Routt County CO Archives Biographies.....Day, George J.D. July 22, 1864 - ? ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/cofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net December 24, 2005, 12:00 pm Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado With his very birth and all his childhood clouded by the terrible disaster of the Civil war, and this intensified by the death of both his parents before he was eight years old, George J.D. Day, now one of the prosperous ranch and cattle men of Routt county, living on his own ranch of three hundred and twenty acres located eighteen miles northwest of Steamboat Springs, began the journey of life and pursued it for many years under very unfavorable circumstances. But his native force of character triumphed over all difficulties and enabled him to work his way along to consequence and a place in public esteem well worthy of all his efforts. He was born in Clay county, North Carolina, near the village of Hayesville, on July 22, 1864, the son of John and Mary Day, natives of North Carolina, where for many years they were planters. The war left their section of the country in so impoverished and desolate a condition, that without much chance of progress for themselves or educational or other advantages for their children, they deemed it best to seek a new home of greater promise in the almost untrodden wilds of the far West. Accordingly they came to Colorado in 1870 and located in the vicinity of Pueblo. Here they began ranching and raising stock with good prospects, but their day of hope was short. Within the year of their arrival in this state the mother died, and the father followed her to the other world the next year. They had a family of ten children, but five of whom are living, Jacob, John, Thomas, George and Carolina. After the death of his parents George returned to his native state and made his home with relatives there until he was able to care for himself, which he began to do soon afterward by working on plantations for very small and precarious wages. He remained in the old North state until 1886, after a time leasing land and planting it on his own account. His success was so meager and inconstant that he determined to return to Colorado, and in 1886 he did so, arriving in the neighborhood of Hayden, Routt county, in debt. He was, however, willing to work at any occupation for which he was fitted and soon found employment with William Walker as a ranch hand. In a little while he took a homestead claim to one-half of his present ranch, which was then unimproved and covered with wild sage, and, building a little dwelling such as his condition and surroundings made possible, he settled on his claim and began to improve it. His progress was such that soon afterward he was able to double his acreage and bring the new portion also to cultivation and profit. He still owns all the land and has two hundred and forty acres of it in good producing condition. In the meantime he has greatly improved the buildings and added to their number until he has a comfortable and profitable home where when he located there the same state of nature prevailed that centuries had witnessed. He has good ditches that supply enough water for the extent he cultivates, and every season sees an increase in the value of his ranch and its products. Hay and cattle are his main reliance and are raised extensively. He is an old-time Democrat in political faith and practice, and gives his party loyal and continued support. On July 18, 1895, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary Sellars, of the same nativity as himself. They have had three children, of whom two, Belle and Delphia, died in infancy. The one living is a daughter named Pearl. Mr. and Mrs. Day are enterprising and well esteemed throughout their community. Additional Comments: From Progressive Men of Western Colorado. Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/routt/bios/day92gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cofiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb