabin built.
1798-First sermon preached in Dayton by Rev. John Kobler, of the Methodist Episcopal Church- First
Methodist Episcopal class, now Grace Church, organized, with eight members- Newcom’s Tavern
built-Taxes paid $29.74.
1799- First Presbyterian Church organized-Blockhouse built- First school opened-First industries
established, consisting of distillery, sawmill, and corn-cracker mill-First lime made-First flatboat
left for New Orleans-Dayton three years old and contained nine cabins-Only two houses on Main
Street-D.C. Cooper appointed justice of the peace.
1800-Presbyterian meeting-house, eighteen by twenty feet in size, built of logs, on northeast corner of
Main and Third streets-August 28, First wedding in Dayton, that of Benjamin Van Cleve and Mary
Whitten-April 14, First child born in Dayton, Jane Newcom, First store opened, in
Newcom’s Tavern.
1801-First male child born in Dayton. John W. Van Cleve.
1802-Only Five Families in Dayton, Ohio admitted into Union.
1803-D.C. Cooper resuscitated the town-Montgomery County organized- Dayton made the county seat-
First court held in Dayton-Newcom’s Tavern used as court-house, jail, church, and country store.
1804-Postoffice and mail-route established-Benjamin Van Cleve, first postmaster-Mail every two weeks,
between Cincinnati and Detroit, via Dayton-Letter postage twenty to twenty-five cents-Log jail on Court-house lot-First grist-mill erected-Taxes for the year, $458.40.
1805-The town of Dayton incorporated-First town election held-Presbyterian log meeting-house sold for
Twenty-two dollars and services continued in log tavern-Dayton Social Library Society
Incorporated-First brick building erected-First disastrous flood.
1806-First Court-house built, of brick, on present Court-house lot-Two brick stores erected-First
newspaper published.
1807-Dayton Academy incorporated.
1808-First brick residence built. 196 votes cast-Repertory first published.
1809-Freight line of keel-boats established between Dayton, Laramie, and St. Mary’s-Fourth of July with
a procession- First drug-store opened-First political convention held in the county.
1810-Population, 383-New sidewalks ordered by Select Council-Ohio Centinel first published.
1811-Nine flatboats left for New Orleans, with products of the surrounding country-A comet visible, and
severe earthquake shocks felt.
1812-A company enlisted for the War of 1812-Ohio militia encamped in Dayton.
1813-First society of mechanics organized-First Dayton bank chartered-August 13,Present Grand Opera
House lot, on southeast corner of Main and First streets, purchased by James Steele and Joseph
Peirce for twenty dollars.
1814-First Methodist church completed-Ferry began to operate at Ludlow Street-Ohio Republican first p
published-First Dayton bank opened for business-A flood.
1815-Dayton Female Charitable and Bible Society organized-First market-
House opened-About one hundred dwellings in Dayton, chiefly log cabins-Moral Society and
Society of Associated Bachelors formed-First school for girls opened.
1816-First theater held in Dayton-Ohio Watchman first published.
1817-New Court-house finished-Presbyterians erected a brick church-St. Thomas Episcopal Parish
Organized-Bridge across Mad River built-Bridge Street Bridge Company incorporated-First
Sabbath-School Association established-Only two carriages owned in Dayton.
1818-Stage-coach line began to run between Dayton and Cincinnati.
1819-A keel-boat arrived from Cincinnati-St. Thomas Episcopal Church organized-An African lion exhibit
at Reid’s Inn-Bridge at Bridge Street completed.
1820-Cooper’s Mill burned-Population, 1,000.
1822-Montgomery County Bible Society organized-Lancasterian method of instruction introduced-The
Gridiron published-Seven flatboats and one keel-boat left for New Orleans.
1823-Miami Republican and Dayton Advertiser first published.
1824-First Baptist Church organized-First cotton factory erected, by Thomas Clegg.
1825-Law passed authorizing the construction of a canal from Dayton to Cincinnati-Stage-line
established between Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati-497 passengers by stage passed through
Dayton during that year.
1825-The Watchman and Miami Republican consolidated, and named the Ohio National Journal and
Montgomery and Dayton Advertiser, afterward becoming the Dayton Journal.
1827-First volunteer fire company organized-Baptist society built a church.
1828-Water first turned into the canal-First canal-boat launched-Twenty stage-coaches arrived every
week-First iron foundry established, now the Globe Iron Works-A flood.
1829-First arrival of canal-boats from Cincinnati-First temperance society formed-A new market-house
built-Last factory established, now Crawford, McGregor & Canby’s Dayton Last Works-Steele’s
dam constructed-A majority of the First Baptist Church established a Campbellite church, now
the Church of Christ church.
1830-Population, 2,954-Dayton Republican first published.
1831-First public school opened-Christ Church Parish organized-First Catholic family arrived in Dayton
-R.C. Schenck began practice of law in Dayton.
1832-A fugitive slave captured in Dayton-First Board of Health appointed-Fifty-one brick and sixty-two
wooden houses built-A silk manufactory established-Dayton Lyceum organized-First parochial
school established-A flood-Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad Company incorporated.
1833-First Reformed Church organized-Mechanics’ Institute organized-Population, 4,000-Thirty-three
deaths from cholera.
1834-Democratic Herald first published-Police department organized.
1835-Firemen’s Insurance Company chartered.
1836-Main Street bridge opened for travel-First book published.
1837-Emmanuel Catholic Church dedicated.
1838- The “public square,” now Cooper Park, prepared for and planted with trees-Convention held in
the interest of free schools-Dayton and Springfield turnpike constructed-Montgomery County
Agricultural Society organized-Erection of public school-houses ordered-Third Street Bridge
Company formed.
1839-Dayton Township first divided into election precincts-First county agricultural fair held-Dayton
Silk Company organized, with capital of $100,000-First English Lutheran Church organized.
1840- Harrison campaign- General Harrison visited Dayton- Dayton Journal began to issue first daily
paper- Emmanuel Church of the Evangelical Association organized- population 6,067- Paper mill established- Montgomery County Mutual Fire Insurance Company organized.
1841- Dayton incorporated as a city- the works of W.P. Callahan & Company established.
1842- Western Empire, now Dayton Times, established.
1843- Woodland cemetery opened- John Quincy Adams entertained- Bank of Dayton chartered by State
legislature.
1844- St. Henry’s Cemetery opened.
1845- Bank of Dayton (a State Bank), no the Dayton National Bank, organized- Dayton Bank, to which
the Winters National Bank traces its origin, organized.
1846- Dayton furnished soldiers for the Mexican War.
1847- Disastrous food- Dayton Library Association organized- First United Brethren church organized-
first telegraph message received.
1849- Two hundred and twenty-five deaths from cholera- the Barney & Smith Car Works established-
Dayton lighted by gas- St. Mary’s Institute founded- W. C. Howells purchased the Dayton
Transcript.
1850-Central High School established-Present old Court-house completed –City Bank and Farmers’ Bank
opened-D.L. Rike, now the Rike Dry Goods Company, began business-First Hebrew Congregation
organized-Population, 10,976.
1851-First railroad, from Dayton to Springfield completed-Cincinnati, Hamilton& Dayton Railway
completed to Dayton-First passenger station located at northeast corner of Jefferson and Sixth
streets-Miami Valley Bank established-Dayton Insurance Company organized-Hebrew cemetery
opened.
1852-Probate Court of Montgomery County first opened-Southern Ohio Insane Asylum located at Dayton-
Exchange Bank, successor of the Dayton Bank, opened-Dayton& Union Railroad opened for traffic.
1853-United Brethren Publishing House, established in 1834 at Circleville, Ohio, removed to Dayton-
Dayton& Western Railroad opened.
1854-First Orthodox Congressional Society organized.
1855-Public Library established-Works of Pinneo & Daniels established.
1856-Union Passenger Station erected.
1857-Old Central High School erected.
1859-Stomps-Burkhardt chair factory established.
1860-Miami Commercial College established-Population 20,081.
1861-65-Dayton furnished to the United States service 2,699 soldiers; under special calls of the State,
965;grand total of Dayton men in the service 3,664.
1862-Lowe Brothers’ paint factory founded.
1863-First National Bank, now the City National Bank, established-Second National Bank chartered-
Miami Valley Insurance Company organized-First steam fire-engine purchased-Vallandigham
arrested-Journal office burned-Dayton & Michigan Railroad opened.
1864-Empire office mobbed-The Brownell Company began business.
1865-Miami Valley Boiler Works established-Teutonia Insurance Company organized-Ohio Insurance
Company began business-Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, now the New York, Pennsylvania
& Ohio, formed by the consolidation of several roads.
1866-Great destruction by flood-National soldiers home located near Dayton-Stiwell & Bierce
Manufacturing Company began business-Volks-Zeitung established-Christian Publishing
Association, established in 1843, reincorporated and located in Dayton.
1867-Central Branch National Military Home established near Dayton-Dayton Building Association No. 1
organized-Montgomery County Children’s Home founded-Cooper Insurance Company
incorporated.
1868-McHouse& Lyon Architectural Iron Works established-John Dodds began to manufacture agricultural implements.
1869-First street-railway constructed, on Third Street-Normal School opened-Dayton Malleable Iron
Company incorporated-Thresher & Company began to manufacture varnish-Sunday, May 16,
1 A.M., Turner’s Opera House and adjoining buildings burned; loss, $500,000; insurance,
$128,000.
1870-Holly Water-Works established-Young Men’s Christian Association organized-Woman’s Christian
Association organized-Population, 30,473-Cincinnati “Short Line” Railroad, now a part of the
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, incorporated.
1871-Union Biblical Seminary opened-Merchants National Bank incorporated-Wayne and Fifth Street
Railway and Dayton View Street Railway chartered.
1872-Calvary Cemetery closed.
1873-Metropolitan police force organized-Mutual Home and Savings Association organized.
1874-Philharmonic Society organized-New jail completed-Smith & Vaile Company began business.
1875-J.W. Stoddard & Company began business.
1877-Free night schools established-Crume & Sefton Manufacturing Company established-Dayton &
Southeastern Railroad, now the Cincinnati, Dayton, & Ironton, opened.
1878-St. Elizabeth Hospital founded-Woodhull’s carriage and buggy works established.
1879-Dayton Daily Herald first published.
1880-Fifth Street Railway Company incorporated-Population, 38,678.
1881-St. Elizabeth Hospital erected.
1882-Third National Bank chartered-Columbia Insurance Company organized-Reformed Publishing
Company organized.
1883-Serious flood-Montgomery County Bar Association organized Electric light introduced-Dayton
Manufacturing Company incorporated-Historical Publishing Company incorporated.
1884-New Court house completed-National Cash Register Company organized-Montgomery County
Soldiers’ Monument dedicated-Ohio Rake Company incorporated.
1886-A destructive flood, damaging West Dayton.
1887-White Line Street-Railway, the first operated by electricity, constructed-Union Safe Deposit and
Trust Company incorporated-Pasteur-Chamberland Filter Company incorporated-Board of Trade
organized.
1888-New Public Library building occupied-Fourth National Bank incorporated-Davis Sewing-Machines
Company removed to Dayton-First street-paving laid, on East Fifth Street.
1889-Woman’s Literary Club organized-Natural gas introduced-Teutonia National Bank chartered.
1890-Protestant Deacons Society organized-First sanitary sewers laid-Lorenz & Company, music
publishers, began business-Population, 61,220.
1891-Dayton Computing Scale Company incorporated-Dayton Under-writers’ Association incorporated-
Deaconess Society opened a temporary hospital-Dayton Press established.
1892-Columbian Centennial celebrated-Seybold Machine Company incorporated.
1893-New High School building completed-Thresher Electrical Company began business.
1894-Deaconess Hospital completed and dedicated-Police matron appointed.
1895-All street railways except one operated by electricity-Dayton Traction Company began to operate its
line-Present Day Club organized-Young Women’s League organized.
1896-Manual-training school opened-Population, about 80,000-Sixty-four passenger trains daily-April 1, Centennial celebration begun.
The End
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