Biography - Henry F. Day
HENRY F. DAY. Mayor of Moweaqua, and its leading merchant, has long been
preeminent in the commercial, public, political and social life of Shelby
County, and has been an important agent in raising it to its present
position as one of the foremost counties of Central Illinois. He is of
English birth and ancestry, born March 7, 1835, in Birmingham, his father,
John Day, being a prominent business man of that city. His grandfather was a
manufacturer of fine guns, and was a life-long resident of Birmingham. The
father of our subject died in his native city in 1849, and his mother died
in 1851. Her maiden name was Rebecca Crane, and she spent her whole life in
Birmingham. The following are the five children that she reared: Rebecca,
Betsy, John, Henry and Thomas. John died in Birmingham, and the others
followed our subject to this country. Rebecca married James H. Elsum, and
settled at Moweaqua; Betsy married Thomas Hudson, and also located at
Moweaqua; Thomas, who first settled in Boston, and later at Moweaqua, served
in the late war in the Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, and now resides at
Memphis, where he is engaged in the mercantile business.
Our subject was fourteen years old when his father died. He was at that time
an independent, self-reliant lad, with a full share of the pertinacity and
pluck common to the English stock, and he soon set forth in the world to see
life for himself. He set his face toward the United States of America, and
embarking December 5, 1849, on the vessel "Parliament," he was soon out on
the ocean, sailing toward Boston, where he landed the 24th day of the
following January. He had been well educated in the schools of his native
city, and immediately after his arrival in Boston he secured a position as
clerk in a bookstore, and subsequently became one of the book-keepers of
Nash, Callender & Co. In 1854 he took up his residence in New York, where he
engaged for a time in the insurance business. In the latter part of 1855 he
went back to his old home in England, and after spending several months amid
the scenes of his boyhood, he returned to the United States in the spring of
1857.
He was undecided where to locate and what to do, when good fortune led him
to ask the advice of his friend, Tom Ponting, to whom he went in Chicago.
That gentleman told him that he thought that the then newly founded village
of Moweaqua presented many advantages to an energetic, wide-awake young man,
who desired to establish himself in business. A hint is sufficient to the
wise, and our subject was not long in acting on his friend's suggestion. He
arrived here in May, 1857, and the following February found him fairly
started in a lucrative mercantile business, which he has conducted ever
since, with remarkable financial success. He began in a small way, gradually
increased his stock, and has built up a large trade, that is by no means
confined within the limits of the city, but extends far beyond, much
patronage coming to him from the surrounding country. He now has two stores
at Moweaqua, one for the sale of clothing and gentlemen's furnishing goods,
boys' wear, etc., and the other for the sale of groceries, dry goods,
hardware, agricultural implechma, glassware, etc. Both establishments are
fitted up in good style, are well managed, and are stocked with first-class
goods and a large assortment in every line, at reasonable prices.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Louisa M. March, of Jacksonville,
Ill., was celebrated June 3, 1862. Mrs. Day is a daughter of Edward and
Harriet (Stevenson) March. She understands well how to preside over her
home, and has helped her husband and children to make theirs the scene of
true hospitality and a pleasant abiding-glace, replete with every desirable
luxury and comfort. These are the names of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Day:
William L., Henry M., Claire, Harriet M., Mary Crane, Edna L., Aileen and
Bessie Eleanor. William, a resident of Concordia, Kan., married Grace
Hinman, and they have two children — Eloise and Vance.
Not only has Mr. Day borne an important part in extending the business
interests of Moweaqua, but he is a conspicuous figure in its public life as
the present Mayor of the city, to which position he was called in 1891 by
his appreciative fellow-citizens, who recognize his talent for affairs, and
know that with him at the head of the local government all enterprises
inaugurated for the benefit of the community will receive every needed
encouragement, and that all matters of civic import coming under his
jurisdiction will be given careful attention. Our subject is a leader among
the Democrats of this section, and has represented them at numerous county,
district and State conventions. Mr. Day is prominently known in social
circles for his connection with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows as one
of its foremost members in Shelby County. He belongs to Shelby Lodge, No.
271, and to Moweaqua Lodge, No. 1013, K. of H. He has represented the Shelby
Lodge at the Grand Lodge several years, was for ten years Assistant
Secretary, and has been Grand Reporter of the State Lodge of K. of H. since
1886.
Extracted 09 Apr 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 495-496.
