Levis Township, Clark County, Wisconsin

Archibald B. Day was born June 30, 1822 in Morgan, Kentucky to Hiram and Lydia (Logan) Day.  He was Christened October 15, 1822.  About 1852, he married Martha E. Onsley of Morgan, KY. She died October 30, 1854 in Reeds Town, Bad Ax County, Wisconsin.  Both of their daughters were born in Morgan, KY.  Ellora (Luella) was born in 1853 and Lora (Martha), was born in 1854.

January 30, 1856, he married Rebecca Jane (Lowry/Lowery) Johnston, a native of Ohio who was formerly married to Andrew Henry Johnston.  Rebecca Jane had a child, Mary Angeline, by her first marriage.

August 29, 1864, Archie enlisted on the Union side of the Great Civil War.  He was assigned as a private to Company G of the 5th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry.  He was discharged as a corporal July 20, 1865.

Archie worked at Lowry's logging camp.  He was said to be a character met once in a lifetime, spry as a game rooster and bubbling with wit and good humor and as a storyteller, unsurpassed.  He could yell in tones which would astonish Gabriel!

The daughter of Archibald and Martha, Luella, was born January 17, 1853 and died at the age of thirteen, January 23, 1867.  She is buried in the Levis Township Cemetery, Clark Co., WI.

"Archie" and Jane's daughter Harriett "Hattie" Sylvia was born the Day after Christmas in 1857 in Viroqua, Wisconsin.  She married James Wallace Short (b. Jan. 18, 1856 Foranda, NY - Jan. 11, 1940 Vesper, Wood, WI) September 21, 1878 in Levis township, Clark Co., Wisconsin.  He was the son of Washington & Lydia (Green) Short.  After Sylvia died in Levis, the Day before Christmas, 1899, just two Days short of her forty-second birthday, James married Frances Belle Fessenden May 1, 1900.

Archibald B. Day died in 1914 and is buried in Caledonia, Houston Co., MN.

Sources: Good Old Days Article; Family History & Census Records.

Rebecca Jane (Lowery/Lowry) Johnston Day

Rebecca Jane Lowery was born in July 1830 in Hocking County, Ohio (per census records).  She first married Henry/Andrew Johnston and they had Mary Angeline Johnston, who was born in Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio on September 7, 1849 (death certificate) or 1851 (census records).  Rebecca was the oldest child of Daniel Lowry (b. about 1804 in Hocking County, Ohio) and Elisabeth Stoneburner (b. 18 January 1808 in Lovettsville, Loudoun County, Virginia).  There were 10 children of this marriage and at least 5 of them settled in Vernon County and eventually in Clark County, Wisconsin where  Rebecca Jane and Arch Day ran a hotel.

An examination of the entire 1850 U.S. Census for Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio taken on July 15, revealed only one Henry Johnston age 39, along with his wife Jane 29, and their children listed on page 5, line 10, but the age of Jane is wrong.  Also, a Barbara Claybaugh age 63 in the household, probably the mother of the listed Jane makes this an even more impossible match.

There was no Henry or Andrew Johnston listed on the Chillicothe Ohio 1850 U.S. Census. (See "Daniel and Elizabeth Lowery" for the 1850 listing of Rebecca Lowery, age 20).  More than likely, Mary Angeline Johnston Fessenden’s death certificate is wrong, and the 1900 and 1910 U.S. Census is correct in listing Mary Angeline’s birth year as 1851, meaning that Rebecca Jane probably did not marry until after the August 1850 Census was taken. (Years of dead-end research due to an error on a death certificate!)

Page 24, line 21 of the 1850 U.S. Census for Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio lists a Washington Johnston age 29, wife Mary Ann age 30, and children Alex Dawson age 10 and James W. Johnston age 17, all born in Ohio.  The next listing on page 24, line 25 is that of Harrison Johnston age 26, wife Nancy age 23, and children William age 3 and Sarah age 2, all born in Ohio.  A John Johnston age 25, living in the household of Moses Merriam, is listed on page 24, line 34.  There was also a listing for a Robert Loury age 48 on page 19, and a Washington Lowry age 43 on page 147, but they were both born in Virginia.

Rebecca Jane Lowery Johnston Day next married, as his 2^nd wife, Archibald Day on January 30, 1856 in Bad Ax Co., (Vernon Co.) WI, at the residence of Daniel Lowery.  They were married by Justice of the Peace, Vern Viggle.  Martin Haner and Daniel Lowrey were listed as witnesses. 

 Rebecca and Archibald Day had Harriett (Hatti) Day, born 12-26-1857 in Viroqua, Bad Ax Co., WI, who became the 1^st wife of J.W. Short on 9-21-1878 in Clark Co., WI. Hatti Day Short died on 12-24-1899 at age 42 of appendicitis.  No children were born to Hatti Day Short.  Mary Angeline Johnston married Jonas A. Fessenden on 12-26-1866, and they had Francis Belle Fessenden who became the 2^nd wife of J. W. Short.  (Mary Angeline’s daughter and grand-daughter became 1^st and 2^nd wives of J. W. Short.) 

Luella/Ellora, born about 1852, was married by 1870, and still living according to the 1898 Pension application of her father Archibald Day.  Lora/Martha, born about 1855, was dead by 1898 according to the same Pension application.  It is unknown if Lora/Martha was ever married.

Sources: Vol. X, pg 97; Viroqua, Vernon Co., WI Marriage Records; Family History & Census Records.

Census Records

Military

Archibald B. Day was born June 30, 1822 in Morgan Co., Kentucky.  He died on April 12, 1914 at age 92 in Minnesota.   Archibald Day was described as being 5’ 9 ¼" tall, dark complexion, blue eyes, dark hair, occupation was "hunter" per Pension records.

During the Civil War, Archibald B. Day was a Corporal in the Union Army’s Co. G, 5^th Inf., reorganized.  He enlisted at Levis, Clark Co., WI on 8-29-1864, and was mustered out on 6-30-1865 at Halls Hill, Virginia.

In 1890, at age 68, Archibald Day’s "Invalid Pension" was approved due to "rheumatism, disease of the heart, chronic diarrhea, piles, disease of lungs, and injury of head and neck". There is the notation of senility on the 1890 application, but he was able to give a full history and sign his name at that time, and again in 1912.  He received $12.00 per month from 7-12-1890 to 5-3-1907, at which time his pension was raised to $20.00 per month.  On 5-17-1912 the pension was raised to $22.50 per month.

1912 pension records state that Archibald Day had been a resident of Caledonia, Houston Co., MN for the past year (since 1911), and that he died on April 12, 1914. Caledonia is in the SE part of the state, near the Mississippi River, almost across from La Cross, WI.  His RR 2 address puts him near the Beaver Creek Valley State Park. 

Archibald Day was a resident of the Minnesota Soldiers Home in Minneapolis, MN (just north of the airport and the U. S. Veterans Hospital) at the time of his death in 1914.  He is buried in section A24, tier 7, grave #7, at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis located at 3600 Hennepin Ave.

Archibald Day’s death certificate lists Hiram Day and Lydia Logan as his parents.  Non-verified family records state that Hiram Day was married to Hattie Stoneburner who is said to be buried in the Ft. Snelling Nat’l Cemetery, which is adjacent to Ft. Snelling State Park on the south and eastern border of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport in Minneapolis.  (See DANIEL and Elizabeth Lowery genealogy for further discussion of the Stoneburner family.)

Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934
Day, Archibald B.
G 5 Wis. Inf.
1890 July 21
Application # 816632
585159
Wis.

U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
Name: Archibald B. Day
Side: Union
Regiment State/Origin: Wisconsin
Regiment Name: 5th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry
Company: G
Rank In: Private
Rank Out: Corporal
Rank Out Expanded: Corporal
Film Number: M559 roll 7

American Civil War Soldiers
Name: Archibald Day
Residence: Levis, Wisconsin
Enlistment Date: 29 Aug 1864
Side Served: Union
State Served: Wisconsin
Service Record: Enlisted as a Corporal on 29 August 1864.
Enlisted in Company G, 5th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 29 Aug 1864.
Mustered Out Company G, 5th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 20 Jun 1865.

Sources: Side served: Union; State served: Wisconsin; Enlistment date: 29 Aug 1864. 

Archibald Day’s residences per Pension Records

     Town of Levis, Clark Co., WI 1875-1895

     Portland, OR 1895-1899

     Waukesha, Waukesha co., WI 1899-1911

     Caledonia, Houston Co., MN 1911-1914

Pension (started 7-12-1890) Record mailing addresses for Archibald Day

     1890: P.O. Waukesha, WI

     1907: #106 Locust St., Waukesha, WI

     1912: R.D. 2, Caledonia, MN

Archibald Day’s residences per other records

Political Offices held by A. B. Day in Levis Township, Clark Co., WI

1866:  Supervisor and Justice of the Peace; 1867:  Chairman and Fund Keeper;  1870:  Justice of the Peace;  1873:  Pathmaster.  In addition, the Annual Meeting was held at the home of A. B. Day in 1871 and 1872. 

Neillsville, Clark Co., WI Newspaper Articles

Thursday, Dec. 22, 1881: A. B. Day, or Arch Day, as he generally known, one of the oldest settlers of this country, is disposing of his property here, with the intention of going to California where he expects to spend the balance of his days.  (Archibald and Rebecca Day sold their 160 acre Levis township, Clark Co., WI farm for $500.00 to W. H. Lowry on 3-11-1890 while the Day’s were residents of Portland, OR.)

Saturday, April 5, 1890: Arch Day and wife who went from here to Portland, Oregon some 4 years ago, returned last Saturday and gave their many friends here a big surprise.  They had not written that they were coming.  Arch has been keeping a boarding house in Portland, and having received a big offer for his business, he sold out and immediately started for Wisconsin.  He likes that country well, but does not know whether he will return, as his relatives are here.  He says he gets homesick to  see the folks.

Saturday, May 3, 1890: Arch Day and wife have gone to Waukesha on a visit.  From that city they expect to return to Portland, OR.  Arch became homesick quick.  (Archibald Day applied for a Pension on July 21, 1890, with a Waukesha, WI P.O. box as an address, and renewed the application on February 27, 1907 with an address of 106 Locust Street, Waukesha, WI.) 

Thursday, July 20, 1891: Arch Day, an old Pine Valley man was in the city Monday.  His home is now in the southern part of the state.

Note:  The 1890 U.S.CENSUS records were burned, so the preceding newspaper source is about all there is left from which to trace the family during the 1890’s.

Family Notes

Archibald's father, Hiram Day (b. 1800 c.a., KY), married Lydia Logan (b. 1800 c.a., KY) October 1, 1821 in Floyd Co., Kentucky. 

Children

Archibald B. Day b: 1822 in Morgan Co., KY
Ann D. Day b: 1825 in KY
Travis Benjamin Day b: 1827 in KY
Mary Ann "Polly" Day b: 1834 in KY
Elizabeth Day b: 1835 in KY
Julia A. Day b: 1839 in KY
Daniel Dillon Day b: 1840 in KY
Lydia A. Day b: 1841 in KY

*I asked my mother why our name was changed to LowEry from Lowry and she told me that the E was added when one of my father's brothers "had a little trouble" with the law.  It seems he didn't know that money was needed in a bank to write checks!  May or may not be true.  Mary Lowery Cook

Note of Caution in Researching the family of Archibald Day

The book "History of Vernon Co., WI", page 600, states that Archibald and Daniel Day, natives of Kentucky came in 1851 and settled in Kickapoo Township, and that this Archibald Day died there in 1876, and that Daniel died about 1857.   (Our Archibald Day died in 1914.)

The 24^th Dist. Grant Co., WI U.S. Census for 1850, page 18-28 taken during July and August 1850, lists about 7 separate Day families that migrated from Kentucky to the Plattville, Grant Co., WI area in about 1848.  Among them are the families of Daniel Day, born about 1817, and Archibald Day, born about 1814. Possibly, our Archibald Day who was born in June 1822, and was listed separately under #1244/1260 on page 84, taken on Sept. 27, 1850, with many others who were not at home when the census taker first came, was a cousin of the preceding Archibald and Daniel Day.

According to the 1860 U.S. Census for Town of Kickapoo, Bad Ax Co., WI taken on Sept. 6, 1860, page 276/335, #2288/2195, lines 19-27, this other Archibald Day, age 41 (born about1819 Kentucky) was married to Mary, age 38, born Kentucky.  They have the following children listed with them: Travis age 18, Vanburen age16, Amento age 11, Lindsey age 10, Amanda age 8, Franki age 6, and Mary age 3.

This same family is listed on the 1850 Grant Co., WI Census on page 28, line 11, #331/386 as:  Arch Day 36; Polly Day 31; Chris A. Day 14; ___F. Day 11; Martin Van Buren Day 8; (preceding all born KY) Arminda Day 3 born WI; B___ Day 1 born WI.  This family migrated from Kentucky to Wisconsin in about 1847 according to the children’s ages.

There are two private burial areas near Reedstown, Kickapoo Twnship, Vernon Co., WI.  One is called "Day-Maiben" cemetery, and it contains the grave of Lindsey Day.  The other is called "Day Burial Site", and it contains two Day children who died in 1870, Amanda age 18, and Arminda age 24.  More than likely, these were the children of the Archibald Day who was born about 1819, and his wife Mary (1860 census) or Polly (1850 census).

The book "Vernon Co. Heritage", page 513, mentions yet another Archibald Day, also born in Morgan Co., Kentucky.  This Archibald Day, born about 1772, was married to Celia Spurlock, born about 1794.  Celia is listed on the 1860 U.S. Census for the Town of Kickapoo, Bad Ax Co., WI as a widow age 65 born Virginia, living in the household of her married daughter Elizabeth Day Pugh.  Elizabeth Day Pugh was born about 1827 in Kentucky, and married in Morgan Co., Kentucky on June 20, 1843.  The Alexander and Elizabeth Day Pugh family moved to Kickapoo Township, Bad Ax, WI in 1846 according to the article, but they are listed on the 1850 24^th Dist. Grant Co., WI U.S. Census, page 57, line 10, #265/268. Again, this 1772 Archibald Day might be related to our 1822 Archibald Day, possibly he was an uncle or grandfather.