Medicus Franklin Day (1876 - 1955)

Born 10 Sep 1876 in District 202, Elbert, Georgia, United States

Ancestors

Died 21 Sep 1955 at age 79 in Oconee, South Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Betty Norman [send private message]

Biography

Private Medicus Day served with the South Carolina Infantry during the Spanish-American War.
Service Started: 1898
Unit(s): Company K, 2nd Regiment
Service Ended: 1898

Med was a son of Stephen Reid Day and Alice Elizabeth Arnold. He was born on 10 Sep 1876 in Webbsboro, Elbert County, Georgia.^[1] By 1900, when Med was 23, he had moved with his family to Liberty, Pickens County, South Carolina.^[2] (Note that his name was listed as Edward on early censuses.)

In 1898, Med participated in the Spanish-American War. He was a Private, in Company K, 2nd South Carolina Infantry.^[3]

In 1901, Med married Bessie Robinson, and they made their home in Belton, Anderson County, South Carolina, where Med worked as a loom fixer in the local cotton mills.^[4] By 1920, Med and Bessie had moved to a farm in Wagener, Oconee county, South Carolina. They had three children:^[5]

1. Leo F. (1902-1971)
2. Leona (1911-1993)
3. Theresa "Dollie" (1914-)

In 1939, Bessie passed away, and Med remarried soon after, to Ella Todd Banister, a widow whose children were grown.^[6]

Med was also an inventor, and he told family members that at least one of his inventions had been patented. ( I believe this to be used by a textile mill where he once worked.)^[7]

On 21 Sep 1955, Med passed away.^[8] He was buried in Oconee Memorial Park and Mausoleum, Seneca, Oconee County, South Carolina.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ 1880 U.S. Federal Census Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Year: 1880; Census Place: Webbsboro, Elbert, Georgia; Roll: 145; Page: 513C; Enumeration District: 025
2. ↑ 1900 U.S. Federal Census Ancestry.com Year: 1900; Census Place: Liberty, Pickens, South Carolina; Page: 10; Enumeration District: 0115; FHL microfilm: 1241539
3. ↑ Spanish American War Volunteers Ancestry.com U.S., Spanish American War Volunteers Index to Compiled Military Service Records, 1898
4. ↑ 1910 U.S. Federal Census Ancestry.com Year: 1910; Census Place: Belton Ward 4, Anderson, South Carolina; Roll: T624_1448; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 0031; FHL microfilm: 1375461
5. ↑ 1920 U.S. Federal Census Ancestry.com Year: 1920; Census Place: Wagener, Oconee, South Carolina; Roll: T625_1706; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 148
6. ↑ 1940 U.S. Federal Census Ancestry.com Year: 1940; Census Place: Wagener, Oconee, South Carolina; Roll: m-t0627-03828; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 37-29
7. ↑ Personal recollection of events witnessed by Betty (Skelton) Norman as remembered 7 Nov 2019.
8. ↑ Death Certificate of Medicus Franklin Day Ancestry.com South Carolina Department of Archives and History; Columbia, South Carolina; Year Range: 1950-1961; Death County or Certificate Range: Oconee
9. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/177137473

Memories

Med Day was my step-grandfather, and a blessing to our family. He gave my grandmother a few happy years in the later part of their lives. Here is one of many memories I have of Med Day:

My cousins and I were wide-eyed with shock when Grandmother called to us, "Come in the house NOW and stay here!" Med came marching out with a gun and slipped into the back yard. We heard a single shot; then silence. Grandmother called out, "Did you get him, Med? Is he dead?"

Med opened the back door, grinning. "Of course I got him! The wampus is dead!"

Grandmother led us out into the yard to see the wampus. There, hanging from the limb of a tree, above the pond, was a cotton-mouth water moccasin. A very dead one.

To this day, I don't know if "wampus" was Med's name for a snake. I suspect he used the name, steeped in mythical folklore, to impress and tease us children. He always loved a good prank.