Edwin S. Day (Dr.) (1935)

COMPTON, DAY, MANLY, SCHULER

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 10/9/2007 at 08:50:11

Earlham Library Obituary Collection
Earlham, Iowa
September 1935

IN MEMORY OF DR. E. S. DAY

“The New Doctor,” Destined to 40 Years of Community Service Arrives in the 1890’s.

Only a few years before the turn of the Century, a smallish man wearing a Vandyke beard and derby hat drove into the quiet little quaker town of Earlham, put up his horses at the livery stable, took up his residence at the Windsor hotel and forthwith became known as “the new doctor.”

Old time residents such as Mark Hill, J. R. Thomson and Noel Packard gave him a smile of welcome but shook their heads in misgivings. Were there not already Dr. Maulsby, and the Doctors Irvin father and son? Nothing daunted the modest little sign “Dr. E. S. Day” went up, there to remain for 40 eventful, useful years.

Those years of practice were but typical ones of a pioneer country doctor. Soon the community began to note the zest for hard work and service faithfully rendered and responded freely with open hand and heart. Horses and top buggy were tied at the hitch racks and were replaced with new ones. Old-timers will recall the proud day when his first rubber tired, red wheeled buggy rolled down the street behind the familiar prancing “Snap” and “Topay.”

It was those indispensable horses that prompted the location of the new home in the little pasture across the track in Southwest Earlham now known as the Junkin homestead. Here the large house and barn were erected. Here his family life began and was continued uninterrupted until his removal to northeast Earlham in 1914, where the new home was built and where the family has since resided.

Shortly after 1900 the community began to be automobile conscious and many will remember the excited comment on Fred Fritz’ first new car. Dr. Day soon followed with a gay red touring Ford Model “T.” Billy Hockenberry will testify that there were many years in which the car was practically useless except in the dry weather of summer. Billy was often the favorite companion on those terrible drives over frozen and drift filled roads to Pitzer and elsewhere and with many others will recall the tragic difficulties encountered before the evolution of country roads.

High lights in the Doctor’s life? Let those who needed him relate the stories of emergency met with efficiency and self sacrifice.

Vacations? Only two trips to semi-distant points and a few visits to Minnesota lakes to enjoy his favorite pastime. Otherwise his home improvement and enjoyment were his only diversion.l

His was the Shining Light of devotion to his calling. This community will miss for a time the old familiar sign which was taken down on Wednesday, September 25, 1935. Many will miss for awhile his kindly ministrations but the goodly life among us will never be forgotten.

Note: Dr. Edwin S. Day died September 17, 1935 and is buried in the Earlham cemetery.
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Earlham Library Collection, Earlham, Iowa
September 1935

Dr. E. S. Day Called by Death

Died Tuesday at 4:30 p. m. In Des Moines Hospital. Had Served Community 40 Years.

Dr. Edwin S. Day, well known physician in this community for the past 40 years, died at the Iowa Methodist hospital in Des Moines Tuesday, September 17, at 4:30 p. m. Dr. Day was 67 years old. He had been in failing health for the past several weeks from a heart ailment.

Funeral services will be held this afternoon at the Friends church at 2:30. Services will be in charge of Reverend Reece and the Masonic lodge of which Dr. Day was a prominent member. Members of the lodge will attend in a body. Interment will be made in the Earlham cemetery.

OBITUARY

Edwin Sheridan Day, son of James G. and Minerva Manly Day was born in Sydney, Freemont county, Iowa July 6, 1868 and departed this life September 17, 1935.

He was the fifth son in a family of six brothers and one sister, all of whom are deceased except two brothers, Charles M. Day of Sioux Falls, and Harry B. Day of Lennox, South Dakota.

When eleven years of age, he with the family moved to Des Moines where he received his high school and college education previous to entering Physicians and Surgeons Medical College in Chicago, from which he graduated in 1892. After practicing two years in Polk City, Iowa, he came to Earlham.

On December 24, 1901, he was united in marriage with Sydna Helen Compton, who with their daughter Gladys and grandson James Day Schuler survive, together with their son-in-law, Clarence Schuler, four nephews and three nieces.