Joseph C. Day, b. 30 Sep 1830

WORMER, CHURCHILL, COTTON, GRAY, PETERSEN

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/21/2004 at 11:32:06

Joseph C. Day, dealer in hardware and agricultural implements at Sabula, was born near Oswego, Tioga Co., N.Y., Sept. 30, 1830. He is the son of Elias B. and Maria (Wormer) Day, the former born near the city of Albany, N.Y., and a descendant of one of two brothers who came from England, probably during the Colonial days. He was a farmer by occupation, and long since deceased. The mother was of Holland-Dutch ancestry, and died when her son, Joseph C., was a boy of seven years.

To the parents of our subject, there were born eight children, seven sons and one daughter, six of whom are deceased. Joseph C. was the seventh in order of birth; his sister, Catherine M., is a widow and lives in Sabula. After the death of his mother, our subject went to live with his uncle Clark in Bradford County, Pa., and when thirteen years old entered the office of the Oswego Gazette, and began learning the printer's trade. He came to Iowa in the spring of 1850, but shortly afterward went to St. Paul, Minn., where he was employed in the office of the St. Paul Pioneer Press at a time when that now great city was an Indian trading-post and Minneapolis consisted of one house.

The same summer, however, Mr. Day returned to Sabula, where, with the exception of one year, he has since lived. That year he spent in traveling with his brother-in-law, Dr. Churchill, a specialist in surgery. Mr. Day, in 1855, engaged in the dry-goods trade, but on account of the hard times was obliged to close out, but had the satisfaction of being able to liquidate all his indebtedness. He established himself in his present business in 1860, and now operates with a capital stock of $9,000. He carries a full line of all descriptions of hardware, stoves, tinware, etc., and in addition to his agricultural implements, deals in wagons and road vehicles.

Mr. Day has held the office of Constable for many years, and also has been a member of the City Council. He was married, March 11, 1858, to Miss Sophia Cotton, and they have three children - Lulu, Charles, and Lyda. Lulu is the wife of Edward N. Gray, a wood engraver, of Chicago; Charles married Miss Martha Petersen, and is in business with his father; he is a member of the A.O.U.W. and the Modern Woodmen.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)