Dustin - Dana Family Papers

Dustin Family

Rev. Mighill Dustin was a distinguished minister and official of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was born in Boonville, N.Y. on August 18, 1810. He moved with his parents to Washington County, Ohio, in his early childhood. In 1831 he entered the Collegiate Institute which later became Marietta College. He entered the ministry in 1836. He was a delegate to the general conferences in 1856 and 1864 and was appointed as a fraternal delegate to the M.E. church of Canada. He also obtained the degree of Doctor of Divinity. His work in the ministry took him to such places as Cincinnati, Hamilton, Hillsboro, Xenia, Springfield, and Oxford. He was a candidate for Congress on the Prohibition ticket in the Warren County District.

Mighill Dustin was first married to Mary B. Dana. They had five children. His son, Charles W. Dustin, served on the bench of Montgomery County. A son, William Thomas, died at a young age. Two other sons and a daughter, Mary Ellen, died before Rev. Dustin's death. After Mary B. Dustin's death, he married Mary J. Warren. He retired from the ministry in 1890 and was a resident of Dayton from 1893 until his death. He died in Dayton, Ohio on March 10, 1896. His obituary in The Evening News, Dayton, Ohio, March 11, 1896, describes him in this way:

"An apt and ready public speaker, a clear and forcible writer, and a man of clear convictions and strong courage, his influence both in and out of the church was effective for the highest good. In his early manhood, Dr. Dustin was a strong antislavery advocate and was identified with the Abolitionists, in days when such a position brought unpopularity and abuse...When compelled by the infirmities of old age to relax his energies and activity as a minister, he contributed freely to the religious press, and through his entire life he wielded a valued influence upon all whom he came in contact."

Dana Family

Mary B. Dana, Rev. Dustin's first wife, was the daughter of William Dana. She was a native of Washington County, Ohio. Her grandfather was Captain William Dana, one of the pioneer residents of the Ohio and friend of the Blennerhassetts, whose home was on Blennerhassett Island, opposite of which lived the Danas. Mary B. Dana's mother was Dorcas Dana, originally a Bent. Little is known about the Dana and Bent families at the time of processing of this collection. One of Dorcas Bent's brothers went to St. Louis, Louisiana Territory, very early in the nineteenth century. There are letters in the collection written by nieces in St. Louis to their aunt Dorcas in Newport, Ohio.

Howard Family

The Howard family does not appear to be related by family tied to the Dustin or Dana families, but may be related through the Methodist Church. The Howard letters and papers indicate that the family originally came from Onslow County, North Carolina. The letters in the collection are between Mary Howard Little and her brothers, and are sent between Columbus, Marion, Dayton, and Delaware, Ohio. Nothing more is known about them at this writing.

Van Doren Family

The Van Doren letters were written by Abram C. Van Doren in Dayton to his wife, H. Mary Van Doren or "Mauzy" in Eaton, Preble County, Ohio. The Van Dorens were originally from Preble County. Abram van Doren left his wife and small child in Eaton and came to Dayton about 1844 to set up a dry goods store with William Parrott. Mrs. Van Doren and their child joined Mr. Van Doren in Dayton later. Abram Van Doren died in Dayton on June 19, 1872. His wife, H. Mary Van Doren died December 19, 1897. There is no complete history of the Van Doren family available at this time.

Note: Supporting documents, such as wills and excerpts from county histories were copied from various sources in the Archives. These copies are kept in a folder at the beginning of the collection and are to be used by researchers if they wish.