Day

The family name is spelled Daigh or Day. The Day family emigrated from Ireland in approximately 1772.

1.0 - James R. Daigh (? - ?) est.

James R. Daigh was born before 1765 in Ireland. James emigrated to Virginia about 1772. James' known children include:

• James Lewis Daigh

James served in the Revolutionary War.

The American Revolutionary War (1775 - 1783) was the overthrow of the Kingdom of Great Britain's control of thirteen of its American colonies which joined together as the United States of America in July 1776. The war had its origins in the resistance of many Americans to taxes imposed by the British parliament, which they held to be unlawful.

2.0 - James Lewis Daigh (1776 - 1844) est. [James R.]

James Lewis Daigh was born December 2, 1776 in Old Dominion, Virginia. James lived in Mason County, Virginia in the 1810, 1820 and 1830 censuses. James Lewis Daigh married Elizabeth Stith (of Stiff) in 1802 in Virginia. James and Elizabeth had the following children:

• • Rebecca Virginia (Daigh) Hazlett Firey

  • John Stith Daigh

  • Hugh Daigh

  • Charles Cameron Daigh

  • James M Daigh

  • Andrew Lewis Daigh

  • Margaret Daigh

• Thomas J. Day

  • Nancy Daigh

  • Frances Daigh

  • William B Daigh

  • Elizabeth Daigh

  • Ruth Daigh

James served in the War of 1812. Private James Lewis Daigh was with the 106th Regiment of the Virginia Militia.

The War of 1812 (1812 - 1815) was a military conflict between the United States and the United Kingdom. The war's primary causes included freedom of trade that lingered from the American Revolutionary War, maritime issues and the United Kingdom's resistance to America's expansion.

James died March 29, 1844 in Sangamon County, Illinois at age 67. Elizabeth died March 4, 1858 in Sangamon County. James and Elizabeth are buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Sangamon County, Illinois.

3.0 - Thomas J. Day (1820 - 1884) [James R. > James Lewis]

Thomas J. Day was born October 18, 1820 in Mason County, Virginia. Thomas married Jane Henry on October 30, 1839 in Sangamon County, Illinois. Thomas and Jane moved to Lawrence County, Missouri in 1842. Jane died in 1844 (est.) in Lawrence County. Thomas then married Elizabeth Jane Duncan on March 30, 1845 in Barry County, Missouri. Thomas had the following children:

Children with Jane (2):

- James H. Day

- John W. Day

Children with Elizabeth (10):

- Elizabeth L. (Day) Price

- Mark Robinson Day

- Martha E. (Day) Matthews

- Jesse G. Day

- Thomas W. Day

- Jaqillin L. Day

- Joseph M. Day

- Sarah A. Day

- Charles Lincoln Day

- Elizabeth Lucretia (Day) Adams

In 1855 Thomas became the first settler in the area of South Deer Creek, Allen County, Kansas. Thomas named both Deer Creek and Indian Creek in the area. Thomas' arrival is documented in The History of Anderson County, Kansas by W. A. Johnson.

Kansas Territory was organized and the area opened to settlement by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. The state of Kansas was admitted to the Union in 1861.

Thomas was one of the first commissioners in Allen County, Kansas. In 1857 Thomas moved into neighboring Anderson County. Thomas and others established Elizabethtown in 1859. Thomas was Ozark Township treasurer 1874-75.

Thomas died December 9, 1884 in Anderson County, Kansas at age 64. He is buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Allen County, Kansas.

See the Google+ Web Album for pictures of Thomas J. Day and family.

4.0 - James H. Day (1840 - 1907) [James R. > James Lewis > Thomas J.]

James H. Day was born August 3, 1840 in Sangamon County, Illinois. In 1842 the family moved to southwest Missouri then to Allen County, Kansas in 1855. James married Nancy E. Wise on February 3, 1861. Nancy's family lived on a neighboring farm in Allen County. Nancy was born in 1843 in Illinois to William and Elizabeth (Weaver) Wise. James and Nancy had the following children:

• • Emily J. (Day) Wilkinson

  • Annie F. Day

  • Minnie Day

• Henry Wise Day

  • Lottie E. (Day) Lambert

  • Nancy Adelia (Day) Willey

James and Nancy initially lived with Nancy's parents, William Wise, working on the family farm.

On October 3, 1861, James enlisted in the Union Army to serve in the Civil War. James' younger brother, John W. Day, enlisted on August 28, 1861. James was 21 and John just 18. James was listed as 6 feet and 3/4 inches tall, John at 6 feet, 4 inches. James and John served with the 8th Kansas Infantry, Company F. John died in 1863 apparently from injuries sustained or disease contracted during the war.

The 8th Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed in 1861 and mustered in under the command of Colonel Henry W. Wessels. In 1863 the 8th Kansas fought in the Tullahoma Campaign under Major General William Rosecrans with the objective of driving the Confederates out of Middle Tennessee. After victory in the Tullahoma Campaign General Rosecrans again engaged the Confederates in southeastern Tennessee and Northwestern Georgia in the Battle of Chickamauga. The Battle of Chickamauga was the second deadliest battle in the Civil War behind Gettysburg. General Rosecrans was relieved of duty following his retreat at Chickamauga. Major General Ulysses S. Grant took command and undertook the Chattanooga Campaign that drove the Confederates from Tennessee. General Grant then took command of all Union armies leaving the 8th Kansas under the command of Major General William Tecumseh Sherman.

General Sherman captured Atlanta, Georgia in the Atlanta Campaign in 1864. General Sherman then began his March to the Sea. The 8th Kansas was left to defend Tennessee under the command of Major General George H. Thomas. General Thomas began the Franklin-Nashville Campaign that drove the Confederate Army into Mississippi securing Tennessee for the Union. The 8th Kansas was in Nashville, Tennessee when the Confederacy surrendered in April 1865.

While many union troops were immediately mustered out, the 8th Kansas was ordered to Texas. The 8th Kansas moved from Nashville to New Orleans via rail and boat. From New Orleans they took steamers down the Gulf of Mexico to Indianola, TX. From Indianola they marched thru swampland to Green Lake, TX. From Green Lake they marched to San Antonio. On November 29, 1865 the troops were ordered back to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where they were honorably discharged on January 9, 1866.

After the Civil War, James returned to Anderson County, Kansas. In 1901 James' farm consisted of 126 acres of Section 2 T23S R19E, Ozark Township, Anderson County. The farm was 3-1/2 miles east of Colony, Kansas 1/2 mile North and 1/2 mile West of Missouri Rd and 300 Rd.

James was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) post 179, Meacham, in Colony, KS.

James and Nancy were members of the Methodist Church in Elizabethtown.

Nancy died May 12, 1888 in Anderson County at age 45 after a lengthy illness.

James then married the widow Martha Jane (Wise) Fletcher on February 19, 1889. Martha was Nancy's cousin, the daughter of Robert C. and Lucinda Wise.

James died on March 7, 1907 in Anderson County at age 66. James arranged the details of his own memorial service. His pall bearers consisted of six Civil War veterans; four from his own regiment. James and Nancy are buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Allen County, Kansas.

Martha Jane Day died on May 4, 1931 at age 87. Martha is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence, Kansas.

See the Google+ Web Album for pictures of James H. Day and family.

5.0 - Henry Wise Day (1873 - 1945) [James R. > James Lewis > Thomas J. > James H.]

Henry Wise Day was born April 14, 1873 in Colony, Kansas. Henry married Anna Lambert September 30, 1896. Anna "Annie" is the daughter of John Robert Lambert and Hannah Elder (Nickelson) Lambert. Annie was born September 22, 1873 in Kincaid, Kansas.

Henry and Annie had the following children: - Hazel Eola (Day) Chesney - Sylvia Leona (Day) Reed - James Robert Day - Dora Mae (Day) Tustison - Inez Pearl (Day) Halbert

Henry and Annie moved west to Rooks County, Kansas in 1904 purchasing a 240 acre farm in Corning Township for $2,500. The farm's legal is partial of the East 1/2 of Section 4 T9S R16W lying on the west side of Road 28 between S Road and T Road. Poor economic conditions and drought forced the land into bankruptcy around 1929. The land is currently (as of 2014) owned by Kansas State College.

The Dust Bowl was a period of severe dust storms caused by drought and poor farming practices. The drought came in waves in 1930-31, 1934, 1936, and 1939-40. Extensive deep plowing of the virgin topsoil of the Great Plains during the previous decade had displaced the native, deep-rooted grasses that normally trapped soil and moisture even during periods of drought and high winds. The unanchored soil turned to dust that the prevailing winds blew away in clouds that sometimes blackened the sky. These choking billows of dust were named "black blizzards" or "black rollers".

The abundance of black-tailed jackrabbits was a problem in the early 1900s. The Wichita Beacon estimated that there were 8M rabbits living in western Kansas by 1935. The rabbits fed on vegetation that was in short supply and badly needed for livestock. To combat the issue, jackrabbit drives were formed to herd the rabbits into an enclosed area and then club them to death.

Henry and Annie were members of the Methodist Church at Aurora as long as church services were held there.

Henry served Corning Township as Trustee for several years.

Annie died June 24, 1938 in Wichita, Kansas at the age of 64. Henry died January 25, 1945 in Woodston, Kansas at age 71. Henry and Annie are buried in Natoma Cemetery, Natoma, Kansas.

See the Google+ Web Album for pictures of Henry Wise Day and family.

6.0 - James Robert Day (1903 - 1984) [James R. > James Lewis > Thomas J. > James H. > Henry Wise]

James Robert Day was born July 29, 1903 in Anderson County, Kansas. The family moved to Rooks County, Kansas the following year. James married Erma Marie Dougherty on December 25, 1922. They were the first couple to be married in the new Rooks County Courthouse. This marriage spanned 61 years.

Erma was born to Frances Gilbreath Dougherty and Ida Johanna (Camp) Dougherty on September 11, 1904 in Codell, Kansas.

James and Erma had the following children: - Ida Mae - Eileen - Keith - Nadine

James and Erma Day spent their lives farming in Rooks County, Kansas. Initially the couple lived and farmed with James' parents. While living with Henry and Annie Day, Erma mastered the art of cooking at the tutelage of her mother-in-law.

James and Erma then moved to a rented farm nearby where they raised hogs. That farm was sold in 1929, so James and Erma rented another farm and moved north of Natoma, Kansas.

Erma's father, Frank Dougherty, suffered from health issues from 1923 until his death in 1928. During this time James and Erma assisted in the operation of Frank's farm. In 1930 James and Erma inherited interest in that 290 acre farm in Corning Township, Rooks County, Kansas. The outstanding interest in the farm was purchased over the years culminating in 1959. The legal is the South 1/2 of Section 18 T9S R16W lying on the northwest corner of V Road and 26 Road.

The farm's small limestone house with a clapboard addition became James and Erma's home for the next 48 years. On the farm James and Erma produced milk and beef from their Milking Shorthorn cattle, eggs that Erma personally delivered and wheat.

James and Erma were members of the First Baptist Church in Codell. Erma was involved in ministries such as Thimble Circle, Mission Circle, Women’s Missionary Society (WMS) and American Baptist Women’s Ministries (ABW) that made quilts that were distributed to the needy around the world. Erma was skilled working with her hands as demonstrated in her quilting and knitting projects.

James served as treasurer for school district 67 in Corning Township.

Erma wrote a column about local news in Corning Township for the Plainville Times 1957-58.

James and Erma served on the board of the Corning Cemetery District for many years.

James and Erma retired and moved to Plainville, Kansas in 1978. Their home was located at 1099 SW Second Street. The farm was leased out before being sold in 2002. The acreage around the farm house is still owned by the family.

James spent his later years in a senior home in Hays, Kansas where he died August 8, 1984 at age 81. Erma died October 25, 1990 in Aurora, Colorado where she was being cared for by her daughter Ida Mae. Erma was 86. James and Erma are buried in Shiloh Cemetery, Rooks County, Kansas.

Keith - James - Erma - Nadine - Ida Mae - Eileen

See the Google+ Web Album for pictures of James Robert Day and family.