Dayton, Bruce B.

George Draper Dayton was born in Clifton Springs, New York, on March 6, 1857. He was the son of Dr. David Day and Caroline (Draper) Dayton, a physician and surgeon. George married Emma Willard Chadwick (1856-1931) at Lakemont, New York, on December 17, 1878. Their children included David Draper, Caroline, George Nelson, and Josephine.

George and his wife came to Minnesota in 1883 and settled at Worthington. George was involved in real estate investments there, and served as president of a bank. In 1884 he formed the Minnesota Loan & Investment Company, Worthington, and became its president. This company bought, sold, and lent money on farm lands and other real estate.

In 1902 the Daytons moved to Minneapolis, where George and two associates bought the R. S. Goodfellow Company, changing the name to the Goodfellow Dry Goods Company. In 1903 the name was changed to Dayton Dry Goods Company, and in 1911 to the Dayton Company. The firm became Dayton Corporation [ca.1967], and in 1969 was part of a merger that created The Dayton Hudson Corporation.

He was also president of the Dayton Investment Company, successor to the Minnesota Loan & Investment Company; the Dayton Foundation; and J. B. Hudson, Inc. He was a trustee of Macalester College (St. Paul), the Board of National Missions of the Presbyterian Church of the United States, the Minneapolis Board of Church Extension, Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Chicago), Union City Mission, Goodwill Industries, the Minneapolis Y.W.C.A., and other organizations.

Dayton, a lifelong Presbyterian, was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Worthington; First Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis; and Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis.

Emma Dayton died January 19, 1931. George Dayton died at his home in Minneapolis on February 18, 1938, and was interred at Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis.

From the guide to the George D. Dayton research files., 1992-1997., (Minnesota Historical Society)