ROBERT A. DAY.

ROBERT A. DAY.
The tragic death of Robert A. Day, county commissioner, on June 17, 1917, removed from the scene of life’s activities one of Carbon county’s prominent citizens and one of the leading stockmen and ranchers of the Platte valley. Mr. Day had been for nearly thirty-five years a resident of that section of Carbon county and had not only taken a conspicuous part in its development involving his personal interests, but had also advocated and supported those movements that wrought for the progress and advancement of the community and contributed to its general good. Robert A. Day was born April 15, 186i, in Medford, New Jersey, and was the only child in the family who lived to adult age, an only sister having died in childhood. Robert A. Day grew to young manhood in his native state and early in life became self-supporting. His parents had not the means to start him in business, and the fact that he must be self-dependent early developed his powers of self-reliance that constituted a strong and forceful trait of his character throughout his entire career. He was a young man of about twenty-two years when he came to the Platte valley in 1883 with Mulford Haines, and from that time until his death he remained a resident of this portion of the country. He had been for several years in the employ of others, when in the early ’90s he located on what has ever since been known as the Day ranch. There he made his home for twenty-six years prior to his demise. On this property, eight miles up the river from Saratoga, he developed, mostly from a primitive condition, one of the very best and most valuable ranch properties in the Platte valley. He was a most progressive man, doing thoroughly anything which he undertook and carrying forward to successful completion any project with which he became connected, whether of a public or private nature; and it was characteristic of him that if it was of a public nature he gave to it the same thorough attention that he bestowed upon his private business affairs. He had various interests aside from his ranch and took a prominent and helpful part in successfully promoting a number of business enterprises. In 1903 Mr. Day was married at Bennett, Wyoming, to Miss Mollie Frances Drinkard. a native of Missouri and a daughter of George W. and Mary (Edwards) Drinkard. Mrs. Day prepared for the profession of teaching at the Missouri State Normal School at Kirksville, Missouri, and taught for two years at Bastrop, Texas. In 1898 she came to Wyoming, where she successfully followed teaching at Fort Steele and later near Encampment. To Mr. and Mrs. Day were born two sons. George H., born September 18, 1905, was drowned at the time his father lost his life. Kenneth Palmer, born June II, 1908, is at home with his mother. Mrs. Day is a member of the Presbyterian church, and while Mr. Day did not hold membership in the church, he was a Christian man and contributed liberally to the support of the churches. He held membership with the Masonic fraternity and exemplified in his life the beneficent teachings of the craft, which is based upon a recognition of the brotherhood of man and the Fatherhood of God. In politics he was a stanch republican and was one of the advisors and counselors of his party in his section of the county. He was a member of the board of commissioners of Carbon county at the time of his death, serving his second term, having been reelected after a first term of four years. His reelection is proof of the fact that he was able and always faithful to the duties of the office, and his opinions and proposals ever received the most careful attention and consideration of the other members of the board. As a husband and father Mr. Day was all that any man could be. He took great interest in his home and in the welfare of his family. Their comfort and happiness seemed to be ever uppermost in his mind. His home was his club and he was happiest when in the company of his wife and sons. He also manifested a most filial devotion to his mother. Just as soon as his means permitted he contributed to the support of his aged mother, who still lived in New Jersey, and he was responsible for the pleasant borne and comforts enjoyed by this parent in her declining years. His business life was honorable and clean, and while he accumulated a handsome competence, he did it in a manner to win and retain the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. His acquaintance was large and included many of the prominent men in both county and state. Mr. Day’s death was no doubt the most deplorable accident that has occurred in the entire history of the Platte valley. On Sunday evening, June 17, 1917, while engaged in removing some telephone wire that had become entangled with the cables supporting a foot suspension bridge across the Platte river near his home. Mr. Day, his son George and a nephew, Garland Gross, were precipitated into the stream, which at that time was at its highest stage in years. All three lost their lives, their bodies being carried miles down the river and not recovered until some time later. Mr. Day and his son are buried at Saratoga. His widow and surviving son, Kenneth Palmer, reside at the ranch home, which represents the life of energy and thrift which Mr. Day lived and is an indication of his thoughtful care of the loved ones of his own household.

The tragic death of Robert A. Day, county commissioner, on June 17, 1917, removed from the scene of life’s activities one of Carbon county’s prominent citizens and one of the leading stockmen and ranchers of the Platte valley. Mr. Day had been for nearly thirty-five years a resident of that section of Carbon county and had not only taken a conspicuous part in its development involving his personal interests, but had also advocated and supported those movements that wrought for the progress and advancement of the community and contributed to its general good.
Robert A. Day was born April 15, 186i, in Medford, New Jersey, and was the only child in the family who lived to adult age, an only sister having died in childhood. Robert A. Day grew to young manhood in his native state and early in life became self-supporting. His parents had not the means to start him in business, and the fact that he must be self-dependent early developed his powers of self-reliance that constituted a strong and forceful trait of his character throughout his entire career. He was a young man of about twenty-two years when he came to the Platte valley in 1883 with Mulford Haines, and from that time until his death he remained a resident of this portion of the country. He had been for several years in the employ of others, when in the early ’90s he located on what has ever since been known as the Day ranch. There he made his home for twenty-six years prior to his demise. On this property, eight miles up the river from Saratoga, he developed, mostly from a primitive condition, one of the very best and most valuable ranch properties in the Platte valley. He was a most progressive man, doing thoroughly anything which he undertook and carrying forward to successful completion any project with which he became connected, whether of a public or private nature; and it was characteristic of him that if it was of a public nature he gave to it the same thorough attention that he bestowed upon his private business affairs. He had various interests aside from his ranch and took a prominent and helpful part in successfully promoting a number of business enterprises.
In 1903 Mr. Day was married at Bennett, Wyoming, to Miss Mollie Frances Drinkard. a native of Missouri and a daughter of George W. and Mary (Edwards) Drinkard. Mrs. Day prepared for the profession of teaching at the Missouri State Normal School at Kirksville, Missouri, and taught for two years at Bastrop, Texas. In 1898 she came to Wyoming, where she successfully followed teaching at Fort Steele and later near Encampment. To Mr. and Mrs. Day were born two sons. George H., born September 18, 1905, was drowned at the time his father lost his life. Kenneth Palmer, born June II, 1908, is at home with his mother. Mrs. Day is a member of the Presbyterian church, and while Mr. Day did not hold membership in the church, he was a Christian man and contributed liberally to the support of the churches. He held membership with the Masonic fraternity and exemplified in his life the beneficent teachings of the craft, which is based upon a recognition of the brotherhood of man and the Fatherhood of God. In politics he was a stanch republican and was one of the advisors and counselors of his party in his section of the county. He was a member of the board of commissioners of Carbon county at the time of his death, serving his second term, having been reelected after a first term of four years. His reelection is proof of the fact that he was able and always faithful to the duties of the office, and his opinions and proposals ever received the most careful attention and consideration of the other members of the board.
As a husband and father Mr. Day was all that any man could be. He took great interest in his home and in the welfare of his family. Their comfort and happiness seemed to be ever uppermost in his mind. His home was his club and he was happiest when in the company of his wife and sons. He also manifested a most filial devotion to his mother. Just as soon as his means permitted he contributed to the support of his aged mother, who still lived in New Jersey, and he was responsible for the pleasant borne and comforts enjoyed by this parent in her declining years. His business life was honorable and clean, and while he accumulated a handsome competence, he did it in a manner to win and retain the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. His acquaintance was large and included many of the prominent men in both county and state.
Mr. Day’s death was no doubt the most deplorable accident that has occurred in the entire history of the Platte valley. On Sunday evening, June 17, 1917, while engaged in removing some telephone wire that had become entangled with the cables supporting a foot suspension bridge across the Platte river near his home. Mr. Day, his son George and a nephew, Garland Gross, were precipitated into the stream, which at that time was at its highest stage in years. All three lost their lives, their bodies being carried miles down the river and not recovered until some time later. Mr. Day and his son are buried at Saratoga. His widow and surviving son, Kenneth Palmer, reside at the ranch home, which represents the life of energy and thrift which Mr. Day lived and is an indication of his thoughtful care of the loved ones of his own household.