MS – 207 Dustin/Dana Family Letters

Introduction

This collection consists of the correspondence of Mighill Dustin, Methodist minister in southern Ohio during the early nineteenth century, and the related families of Dana, Bent, Howard, and Van Doren. The collection was accessioned into the Department of Archives and Special Collections in October 1990, from the Montgomery County Historical Society. The letters date from 1811 to 1870. The collection contains sixty four letters, five related documents, and two autograph books.

The collection is arranged into the following record series:

Series I: Dustin Family Letters

Series II: Dana/Bent Family Letters

Series III: Howard Family Letters

Series IV: Van Doren Family Letters

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.

Biographical Sketch

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 anti-slavery 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.

Scope and Content

Series I: Dustin family Letters

There are thirty-five letters in this record series dating from 1833 to 1879. The majority of these are letters between Rev. Mighill and Mary Dustin and her family in Newport and Marietta, Ohio. There are a few letters from other Methodist ministers. Two of the letters discuss family life and religious affairs. There are also references to abolition and the Civil War.

Also included in this series are two autograph books, one belonging to Mary B. Dana and dating to 1833, the other belonging to Mary Ellen Dustin and dating to 1857. These autograph books help to identify family members and their relationships as well as friends.

Series II: Dana and Bent Family Letters

There are eleven letters in this record series. These letters date 1811 to 1837. They consist of correspondence between Dorcas Bent Dana in Newport, Ohio, and her nieces in Louisiana Territory. There are also a few letters between the nieces and their friends. They discuss life in St. Louis and family metters.

Series III: Howard Family Letters

There are ten letters in this record series. They date from 1824 to 1842. They consist of correspondence between Mary Howard Little and her relatives and friends. They discuss family matters and religion. This collection includes a handwritten record of marriages, births, and deaths of the Howard family. It dates to very early in the nineteenth century. There is also a typed transcript of the will of John Howard which dates to 1752.

Series IV: Van Doren Family Letters

This record series contains eight letters. Five of these letters are from Abram Van Doren in Dayton and his wife, “Mauzy”, in Eaton, Preble County, Ohio. Two of the letters are to Abram Van Doren from an acquaintance and one from a brother. These letters discuss Abram Van Doren’s dry goods and grocery store in Dayton and family matters. Additional documents in this record series include the will of Ann Marie Bell, the mother of “Mauzy” (H. Mary Van Doren) and lists of balances, collection notes and accounts for the Van Doren/William Parrott store in Dayton. The letters and documents in this series date from 1844 to 1865.

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