The Baptist Church was dedicated on September 22, 1878, Rev. J. B. Bristow being the first pastor. One of the strongest of the early churches of Dayton was the Universalist, organized in 1876 by Rev. A. Morrison. Rev. E. A. McAllister became the pastor the next year and had so strong and enthusiastic a following that his people were able to erect the largest church in town. They could not, however, maintain their lead, and their church, sad to relate, was sold for debt and the congregation disbanded. A Congregational Church was organized and ministered to at intervals by Father Eells, by Rev. E. W. Allen and others, but there was no pastorate of much length till 1890. In that year a notable step occurred in the church life and intellectual life of Dayton, by the coming of Rev. S. B. L. Penrose, one of the "Yale Band," later president of Whitman College at Walla Walla, and one of the leading educators and public speakers of the Northwest. He took up his first pastorate in the Congregational Church at Dayton and remained there from 1890 to 1895, then becoming, after an interval at Honolulu, the president of Whitman College.
A Seventh Day Adventist Church was organized at Dayton in 1877, and three years later a church was built. Their first elder was Ambrose Johnson.
There was also a Presbyterian organization at Dayton during the first decade of its life, but with no building or regular pastor.
At the date of this publication the following churches are in active operation:
The Christian Church, with a membership of 575, Rev. J. Eliott Slimp, pastor; the Congregational, with 140 members, Rev. W. C. Gilmore pastor; Methodist, with 140 members, Rev. A. A. Calendar pastor; Baptist, 90 members, Rev. Lem T. Root, pastor; Episcopal, with 15 members, no settled pastor, but frequently visited by Rev. John Leacher of Pomeroy; United Brethren, 60 members, with Rev. J. H. Wilson as pastor.
DAYTON A CITY OF LODGES
Dayton has been somewhat distinguished as a city of lodges. Their foundation, too, dates to the period of county and city organization. The Odd Fellows secured a charter in February of 1876. On March 8, 1877, Patit Lodge No. 10 was duly organized, the first N. G. being Lee Searcy. The Masons were not much behind in time, for Columbia Lodge No. 26 was organized on October 11, 1877, with J. E. Edmiston as first W. M.
The Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Order of Chosen Friends, the Knights of Pythias, the Good Templars, and the Grand Army of the Republic were all organized during the last years of the '70s or first of the '80s. During the exciting times of the Nez Percé war of 1877 there was a military organization which finally grew into the Columbia Mounted Infantry, and that in turn became the Dayton Grays. This played a somewhat important part in keeping alive a certain interest that made the Dayton country good recruiting ground for the State Guard of Washington, and during the present enrolling year of 1917 very responsive to the national calls.
POLITICAL ANNALS