JOHN MILLER DAY was born in Morris township, Washington Co., Penn., October 24, 1821, a great-grandson of Samuel Day, who, in or about the year 1755, came from New Jersey to Pennsylvania and took up land in Morris township, this county, where he farmed successfully. He was the father of four sons: Daniel, Samuel, Joseph and Benjamin, and one daughter, Joanna. Daniel Day, the grandfather of subject, remained on the same tract of land which his father had taken up until his death, which occurred in 1811. He left six sons: Calvin, William, John, Samuel, Stephen and Cephas, and three daughters, Abigail, Ellenor and Electy. John followed his father on the farm, and retained the old right to the early settlement. He was married September 2, 1813, by Rev. C. Dodd, to Sarah Miller, of Amwell township, Washington Co., Penn., and to their union were born eleven children: Eliza, Mary, Sarah, J. Miller, Daniel, Harvey, Annie, Abigail, Cyrus, and Jessie and Meribah (twins). Of these, Eliza (deceased wife of George Wolf) resided in Ninevah, Greene Co., Penn.; Mary (deceased wife of John Brownlee) resided in Franklin township, this county; Sally (deceased wife of Robert Baldwin) resided in Morris township, this county; Daniel has been married twice, and resides in Canonsburg, Washington Co., Penn. (his first wife was Mary Bates, of Steubenville, Ohio; his present wife was Etta Johns, of Washington, Washington county); Harvy, living in Lincoln, Neb., was first married to Caroline McCollum, and afterward to Mrs. Mary Harris, of Wheeling, W. Va.; Annie (deceased) was first married to Elias Conger, and then became the wife of Dr. Stross, of Amity, Amwell township, this county; Abigail (Mrs. H. C. Swart) resides near Washington borough; Cyrus, died at the age of eight years; Meribah and Jessie (twins) died in infancy. John Miller Day, our subject, resides on the old homestead, first owned by his great-grandfather. He received his primary education at the old-time subscription schools, which were held chiefly in abandoned log dwellings, one of thee being very near the Day residence. (It is safe to say that the then youth must have been full of the mirth and good cheer which now characterizes his riper years.) In the course of time these early colleges gave way to modern innovations, regulated and governed by school laws. Mr. Day was married January 19, 1843,to Miss Elizabeth Hanna, eldest daughter of John V. Hanna, of Morris township. This union was followed by seven children: Martha Maria, born July 7, 1844, married to John N. Weir of Franklin township; Sarah Ann, born November 7, 1845, died January 24, 1848; John Milton, born August 26, 1847, married, October 12, 1871, to Margaret Weir, of Franklin township; Elsie Jane, born September 6, 1849, united in marriage, January 18, 1882, with William Ashbrook, of East Finley township; George Hamilton, born April 25, 1852, died October 10, 1854; Hugh Allison, born April 24, 1854, married, April 9, 1891, to Annie Andrews, of Morris township; Mary Elizabeth, born June 10, 1856, married September 12, 1878, to Allen J. Mowl, and now living in West Bethlehem township, this county. Mrs. Day, mother of these children, died August 4, 1872, and was buried at Prosperity, this county. On May 20, 1874, Mr. Day married Mrs. Mary (Wise) McKanna, of West Bethlehem township, this county, a daughter of Joseph Wise and widow of George R. McKanna. Mrs. Day was the mother of two children by her first marriage: Emma J., wife of James D. Ulery, of Chicago, Ill., and Frank B., residing in Pittsburgh, Penn. When the Day family first came to Washington county, an old fort stood in the southeastern part of Franklin township; and our subject remembers having his grandmother tell of how she and others would frequently have to take shelter in the fort from the Indians, when they were making unfriendly visits to the homes of the settlers; but the old fort has long since disappeared, and the Indians no longer disturb the sweet repose of the now happy citizens. The Days have, from the very first, been successful farmers and business men, and our subject is no exception, for he is now the owner of 350 acres of land, very rich and fertile, in a high state of cultivation, and improved with the very best buildings, all of which Mr. Day has had the pleasure of putting up under his own inspection, except one old barn, which remains as a relic of the past. (The old mansion built by Grandfather Day still stands on the old foundation, has been repaired, and is now occupied by Hugh Day, son of our subject.) In addition to general agriculture, Mr. Day is extensively interested in wool growing. Our subject has been a lifelong member and a liberal supporter of Upper Ten-Mile Presbyterian church, in which he has received the marked confidence of his fellow-members in being elected deacon, an office he has held for many years. Politically he is a Democrat, and has several times been elected to the office of justice of the peace, but has always declined serving. He was elected a director of the Poor Farm,serving from 1866 to 1869. We can not close this short history of our subject without expressing gratitude that our friend has been spared to a good old age. And now, while living in borrowed time, his genial face is still lighted up with sunny cheerfulness, which makes his company sought after, and his presence in the home gatherings a delight. (Written by a friend of the family.)

Text taken from page 560 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by Linda Vourlogianes of Petaluma, CA as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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