Biography of Andrew Day, Bellevue Township County, Michigan Copyright © 1999 by Jan Sedore. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ PAST AND PRESENT OF EATON COUNTY Page 270 ANDREW J. DAY Andrew J. Day is a scion, in the second generation, of one of the sterling pioneer families of Eaton County, having been born on the farm which is his present place of abode, in Section 1, Bellevue Township, and having passed his entire life in his native county, save for the period of his service as a soldier in the Civil War. He was born February 17, 1841, and is a son of Asa and Lovisa (Hopkins) Day. Asa Day was born in Reading, Windsor County, Vermont, March 30, 1795, and he died on the farm now owned by his son, Andrew J., December 26, 1849. He was thrice married-first to Nancy Snyder, who was born March 13, 1795, and they became the parents of two children; Sylvester, who was born December 17, 1817, died in Eaton county, October 1 1894, and Abby Ann, who was born November 11, 1819, is the wife of Milton Mix and resides in Nashville, Barry County. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Day married Asenath Spencer, in the year 1823, and they became the parents of one son, Samuel S., who was born March 18, 1824, and who died July 5, 1902, in Walton, T. P April 12, 1840, in Eaton County, Asa Day married Miss Lovisa Hopkins, who was born near Cooperstown, New York, May 14, 1810, being a daughter of Andrew and Susan (Hollis) Hopkins. Both her paternal and maternal grandfathers were valiant soldiers in the Continental line during the war of the Revolution. She came to Michigan in 1824, in company with a married sister, and she died on the homestead farm, in Bellevue Township, April 23, 1892. After the death of her first husband she became the wife of Reuben Swift, but they separated about six years later. She was a woman of sterling character, having been a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, with which she united in 1826. Asa Day was a son of Alpha and Abigail (Adams) Day, the latter having been a daughter of James Adams, who was a cousin of John Adams, second president of the United States. When Asa Day was nine years of age his parents removed from the old Green Mountain State to the state of New York, the parents having been native of Massachusetts, whence they went to Vermont in an early day. Asa Day was thrown upon his own resources when yet a youth, having learned the shoemaker's trade in New York state and having done the shoemaking for his family after becoming a pioneer of Michigan. October 2, 1836, he located on the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch, having purchased the land from the government in the preceding spring securing originally a tract of two hundred acres, for which he paid one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre. Not a stick of timber had been cut on the land and he was one of the very first to take up permanent residence in Bellevue Township. His first dwelling was a small log shanty, which was later replaced by a good log house, the latter continuing to be the family home until 1846, when he erected the substantial frame residence now occupied by his son Andrew. He finally divided his land, giving each of his elder sons a portion and leaving eighty acres to his widow at the time of his death. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, as is evident from the name given to the subject of this sketch, and he held the office of justice of the peace during practically the entire period of his residence of Eaton County, having been a man of unswerving integrity and much intellectual ability. He was a zealous member of the Baptist Church, and it was through his efforts that the first clergyman of this denomination was induced to locate in his neighborhood. He gave a half-acre of ground and a log house to this minister as a home, and was very active and sincere in the work of his church, exemplifying his faith in his daily life. Of the four children of the last marriage Andrew J. was the first born; Theodore, born December 2, 1842, died February 3, 1856; Maria L., who was born June 11, 1846, is the wife of James M. Clagg, of Kalkaska County; and Nelson E. resides on a portion of the old homestead farm. Andrew J. Day has made his home on his present farm from the time of his birth, and his early educational training was limited to a somewhat irregular attendance in the pioneer district school. After the death of his father it devolved largely upon him, as the eldest son of the immediate family, to assume the responsibilities of caring for his mother and the younger children. He was ambitious to secure a more liberal education, and in 1860 entered Olivet College, but soon afterward came to the call of higher duty, when President Lincoln issued his first call for volunteers to assist in suppressing the Rebellion and preserving the Union. Mr. Day enlisted, August 11, 1862, as a private in company I, Sixth Michigan volunteer Infantry, proceeding with his command to Louisiana. The change of climate caused him to contract a severe illness and he was sent to the hospital, the result of his malady being such that he was incapacitated for active field service, receiving his honorable discharge June 3, 1863, on account of physical disability. He now receives a pension and is a valued member of the Grand Army of the Republic. After his return home Mr. Day resumed his educational work, entering the University of Michigan and being graduated in the law department of that institution, as a member of the class of 1867. Soon afterward his eyes became seriously afflicted, and he was compelled, with much reluctance, to resign very bright prospects for success and advancement in the profession for which he had prepared himself. He returned to the farm and has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits, though he keeps in constant touch with the intellectual progress of the day and with affairs of public polity. He owns sixty acres of excellent land, representing his share of his father's estate, and he is held in high regard in the community which has ever been his home. He is a stanch Democrat in his political proclivities but has never held office, is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, and both he and his wife are zealous members of the Methodist Protestant church. June 30, 1872, Mr. Day was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Norton, who was born in Macomb County, January 28, 1846, a daughter of Hugh and Mary E. (Steele) Norton, both native of the state of New York, where the former was born June 16, 1795, and the latter May 6, 1806. Both passed the closing years of their lives in Macomb County, Michigan, where the father died February 19 1884, and the mother February 14, 1868. They were very early settlers of that county, having there taken up their abode in 1834. Of their eight children all are living except one: William and John reside in Macomb County; Hattie is deceased; Catherine is the wife of Robert Jean, of Macomb County; James resides in Durand, Shiawassee County; Hiram has his home in Macomb County; Mrs. Day was the next in order of birth; and Marshall is a resident of Kent County. Of the six children of Mr. and Mrs Day four are living: Asa N., who was born March 23, 1875, is a bachelor and is associated with the management of the home farm; Estelle, who was born April 3, 1879, is the wife of Willard Griffin, of Olivet; Helen, who was born January 19, 1881, and who is a graduate of Olivet College, is principal of the high school at Holly, Michigan; Eva, who was born September 12, 1886, is a student in the conservatory of music at Olivet College; Nina Belle, who was born September 26, 1883, died September 13, 1897; and Donald, who was born February 29, 1888, died February 15, 1889.