Historical Background
- Birth and Family Origins: John Loquier Day, who would later become Captain Day, was born on April 22, 1838, in New York. His parents, Henry G. Day and Mary A. Day, had emigrated from Bristol, England in 1831. The couple had nine children, although tragically two died in infancy.
- Early Career: By age 15, John was already working alongside his father as a millwright, machine shop worker, and pattern maker. At 22, he secured a government journeyman position which exempted him from military service. He ventured out on his own as a machinist by the age of 24.
Family Tragedies
- Loss of Parents: John faced significant personal loss early in life. His mother died of yellow fever in 1854 at just 43 years old, and his father later managed a fleet of steamboats for a Georgia shipping firm. A tragic fire on the Savannah River in 1858 claimed his fatherโs life along with others who drowned.
- Marital and Family Life: John married Mary R. Strobar in 1860. The couple had four children but suffered the early deaths of two sons, John P. and Harry G., the latter of whom died in 1884 after a long illness.
- Steamboating Career: John switched to steamboating as a profession in 1867 and operated his business on the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers for 12 years, naming his boats after his children.
Additional Losses
- Brother Henry’s Death: In 1869, John’s brother Henry died unexpectedly of brain fever shortly after a train journey to visit John. This was a decade after they had last seen each other.
- Thomas G. Day’s Death: The river claimed another family member when Johnโs brother, Thomas G. Day, a steamboat captain, perished in 1890 when his ship capsized.
The Italianate Brick Mansion
- Construction: The beautiful Italianate brick mansion, the alleged first brick home in Telfair County, was constructed by Captain Day between 1880 and 1885.
- Architectural Features: Likely designed by Captain Day, the home features steamboat-inspired cast iron railings, fences, and porch columns.
Legacy and Final Resting Place
- Church Involvement: Captain John L. Day was a prominent member of the local Methodist Episcopal Church.
- Death and Burial: Captain Day passed away on March 9, 1906, at the age of 67. He, along with other members of his family, is buried at Savannahโs Laurel Grove Cemetery North.
This historic and architecturally unique property, imbued with personal and local history, is now for sale, offering a rare opportunity to own a piece of American heritage.
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