List of Notes and Resources
Eliza Hawkins Day Family Page
Eliza Hawkins Day
From the Oelwein Daily Register, Oelwein, Iowa, between 1904 and 1908.
Entertained Large Family
Sunday afternoon Mrs. S. W. Day entertained her children and grandchildren to the number of 30 at the old homestead near this city. Among her children was Mrs. R. D. McDonald, of Tacoma, Washington. There were 20 grandchildren in the party. An elaborate dinner was served and it was an occasion long to be remembered. Mrs. Day, who has passed the three score and ten limit of age, proved herself to be a most capable hostess.
From the Oelwein Daily Register, Oelwein, Iowa, of August 1908
DEATH OF PIONEER WOMAN MONDAY A.M.
Mrs. S. W. Day departed this life at the old family home three miles southeast of the city Monday morning at 6 o'clock after an illness of two years, during the last few weeks of which there was no hope of her recovery. She was ready for the last summons and was only waiting to be called over the river to the summer land. The last services will occur from the old home Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Rev. George Kennedy officiating.
Mother Day was in her seventy-fourth year and had been a resident of this section for the past half a century. She was well known to all the older settlers in this section. Her husband preceded her in death about ten years ago and she leave five children to mourn her loss. For many years she had been a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church and during those year, including her last illness she had full faith in the Son of Man in whom she had believed. A complete obituary of this old mother in Israel will be given in a later edition.
From the Oelwein Daily Register, Oelwein, Iowa, of August 1908.
Obituary of Eliza Ann Day
Eliza Ann Hawkins was born in Lawrenceville, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., April 15, 1834 and died Dec. 21, 1908, being at the time of her death 71 years, 8 months and 6 days old. The funeral took place at the home on Wednesday of last week, her pastor, the Rev. Geo. H. Kennedy, officiating. At the age of 18 years she was united in marriage to Seymour W. Day and in 1854 they removed from N. Y. state to Jackson county, Iowa. Five years later they came to Fayette county and settled on a farm near to where Oelwein now stands and where she has since resided. She was the mother of five children all of whom are living. Wilson, the oldest son, occupies the homestead and has with his wife and children, looked after her comforts since the death of the husband and father ten years ago, giving to her the best of their love and attention and making her happy and contented during her closing years. The other children are George A., Mrs. Alice Sackville and Mrs. Effie Hough, of Oelwein, and Mrs. Gertrude McDonald of Tacoma, Wash. She had twenty grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
She was converted in her girlhood and united with the Methodist Episcopal church and has always lived a faithful and consistent Christian life. She and her husband were charter members of Grace M. E. church of Oelwein. She was a woman of many rare virtues; quiet and unassuming in her manner, she found her choicest pleasure in administering to the needs of her household and the welfare of her children, often admonishing them that a good name was rather to be chosen than great riches. She will be missed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
O, perfect faith and hope and trust
That smoothes life's surging billows.
Thus Jesus makes a dying bed
Seem soft as downy pillows.
Without this fullness, none can know
The completeness of true living
Nor without this full surrendering up
The deep true joy of living.
She said she saw in a vision sweet
The beautiful wide open gate.
And knew that she should be let in
There with loved ones dear to wait
Her ways were ways of pleasantness
And all her paths were peace
O, may it thus be said of us
When comes the soul's release.
And life is short, we too must go
Are we ready to answer the call?
It is worth our while to prepare for Him
Who came to redeem one and all.
List of Notes and Resources
Eliza Hawkins Day Family Page
Top of Page