An Illustrated Congressional Manual. The United States Red Book, 1896, (detail), Collection of U.S. House of Representative

DAYTON, Alston Gordon, a Representative from West Virginia; born in Philippi, Va. (now West Virginia), October 18, 1857; attended the public schools, and was graduated from the University of West Virginia at Morgantown in June 1878; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1878 and commenced practice in Philippi; appointed to fill an unexpired term as prosecuting attorney of Upshur County, W.Va., in 1879; prosecuting attorney for Barbour County 1882-1886; elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth and to the five succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1895, until his resignation March 16, 1905, to accept a judicial position; appointed United States district judge for the northern district of West Virginia on March 5, 1905, and served until his death in Battle Creek, Mich., on July 30, 1920; interment in Fraternity Cemetery, Philippi, Barbour County, W.Va.