James Dayley

James Dayley was born March 26, 1811 in Little Pigeon Roost, Ohio to Jacob and Elizabeth Barbara Baker Dailey. James is a Pioneer of Richmond. James is a veteran of the Indian Wars.

Early Life

Just before James' birth, his father died in a drowning accident. James' mother remarried to Jacob Dailey and had four half-siblings from their marriage. James participated in the Black Hawk War in 1832.1

On Feb 10, 1834, James was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of 23. Soon after, James married Isabelle McBride on March 18, 1834 in Lancaster, Ohio. 

Life in Missouri & Illinois

The Dayley family, along with many of Isabelle's family members, moved to Pike County, Missouri in June of 1835. While in Missouri, James became acquainted with Church President Joseph Smith and would sometimes be his bodyguard. 

James was at Haun's Mill when the mob came to the area and began massacring many latter-day saints. James ran for cover in an open field while Isabelle and their baby boy Enoch hid in the willows along the steam. Once the mobs had left, James returned to the scene to see that all the men and many of the children had been murdered. James, his brother-in-law Amos, and another man helped take the bodies of those who had been killed over to an unfinished well and placed them into the well as their burial site.

After the event, the Dayley family moved to Nauvoo, Illinois on Feb 24, 1839. While in Nauvoo, James participated in many of the cities and Church's historical events, but none are specified in family histories. Because James was a friend of Joseph Smith, when Joseph was assassinated in 1844, James was welcomed to the secret funeral of the Smith brothers in the basement of the Nauvoo House. 

Exodus West

The Dayleys left Nauvoo in April of 1846 and settled in Farmington, Iowa to make plans to move west to the Rocky Mountains. Members of this party were the Dayleys, and many of the McBride family members such as the Popes, and the Biddlecomes.

They got a summer job in Farmington before moving to Tom's Mill in September. They then stopped in Aponoose County, Iowa to get more supplies. They stayed in the county working the land and with other settlers in the area until May of 1850 when they finally had what they needed to keep going west. The Dayleys made it to Council Bluffs, Iowa where the large body of saints were staying.

The multiple members of the McBride and Dayley families agreed that they all could not travel at once to move west, so plans were made that some would go first. While there, James was called to serve as a Bishop in the area.

On June 26, 1852, the Dayley family joined the John B. Walker Company. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Oct 2.

Life in the Salt Lake Valley

Soon after they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, the Dayley family moved to Grantsville, Utah where his brother-in-law James J. McBride had settled the area. While there, Isabelle fell sick and had 16-year-old Caroline Alvira Hardy help her get better. After Isabelle realized she was not getting better, she ordered James to marry Caroline so someone can take care of Isabelle's youngest kids after she dies. James and Caroline were married on March 18, 1857 in Salt Lake City, Utah. James participated in the practice of polygamy until Isabelle's death on Jan 11, 1861.

Life in Richmond

By invitation by his son Enoch who was called to settle the area, James and his family moved to Richmond in 1862. Also living in Richmond was his nephew Joseph Lehi Biddlecome and niece Cassanda Pope. The Dayleys lived in Richmond until 1868 and moved back to Grantsville, Utah.

Indian Wars Service

After the construction of the Richmond Fort in 1860 and other forts in Cache Valley, the Territory of Utah created the Cache Military District on Oct 15, 1861 with Church Apostle Ezra T. Benson as Colonel. Richmond was organized as the 5th Battalion Infantry, with Thomas L. Whittle as Major, David P. Rainy as Adjutant, and Robert M. Kerr and Dana Walton as Captains. James was appointed a Private.

Epilogue