Truman Skinner Day

History of Hancock County, Illinois
by Scofield, pg 1183

DAY, Truman Skinner, now deceased, was a well known man in Hancock County during his lifetime, and his widow has been an honored resident of Elveston for some years.  He was born in Fleming County Kentucky, August 20, 1816 (date is incorrect as per census records. Should be 1844), a son of Alvin and Priscilla (Foster) Day, natives of Kentucky.  He died in Kentucky, after which his widow went to Illinois and lived there for some years, but then returned to Kentucky, where she died.

Truman Skinner Day was reared in Kentucky, and during the Civil War enlisted in the 10th Kentucky cavalry, and after a service of a year, was honorably discharged. He was married December 21, 1865, to Lou Gray, born in Fleming County Kentucky, a daughter of David and Mary Ann (Gardner) Gray of Kentucky. After his marriage, Mr. Day resided in Kentucky until in August 1888, being engaged in clerking in a general store.  At that time he went to Keokuk, Iowa and was connected with mercantile interests there and on the road.  On June 9th, 1901, he was drowned in the Mississippi River at Montrose, Iowa.  In 1909, Mrs. Day came to Elveston, where she has since resided.

Mr. and Mrs. Day became the parents of the following children Charlton A., who was born February 12, 1867, died August 9, 1914; William M., who was born July 18, 1869, died December 7, 1898; Clarence B., who was born November 6, 1871, died September 28, 1906; Maggie P., who was born May 10, 1875, is Mrs. John Damron of Bentley, Alberta, Canada; and Harvey R., who was born, January 12 1881, died October 20, 1896.  Mrs. Day is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and her husband belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church.  He was a Republican.  His fraternal affiliations were with the Hamilton Camp, M. W. A., and the Keokuk Lodge, I. O. O. F.

Submitted by Renee Schaeffer.