My Genealogy Hound

IRA DAY, M. D. Among the honored names of the citizens of Mechanicsburg, who, after a long life of the utmost usefulness, have passed out of life that of Dr. Ira Day will long be recalled. Dr. Day was born near the close of the seventeenth century, Aug. 17, 1799, and died at Mechanicsburg, in November, 1868, son of Benjamin Day, who was born in Connecticut, in 1755, and died in 1829.

The Day family has been prominent in New England since early times, it being founded at Boston, Mass., by Robert Day, who came from England, where he was born in 1604, to the American shores in 1634, on the good ship “Elizabeth.” He was father of two sons, Thomas and John, and from the latter descended the branch of the family in which we are most interested. In later times the family settled in Connecticut, and Benjamin Day later removed to Royalton, Vt., where he reared these children: Alfred, Spaulding, Mary, Benjamin, Asa, Ira, Joel, Gad and Dan.

Ira Day remained in his native place until the age of sixteen years, and then leaving Vermont with his brother Gad settled in Pennsylvania, where he studied medicine, returning to Vermont, however, to graduate from a college at Burlington. He then returned to his former home in Adams county, Pa., and in 1828 came to Cumberland county. Here for forty years he faithfully practiced his profession, becoming the leading physician at Mechanicsburg and one of the most skilled in all Cumberland county. His practice covered a large country territory, over which he was respected and beloved far beyond that of any other citizen. In his day there could be no more fatiguing calling than that of a medical practitioner who faithfully met the demands of his patients. Dr. Day was not only eminent in his profession, but he was also a very prominent citizen, and was identified with all public movements in and around Mechanicsburg. For many years he was one of the trustees of Dickinson College at Carlisle, and he was interested in all the educational reforms in the county, giving time and advice to further such enterprises which promised benefit to the community. In politics Dr. Day always supported the principles of the old Democracy, and exerted a wide influence in political circles. He was a Mason, and one of the charter members of the I. O. O. F. Lodge at Mechanicsburg.

On Dec. 25, 1828, Dr. Day married Elizabeth Forrey, daughter of Jacob and Anna (Seitz) Forrey, of Columbia, Lancaster county. A family of ten children was born to this union, eight of whom reached maturity, as follows: Alfred, Annette, John, Mary, Susan A., Jacob, Francis and Lizzie, all of whom have passed away except Miss Annette, who is one of the most highly esteemed ladies of Mechanicsburg. Miss Day occupies a handsome residence on West Main street. Like her father, she is a consistent member of the Methodist Church.