Samuel Day
B. 1799 KY
Submitted by Becky Rittenhouse
Portrait and biographical record of Ford Co Il, 1892
pg 332
Samuel Day
Among the early settlers of the territory now comprising
Ford Co., was he whose name heads this sketch, and whose
family has been prominently identified with the business
interests and development of the county since its organization.
Mr. Day was born in Kenton Co, Ky.,
on the 16th of April, 1799, while that region was still a
wilderness. His father was the Rev. John Day, a native of
Maryland and a pioneer of KY, when the red men held almost
undisputed sway in that region. In 1803, he removed with his
family to Preble Co. OH, where, by the help of his sons, he
cleared an improved a farm in that heavily timbered region,
which was his home for the remainder of his days. His wife
died in middle life and was buried in Preble Co. The husband
survived till old age, remaining single. He was a minister of
what is now known as the Christian CHurch, and was ever
faithful in the discharge of his duties. His death occured in
Shelby Co IN, while on a visit to his children, and he was
there buried.
Samuel Day was reared on his father's farm and in his youth
learned th carpenter's trade, although he made agricultural
pursuits the principal occupation of his life. On the 8th of
March, 1821, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Peggy Purviance,
a daughter of the Hon. David Purviance, and a native of
Kentucky. Her father was prominent man of that State and distinguished himself by his open hostility to slavery,
being an original Abolistionist. In early life he had
settled in KY where was elected to the State Senate, and
from his peculiar and then unpopular views on the all-exciting
subject of slavery, he became renonwned for the bold defense
of his opinions and for the hostility he encountered and
successfully combatted. In 1807 he removed to Preble Co OH
where he passed the latter years of his life.
Mr. and Mrs. Day had a family of nine children, all born in
Preble Co, of whom only four are now living:
Eliza, the eldest, died in her native state at the age of seventeen;
John P. married Miss Melinda Swisher, and is a well-known
pioneer buisness man of Paxton IL;
Mary A., the next younger, died at the age of 12 years;
Sophia became the wife of Alonzo Loutzenhise and died in
Champaign Co IL 11 Nov 1854;
Samuel L. wedded Susanna Swisher, who died in April 1858,
and in 1860 he married his present wife, who was
Miss Jennie Lyon; he is also a prioneer business man
of Paxton and is preprented elsewhere in this work.
Nicholas B., the third son, married Barbara Stoner and
is one of the oldest merchants of Paxton;
the next in order is a daughter who died in infancy;
Cordelia is now the wife of James Hock, of Paxton;
and the youngest of the family, a son, died while a babe.
Mr. Day continued his residence in OH unti l August, 1851,
when with his family, he removed to Miami Co IN and settled
on a farm near Peru. In Nov 1853, accompanied by his wife
and children, he emigrated to IL, travleing with teams and
driving the stock.. They located near Danville, where, after
spending a year, Mr. Day and his sons, Samuel and NIcholas B.
came to what is now Ford County, then a part of Vermillion.
Mr. Day, Sr., purchased a partly improved farm on one hundred
and twenty acres near Prairie City, now Paxton, where he
continued to reside until his death, which occurred in
February, 1858. He was in feeble health when he came to IL
and died soon after coming here, so that he was not actively
identified with the affairs of county. Politically, he was
a Whig from early manhood until the disruption of that party,
after which he was Republican and always anti-slavery.
He filled the position of Assessor and other minor offices
in Ford Co. He and his weife were consistent memebers of the
Christion Church in former years.
Mrs. Day survived her husband many years and later in life,
not having an organized society of her own church at Paxton,
she joined the church of the Untied Brethren of that place.
Her death occurred on the 9th of August, 1890, in her
ninety-third year. She was possessed of a remarkably strong
consitituion and superior mental force and preserved her
casulties almost unimpaired up to the day of her death.
She was devoted to her family and reared her children to
habits of industry and frugality, and inculcated the lessons
sound morality and Christian faith that resulted in their
becoming worthy and respected members of society.
She was a noble woman and her momory is held in great
veneration by her children and surviving friends of the
pioneer days of Ford County.
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