"Blessed are the dead
who died in the Lord."

Again the reaper of death has come and plucked from among our circle a kind and indulgent father and effectionate [sic] husband and an upright and honorable citizen.  James E. Day was born in Hancock county, Ft. Green township, August 16, 1831 and died March 26th 1901 aged 69 years, 4 months and ten days.  Mr. Day was the first child among the early settlers born in Ft. Green township. Here he grew to manhood and on July 3d, 1857 he was married to Margaret M. Callihan*.  To this union were born two children, Minnie and William. In 1889 Minnie, then Mrs. Wise, passed away leaving an only daughter, Velva, who is now living with her father, Robert Wise, of Oklahoma.  When the war of the rebellion broke out Mr. Day was a sympathizer with the northern side and accordingly he enlisted in 1862.  For a little over two years he served faithfully his country being in several battles.  At Hollow Springs the deceased was shot through the hand the bullet severing some of the leaders.

He enlisted in company G, 2d Illinois cavelry [sic], and was a member of G. A. R. Post 103 of Macomb at the time of his death.  Mr. Day was a true soldier for this country and his loyalty did not stop there but in 1867 he enlisted in the army of the Lord, with his much loved friend, Mr. Lewis Yetter.  Both of the men sought their Savoir [sic], in the same revival effort held by Rev. Mr. Mane at Majorville.  In 1884 the deceased was called to lay his wife away.  The greater part of his life was spent near Ft. Green and Majorville but on September 7th 1893 he was married to Mrs. Anna Hampton of Macomb, in which city he resided until his death.  He leaves to mourn his departure his wife and only child William Day of Majorville, six grand children and his four brothers, as follows, Clem Day, of Woodroff, Kansas, Hezekiah Day of Bullion Mo., John Day, of Oklahoma, and Myles Day, in one of the western states beside a great many friends. Through a sickness covering many months he endured with fortitude all pain and suffering, sustained at all times by the "abiding presence."  He cheerfully submitted to his Father's will and patiently awaited the summons home, at last peacefully falling asleep in Jesus.  The loss of this good man comes not to his family alone. The church of which he was a faithful member will miss his familiar form and his voice in prayer and praise.  The funeral services were held Friday, March 29th at Majorville conducted by Rev. H. M. Bloomer, who paid loving tribute to the deceased.  The floral offerings were beautiful and the large and sympathizing audience gave testimony to the esteem and respect in which he was held by all.

Truely a christian gentleman, a faithful friend and a pleasant neighbor has been called away.

On Tuesday, March 26, our community was shocked by the sad intelligence of the death of James E. Day.  Deceased was born in Fountain Green township Aug. 16, 1831, and died March 26, 1901, in Macomb.  His age at his death being 69 years, 5 months and 10 days.  Mr. Day was the first child born amoung the early settlers of Fountain Green township.  Here he grew to manhood and was married to Margaret Callihan*.  When the war of the rebellion broke out Mr. Day enlisted in 1862, being a member of Company 6, 2nd Illinois Cavalry, and at the time of his death was a member of G. A. R. Post of Macomb.  For a little over two years he served his country, being in various battles. At Holly Springs he was wounded in the hand.  Mr. Day was a true soldier for his country , but his loyalty did not stop there.  In 1867 he enlisted in the army of the Lord, living a pure Christian life until his death.  in 1884 the deceased was called to lay his wife away     The greater part of his life was spent near Fountain Green and Majorville, but on Sept. 17, 1893, he was married to Mrs. Anna Hampton, of Macomb.  He leaves to mourn his departure his wife and only child, William Day, six grandchildren and four brothers.  Being an old settler he was widely known and respected by all.  The funeral was held at this place Friday, March 29, at 2 p. m.
BEATRICE

Above left, Union Army pension card.  This obituary, unknown original news source and print date, is from the files of the LaHarpe Historical and Genealogical Society.

From the Scofield biography, "James Edward Day and his wife settled in Fountain Green Township after their marriage, and there he died in 1904, his wife having passed away 1883."  Census records show James and Mary in Carthage and Hancock Townships before they moved to Fountain Green Township.

In addition to James' birth having been the first recorded in the area that would be named Fountain Green Township in 1850, the Majorville souvenir booklet reported that he was the second Caucasian male child born in Hancock County, and his funeral was the last one held in the original Majorville Church building.  (The second structure, which stood until September 2004, was dedicated on August 18, 1901.)  Coincidentally, the first funeral held in the old church was that of James' sister, Sarah F. Day Gosnell, in December 1866.

Mary Margaret Callihan, born in Pennsylvania, was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Betsy) Long Callihan.  Calculating her age based on the tombstone inscription, she was born February 22, 1833.  This is an ambiguous date due to short months and leap years; her actual date of birth could be plus or minus a day or two.  She died May 13, 1884.  *In various references, Mrs. Day is named as Mary M. and Margaret May. Both her tombstone and marriage license show her name as Mary M.  Marriage License

From the Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls compiled by the Illinois Adjutant General's Office:

The children of James E. and Mary M. Callihan Day were:

i.	John William Day, born March 24, 1858, in Hancock County, Illinois, near Fountain Green. He died January 13, 1941, at Macomb, McDonough County, Illinois.  Burial at Majorville Cemetery.
ii.	Minnie M. Day, born March 3, 1863, probably in Hancock County, died March 7, 1889.  Interment at Majorville Cemetery.

In 1890 James apparently retired from farming.  From Ishmael's Fountain Green column in The Republican, published September 10, 1890: James E. Day has sold his 80 acre farm one mile east of here to Lewis Yetter for $40.00 per acre.  This 80 joins Mr. Yetter on the west and will make a fine addition to his farm.

James' second wife was the former Indiana Morrell, daughter of Cyrus Morrell and Mary Worley. She was born in Morgan County, Illinois, about 1837.  She married first William Butterfield about April 18, 1853, in Schuyler County, Illinois.  She married second William L. Hampton about January 30, 1879, in McDonough County, Illinois.

James and Anna's marriage documents

An Army pension was granted to James Day, perhaps in the 1890s - the date is hard to read on the above card.  Anna received a widow's pension in 1917- again, the date is hard to read.  We suspect she died that year in Macomb, but have no hard documentation.  We would expect to find Anna buried near one of her previous husbands.

Household of John Day
males 0 thru 4 - 1
males 30 thru 39 - 1
females 20 thru 29 - 1

Household of John Day
males 0 thru 4 - 2
males 5 thru 9 - 1
males 10 thru 14 - 1
males 40 thru 49 - 1
females 30 thru 39 - 1
Total - 6
Persons employed in agriculture - 2

John Day, 54, male, farmer, value of real estate 1000, born KY
Sibbina, 44, female, born KY
James E, 19, male, laborer, born IL, attended school within the year
Miles H, 17, male, laborer, born IL, attended school within the year
John, 15, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Hezechiah, 9, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Sarah F, 4, female, born IL
Clement, 2, male, born IL
Sarah Logston, 65, female, born MD

John Callahan, 47, male, farmer, value of real estate 1500, born PA
Elizabeth, 39, female, born PA
Mary M, 17, female, born PA
William, 15, male, born PA, attended school within the year
Ann E, 9, female, born PA, attended school within the year
Emiline, 7, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Simon Thomas, 3, male, born IL

James E Day, 29, male, farmer, value of personal estate 425, born IL
Mary, 28, female, born PA
John, 2, male, born IL

Day, James E, 39, male, white, farmer, value of personal estate 1000, born IL, male citizen of the U. S. aged 21 or more
Margaret, 37, female, white, keeping house, born PA
William, 12, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Minnie, 6, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year

Day, James E, white, male, 49, married, farmer, born IL, both parents born KY
Mary M, white, female, 47, wife, married, keeping house, born PA, both parents born PA
Sabina, white, female, 74, mother, widow, at home, could not read or write, born KY, both parents born MD
Minnie M, white, female, 16, daughter, single, at home, attended school within the year, born IL, father born IL, mother born PA
Gosnell, Eddie, white, male, 16, nephew, single, at home, attended school within the year, born IL, father born OH, mother born IL

Day, James, head, white, male, May 1836, 64, married for 6 years, born IL, both parents born IL, retired, could read, write and speak English, owned his home free of mortgage

Annie, wife, white, female, May 1837, 63, married for 6 years; mother of 6 children, 2 living; born IL, both parents born IL, could not read or write, spoke English

Will Day and wife were called to Macomb last week by the serious illness of their father James Day.

Day, Anna, head, female, white, 73, widow; mother of 6 children, 2 living; born IL, both parents born OH, spoke English, could read and write, owned her home free of mortgage

Hampten, Mary, daughter, female, white, 44, widow; mother of 2 children, both living; born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, could read and write

Harry, grandson, male, white, 24, single, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, pressman, newspaper, employee, whether out of work on April 15, 1910 - no, number of weeks out of work during 1909 - [no entry], could read and write

Bernice, granddaughter, female, white, 8, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, could read and write, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909