JAMES DAY, mason, Oregon; born 1817, on the Isle of Wight, county of Hampshire, England; grew to manhood and learned his trade there. Married Eliza Stone, who was born in the village of Areton, the birthplace of the 'Dairyman's Daughter."

In 1851, Mr. Day and family came to America; he worked at his trade two or three years in New York City and less than two years in Western New York; came to Fitchburg, Dane Co., in Sept. 1855, and settled in Rome Corners the next December. He wife died there in March 1869.

On the 12th of April, 1870 he married Mrs. Emma Colby, born in Dover England, Feb. 15, 1825; is a daughter of Thomas Rodgers and Esther (Ford) Rodgers, who died in England. Mr. R. and family came to America in 1832; he was a shoemaker, and died in Janesville. The daughter married Marvin Colby, a shoemaker, in New York State; they settled, 1857 in Oregon, where Mr. C. died in March, 1869, leaving three children—Annette, Elizabeth, and Mortimer.

Mr. and Mrs. Day have a large and pleasant home in the village, partly built by him in 1874; Mr. Day has worked at this trade forty years; he united with the M.E. Church in England; has been steward of the Oregon Church twenty-four years, and a Trustee twenty years. Republican.

1880 History of Dane County, Wisconsin, p. 1236-1237.