BENJAMIN F. DAY

DAY, WILLIAMSON, BEAR

Posted By: Sharon R. Becker (email)
Date: 11/17/2008 at 09:47:42

BENJAMIN F. DAY

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa
Lewis Publishing Company, 1887. pp. 334 - 335.

"Benjamin F. DAY, one of the early settlers of Ringgold County, and an active and enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of Liberty Township, is a native of Ross County, Ohio, born near Chillicothe, July 1, 1831.

His parents were both natives of the State of Virginia, the father, Hedgman Day, born in Pendleton County, March 18, 1801, and going to Ohio in 1804, and the mother born in Rockingham County, December 2, 1800. Their wedded life was spent in Ross County, Ohio, where they reared a family to honorable and respectable status in life, and gained the respect of the entire community. Both parents died in Ross County. Of the eight children born to them seven grew to maturity, six of whom are yet living.

Benjamin F. Day, the subject of this sketch, remained on the farm in Ohio till attaining the age of twenty-one years. His youth was passed in attending the district schools during the winter terms, his summers being employed in assisting with the work of the farm. In October, 1852, he came to Iowa, and the two years following worked on a farm in Louisa County, and in the fall of 1854 he went to Madison County, remaining there till the year 1855.

He was united in marriage March 6, 1855, to Miss Margaret Williamson, a native of Ohio, being brought by her parents to Cedar County, Iowa, in 1836. At the time of her marriage she was living in Muscatine. In the fall of 1855 Mr. Day brought his wife to Ringgold County, Iowa, and for two summers followed farming on what is now section 3, Poe Township, when he paid a visit to his native State.

Returning to Ringgold County, he settled on section 1, Liberty Township, his present home. In 1862 he enlisted in defense of the Union in Company G, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and took part with his regiment in the engagements at Helena, Little Rock, Little Missouri, Prairie de Ann, and others. He was mustered out in June, 1865, at Little Rock, Arkansas, after being in the service of his country nearly three years. He then returned to his farm in Liberty Township, where he followed agricultural pursuits until 1875, his first wife dying on the farm in February, 1870. She left at her death three children - John H., Martha J. and Margaret E.

Mr. Day was again married December 13,1870, to Mrs. Mary A. Bear, of Mt. Ayr, widow of Adam Bear, who was wounded in the late war April 19, 1864, and died from the effects of his wound, June 19 following.

In the fall of 1874 Mr. Day removed his family to Mt. Ayr, he having been elected by the Republican party to fill the office of county recorder, assuming the duties of that office January 1, 1875. He served in that capacity two years, when he again engaged in farming an stock-raising on his farm in Liberty Township, where he has since resided. Mr. Day has filled all the township offices except that of justice of the peace, and in all his official positions he has always given entire satisfaction to his constituents. He takes much interest in the cause of education, having at one time been a successful teacher himself. He has taught in Ringgold County thirty-seven terms, and one term in Taylor County, Iowa.

Mr. Day is a member of Mt. Ayr Lodge, No. 169, A. F. & A. M., and also belongs to the Odd Fellows order."

Submitted to the Ringgold County IAGenWeb Project by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com