Learn about the Randalls, a Dayton pioneer family, at the museum

A wedding announcement way back when may have read something like this:

"The Randall and Hazlett families are proud to announce the marriage of Dixie D. Randall to Gertrude E. Hazlett on June 19, 1888. Dixie was born July 2, 1860, and Gertrude on April 5, 1866."

Witnesses for the wedding were the mothers of the happy couple, Mrs. M. Randall and Mrs. F. Hazlett (note how women of yesterday's given names were never used). Reverend Thomas Beale of the Dayton Methodist Church married the lucky couple.

Information for the above notice came from the Randall family tree on display at the Dayton Museum. The pioneer Randall family settled in Dayton before Nevada became a state in circa 1861. Their family tree contains the births and deaths of the couple and their children.

Learn more about the Randall family at the Dayton Museum. It was thanks to Dixie D. Randall and Gertrude's union that their daughter Dorothy (also nicknamed Dixie) entered the world in Dayton because she donated hundreds of items to the Dayton Museum when she more than 90 years old.

A visit to the museum will answer your questions about the Randalls and others who settled the old milling town where Nevada's first gold was discovered in 1849.

The Dayton Museum is located on Shady Lane and Logan in Old Town Dayton. It's also the location of the Dayton Chamber office. It is open during the week at random hours and on weekends beginning in early spring. Check out the Web site: daytonnvhistory.org. Group tours are available. Call 246-5543 or 246-0441 for detail.

n Ruby McFarland is a 17-year resident of Dayton, a board member of the Dayton Historical Society and a docent at the museum.