George Dayton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Dayton
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George Dayton in his office portrait
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| Born |
George Draper Dayton
March 6, 1857 |
| Died | February 18, 1938 (aged 80) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
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| Resting place | Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Political party | Republican |
| Relatives | Bruce Dayton (grandson) Douglas Dayton (grandson) Mark Dayton (great-grandson) |
George Draper Dayton (born March 6, 1857 – died February 18, 1938) was a smart American businessman. He was also a kind person who gave money to good causes, known as a philanthropist. He is most famous for starting a big department store called Dayton's. This store later grew into the well-known Target stores you see today!
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George Dayton's Early Life
George Dayton was born in Clifton Springs, New York. His parents were Caroline Wesley (Draper) and David Day Dayton. In 1883, he moved to Minnesota from New York. His family wasn't very rich. George had hoped to become a minister, but he ended up working in business instead.
In 1878, he married Emma Chadwick. He started buying mortgages for farms in southwest Minnesota. A mortgage is like a loan you get to buy land or a house. In 1883, he and his family moved to Worthington, Minnesota. There, he became very successful as the economy grew.
Building Businesses and Helping Others
George Dayton became the head of the Bank of Worthington. He also started a company called the Minnesota Loan and Investment Company. These businesses helped him become more successful and well-known. In 1890, he built a large house for his family. It was designed by an architect named Wallace Dow.
George Dayton believed in helping his community. He was a big supporter of Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He donated money and served on their board. A building at the college, George Draper Dayton Hall, is named after him.
He also helped his local community in Worthington. He was on the Worthington Board of Education. He was also a church clerk, elder, and trustee at Westminster Presbyterian Church. He taught Sunday School and often hosted church events at his home.
Founding Dayton's Department Store
In 1902, George Dayton bought some land in Minneapolis. He also bought a store called Goodfellow & Co. He changed its name and opened it as Dayton's Dry Goods store. This store later became the famous Dayton's department store.
Even after moving to Minneapolis, George Dayton kept helping others. He continued to give a lot of money to the Worthington church. He also started The Dayton Foundation. This foundation was created to help people and improve their lives. In 1926, he helped with the finance committee for the Community Fund. This group was an early version of today's United Way.
George Dayton's sons, David Draper Dayton (1880–1923) and George Nelson Dayton (1886–1950), continued his business. They also shared his strong commitment to helping the community.
The Legacy of Target
In 1956, the Dayton family built Southdale Center in Edina, Minnesota. This was one of the first indoor shopping malls in the United States. Then, in 1962, the Dayton family started a new kind of store. This was the Target discount store chain, which is now a huge company.
George Nelson Dayton was the great-grandfather of Mark Dayton. Mark Dayton later became a U.S. Senator and the Governor of Minnesota.
George Draper Dayton passed away in Minneapolis on February 18, 1938. He was 80 years old. He was buried at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.
Images for kids
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Dayton's Department Store in 1903
