George Washington Day (1854-1955)

DAY, YOUNG, HART, MORRIS, ALLEN, COUSER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 4/21/2014 at 20:56:15

From Nevada Journal July 23, 1955

Last rites for the late George W. Day, Nevada's centenarian who died in the Collins Nursing Home in Des Moines, Monday, July 18, where he had been a resident for a few years, at age of 101 years, were held from the Brouhard Funeral Home in Nevada, Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. C. E. Lookingbill officiating.

The beautiful floral offerings which testified to the love and esteem in which the deceased was held in the community for many years, were arranged by Mrs. Wm. C. Allen and Mrs. Tom McLaurey.

Mrs. Richard Benson was at the organ playing appropriate music at the opening and closing of the service.

The casket bearers were L. P. Sorensen, Fred Sorensen, Fank Menzel, Nick Kruse, Lew Heintz and Marshall Eacret.

Committal was in the Nevada cemetery.

Born in Illinois

A native of Princeton, Ill., Mr. Day, who was born on George Washington's birthday was named George Washington Day. When 28 years of age he came to Story county and settled on what was then called the "McCall Section" in Richland township.

For many years Mr. Day was a well known Story county thresherman, an avocation he followed for over 50 years, having begun when 19 years of age in Illinois. He had one crew which worked together in Story county for 25 years.

Saw many changes

During his long life in Story county he was an eye witness to many changes. He frequently had mentioned seeing oats sell for three to five cents per bushel. He saw the prairie highways and dirt roads in Story County replaced by fine paved highways and gravelled roads. He remembered when Story County had few windbreaks and when the snow came early in the fall and remained until the next spring, and of driving from the McCall Section into Nevada when snow banks covered the fences.

Mr. Day's life was an exemplification of industry, of tine neighborliness and of stalwart living by tine moral principles.

Mr. Day was twice married, both wives preceding him in death by many years.*

He is survived by his son, George W. Day Jr. of Des Moines, his daughters, Mrs. Susie Young of Maxwell, Mrs. Elsie Hart of State Center, Ruth, Mrs. Sam Morris of Fayetteville, N.C. and Dorothy, Mrs. John D. Allen, Nevada. Two children, his son Jesse and daughter Anna, Mrs. Ed. J. Couser, preceded the father in death.

He is also survived by one brother, Ed Day of Waterloo, and by several grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

*SUBMITTER'S NOTE: The above life sketch ignores George Day's first marriage to Louisa Fannie Nelson on 25 August 1878 in Monroe County, Missouri. They has one known child: Effie Viola Day born 9 October 1979 in Missouri. Louisa remarried after their apparent divorce to Samuel Adelbert Murray on 20 February 1884 in Polk City, Polk County, Iowa.