James C. Day

James C. Day
Day c. 1858
Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 10th District
In office
December 2, 1857 – December 6, 1859
Serving with Oscar W. Streeter
GovernorSamuel Medary
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byFred Gluck
E.H. Kennedy
County Commissioner of Houston County, Minnesota
In office
1857–1858
Personal details
Born(1822-01-30)January 30, 1822
Fayette County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedFebruary 8, 1911(1911-02-08) (aged 89)
San Jose, California, U.S.
Resting placeOak Hill Memorial Park
Other political
affiliations
Democrat
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service
1847–1848
Unit1st Missouri Volunteers
Battles/warsMexican-American War

James C. Day (January 30, 1822 – February 8, 1911), sometimes abbreviated as J.C. Day, was an American politician, soldier, businessman, and early citizen of La Crosse, Wisconsin and Houston County, Minnesota. Day served a single term in Minnesota Legislature during the 1st Minnesota Legislature as a member of the Minnesota Senate representing Minnesota's 10th Senate district.

Early life

Day was born on January 30, 1822, in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, he was the son of James Day and Margaret Devinna. In 1842 Day moved to Wisconsin Territory and settled in La Crosse, Wisconsin where he worked as a lumberjack on the Black River until 1843. In 1843 Day briefly moved to Rock Island, Illinois until 1846 when he moved back to La Crosse.:564 In 1847 during the Mexican–American War, Day joined the United States Army and served with Company E of the 1st Missouri Volunteers. In 1849 following the conflict Day moved back to Pennsylvania.

Beginning in 1855 Day moved to Minnesota Territory and settled in La Crescent, Minnesota in Houston County, Minnesota. Day later moved to Mound Prairie Township in Houston County in 1855 where he owned a farm.

Politics

Day began his political career in 1857 as a member of the Minnesota Democratic Constitutional Convention from the 8th District which helped ratify the Minnesota Constitution.:73:61 The 8th District at the time included the counties of Houston, Fillmore, and Mower.:43:789 Day and Oscar W. Streeter were later elected as representatives of Minnesota's 10th Senate district on October 13, 1857.:790 Day would serve in the Minnesota Senate from December 2, 1857, to December 6, 1859. During his term, Day was the chairman of the Internal Improvements Committee and served on the Credentials and Education and Sciences Committees. During this time Day also served as a county commissioner for Houston County from 1857 to 1858.:99

Later life and death

Following his term in the Minnesota Legislature, Day worked in La Crescent where he owned and operated a steamboat ferry along with Mississippi River and offered ferrying services from La Crescent to La Crosse. Day also operated a dry goods store in Austin, Minnesota.:204-205 In 1859 Day took part in the Pike's Peak gold rush in Nebraska Territory. Day eventually moved to San Jose, California in 1884 where he owned a 10-acre ranch and fruit orchard.

Day died on February 8, 1911, in San Jose, he is buried in Oak Hill Memorial Park.

Personal life

Day was married to Hannah McClaren in Pennsylvania in February, 1849, together they had four daughters.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Foote, Horace S. (1888). Pen Pictures from the Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California: Containing a History of the County of Santa Clara from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, Together with Glimpses of Its Prospective Future; with Profuse Illustrations of its Beautiful Scenery, Full-Page Portraits of Some its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of Many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of To-day. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 422–423.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "James C. "J.C." Day". Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  3. ↑ Biographical History of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo counties, Wisconsin. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company. 1892. p. 564.
  4. 1 2 Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn (1911). The History of Mower County Minnesota: Illustrated. Chicago: H.C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.
  5. 1 2 Hubbard, Lucius F.; Holcombe, Return I. (1908). Minnesota in Three Centuries. Vol. 3. Mankato: The Publishing Society of Minnesota.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn (1919). History of Houston County Minnestoa. Winona: H.C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.
  7. ↑ "Oscar W. "O.W." Streeter". Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "The Transcript". Mower County Transcript. February 22, 1911. p. 3. Retrieved September 9, 2026.

James C. Day at Find a Grave