Genesee County MI Archives Biographies.....Day, Homer A. 1858 -
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Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)
HOMER A. DAY, a prominent citizen of Flint, and Registrar of Deeds of Genesee
County, was born in Burton Township, November 6, 1858. His father, Charles P.,
was born near Batavia, N. Y., and his grandfather, Pelatiah Day, was born in
Vermont but early settled on the old Holland Purchase, in Genesee County, N. Y.
He was the son of a Revolutionary soldier, one of the Green Mountain Boys.
Charles P. Day came to Michigan in 1842, at the age of twenty-two, with no
capital except his own enterprise, determination and physical, strength, and
bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in what was then known as the
township of Flint, a tract which is located on what is now the township line
between Burton and Davidson Townships. He entered heartily into the hard work as
well as enjoyment of pioneer life, but two years later returned to New York,
where he was married, when he returned and carried on farming until his death in
1858.
The mother of our subject, Clarissa R. Hill, was born in Rutland County, Vt.,
and was the daughter of a farmer, Israel Hill, who became a pioneer of Genesee
County, N. Y., where he carried on farming operations until his death, at the
age of eighty-nine. After the death of the father of our subject the mother
curried on the farm, in which work she was very successful and added twenty
acres to its extent. She has erected fine buildings and now owns one hundred
acres in Burton Township. She has now reached the age of sixty-seven years. In
1860 she was married a second time to John Buell, of Genesee County, who
enlisted in 1861 in the Fifth Michigan Cavalry and served as a private under the
stars and stripes until the battle of Gettysburg, in which conflict he fell.
Our subject has but one brother living, Charles P., who makes his home in
Vienna Township, and three of this family have passed to the other life. Homer
Day had his education and training in Burton Township and early began work upon
the farm, although he also continued the pursuit of his education, and after
passing through the studies of the public school, completed a course at the High
School at Flint. At the age of sixteen he engaged in teaching and followed this
profession until the fall of 1889. He was the Superintendent of the schools in
Burton Township for seven years, under the old plans, and conducted all the
examinations, taking an active part in all county institutes and conventions,
and has been the Vice-President of a County Teachers' Association. While
pursuing teaching he has also carried on his farm during the summers.
The fine property of Mr. Day consisted of forty acres in Burton Township and
eighty-two acres in Davison Township, and both were well-improved farms. Besides
general farming he has carried on stock-raising, keeping excellent grades of
animals. He is a stockholder and one of the active organizers of the Burton
Creamery Association, which erected a creamery in 1885, and of this company he
was the Treasurer for the first three years and Secretary and manager for one
year. Since he became Registrar of Deeds he has placed his farm in the hands of
a tenant.
In March, 1882, Mr. Day was married, in Davison Township, to Miss Mary A.
Baxter, only daughter of Joseph Baxter, a native of Devonshire, England, who
settled in Davison Township, where he engaged in farming, carrying on an
extensive business, on a splendid tract of two hundred and eighty acres, and
died in 1881. One child, a little son now seven years old, has been born to our
subject and his wife, to whom they have given the name of Joseph B.
In the fall of 1890 Homer A. Day was nominated and elected as Registrar of
Deeds, being placed on the ticket of the Patrons of Industry, but endorsed by
the Democrats, receiving a majority of three hundred and seventy-nine votes,
while the general Republican majority was sixteen hundred, and this on a
nomination entirely unsolicited. He took up the duties of the office January 1,
1891, making his home in the city of Flint.
This enterprising and public-spirited citizen, whose general culture and
education have made him a representative man here, is a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Encampment, also the Knights of
Pythias. He was active in the Patrons of Industry from its organization and has
been its presiding officer. He also has been prominent in the county
organization of the Patrons of Industry and a delegate to the State convention.
The Baptist Church is the religious body with which he has been connected and
while he is now associated politically with the Patrons of Industry, he was
formerly a Republican.
Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States
Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892
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