OBITUARY SUNDAY William Albert Day February 19, 1920

This picture is of William Albert , Carrie Lockwood Day and family

about 1917 Sacred Heart, Minnesota

back row Gladys, Dewey, Morris, William H, Fairfax, Bernard, Grace

front row Carrie, Lester and William Albert Day

For Obituary Sunday I am sharing the obituary one of my great grandfathers. He is my mother's grandfather on her father's side. Here is a copy of his obituary from the Renville Star Farmer Renville, Reville County, Minnesota February 19, 1920 Sacred Heart News Those from out of town who attended the funeral of W.A.Day were: Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Johnston, of Clinton, Mn, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wiley of Ortonville: Mrs. Betsy Lockwood, of Minneapolis; Mr. John Lockwood of Minneapolis; Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Nolton, Mr.and Mrs. Lonzo Nolton, Mr. Ollie Getchell and Otto Krishbaum and son, Arnold of Granite Falls, and Charlie Hinsch of Granite Falls. The Funeral of Wm. A Day was held Wednesday at the Trinity Lutheran Church. Rev. Nobbs conducting the service. Mr. and Mrs. Melsness sang a duet and Miss Allie Fieldhammer sang a solo. A large number of friends were in attendance to pay their last respects to the departed. He leaves to mourn his early death, his aged mother, Mrs. Betsy Day, his wife, and eight children, Willie, Dewey, Morris, Fairfax, Bernard, Lester, Grace and Gladys. The Pall bearers were chosen from the business men of town and were: H. O. Skalbeck, J. N. Stenborg, Nels Hove, Torlief Arestand, J. H. Paulson and O. C. Sparstad. Interesting to note that his wife was not named which could be trouble with genealogy research. Her name was Carrie Lockwood Day. William is buried just outside of Sacred Heart, Minnesota. Next to him is buried his wife and an unnamed baby. William was quite the business man and I would loved to had the opportunity to have known and listened to his ideas. Rest in peace great grandpa, we will meet someday. Grace

On This Day Great Grandfather William Albert Day Passes Away

William was born October 15 1867 in Rome, New York to Dwight Henry and Betsy Ann Anderson Day.

He met and married Carrie Betsy Lockwood January 09 1889 in Big Stone Minnesota.
This marriage produced eight children Fairfax, Dewey, William Henry ( my grandfather ), Morris Fred, Bernard, Gladys, Grace, Lester.

His career was cut short by an early death from Diabetes at the age of 52 in Renville Minnesota. In February 1920 Sacred Heart turned out in record number to bid a final farewell to one they had learned to love and respect.

More can be read in an earlier post on William Albert one of my great grandfathers here.

Rest in peace grandpa... Grace

Tombstone Tuesday William Albert and Carrie Lockwood Day

For Tombstone Tuesday I am remembering my great grandfather and great grandmother William Albert and Carrie Lockwood Day. My hubby and I went to Sacred Heart, Minnesota a few years back and found their gravestones. I previously wrote on these great grandparents should you be interested in more information on them. Should you find you are related through them I would love to hear from you.

Thanks for stopping by today for Tombstone Tuesday .. grace

Who Were My Great Grand Parents part 1 William Albert Day

I want to introduce you to my great grandparents. Each of us has eight great grandparents so that is a lot of research and history. Who were these people? They are part of me. What I am is because of them. My size, features and even health is part of them.

These are people I never knew. They all had passed on before I came on the scene and sadly my family never talked much about them. All I have is a few pictures , a few memories past on by family members and the Internet to gather my history.

This is my great grandfather William Albert Day and one of his little brothers.

William was born October 15 1867 in Rome, New York to Dwight Henry and Betsy Ann Anderson Day.

He met and married Carrie Betsy Lockwood January 09 1889 in Big Stone Minnesota.

Below is the picture of William Albert and Carrie ( Lockwood) Day with Willie ( my grandpa) 1890/1891

This marriage produced eight children Fairfax, Dewey, William Henry ( my grandfather ), Morris Fred, Bernard, Gladys, Grace, Lester.

1902/1903
The above picture is of William Albert's thrashing machine in North Dakota about 1910. Man on far right is his brother Franklin.

In the early days of his marriage William A. Day engaged in farming in the western part of Minnesota. About the turn of the century he moved to Mora, Minnesota in the central part of the state where he engaged in a number of business ventures for the next few years. He had a special touch for money making and would buy a business, keep it briefly and turn it for a nice profit. Such endeavors included a livery stable, a saloon and a combined furniture store and undertaking business.

In the spring of 1911 he launched a successful step that was most unusual even in that day. Along with a co worker whose last name was Pease, he started a bank in Sacred Heart, Minnesota. The community had earlier experienced a bank failure that had been costly for the patrons so such a bold move was indeed a gamble, both for William and the community.

After a slow, shaky start he gradually gained the confidence of the township people. By this time Mr. Pease had become discouraged and departed for other areas. William took his son Morris, as his co worker. They were the President, Teller, Bookkeeper, etc all wrapped in one. There was no secretary and no computers in those days. The damp, musty smelling paper money that gradually arrived in deposits, told its own story. Cautious investors had buried their cash for a time to protect it against loss.

Sacred Heart Bank was a huge success, and not only was William personally successful but he became a very highly respected citizen, active in many community affairs that included an influential School Board Member.

His career was cut short by an early death from Diabetes at the age of 52 in Renville Minnesota. In February 1920 Sacred Heart turned out in record number to bid a final farewell to one they had learned to love and respect.

Here is a copy of his obituary

Renville Star Farmer Renville, Reville County, Minnesota February 19, 1920 Sacred Heart News

Those from out of town who attended the funeral of W.A.Day were: Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Johnston, of Clinton, Mn, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wiley of Ortonville: Mrs. Betsy Lockwood, of Minneapolis; Mr. John Lockwood of Minneapolis; Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Nolton, Mr.and Mrs. Lonzo Nolton, Mr. Ollie Getchell and Otto Krishbaum and son, Arnold of Granite Falls, and Charlie Hinsch of Granite Falls.

The Funeral of Wm. A Day was held Wednesday at the Trinity Lutheran Church. Rev. Nobbs conducting the service. Mr. and Mrs. Melsness sang a duet and Miss Allie Fieldhammer sang a solo. A large number of friends were in attendance to pay their last respects to the departed. He leaves to mourn his early death, his aged mother, Mrs. Betsy Day, his wife, and eight children, Willie, Dewey, Morris, Fairfax, Bernard, Lester, Grace and Gladys. The Pall bearers were chosen from the business men of town and were: H. O. Skalbeck, J. N. Stenborg, Nels Hove, Torlief Arestand, J. H. Paulson and O. C. Sparstad.

William is buried in a small cemetery on the outskirts of Sacred Heart. His wife Carrie is buried at his side as well. There is also the grave of a baby. I do not know who this is.
The pictures of Sacred Heart , the bank building and their headstone were taken on a trip to Sacred Heart to find his and Carrie's graves in about 2000.