Today in Wheeling History: January 2—Elijah Day, then Wheeling's oldest citizen and civic servant, died (1887).
Elijah Day was born in 1794 in Washington County, Pennsylvania, near Greene County. At age fourteen, he served as Deputy Sheriff of Greene County, riding through sparsely settled frontier territory. He married Eliza Robb, daughter of Samuel Robb, in Waynesburg and came to Wheeling in 1818 where he established a pottery on Market Street. He later operated a grocery at Market Square before dedicating himself to public service.
Day held numerous civic positions including Street Commissioner, County Coroner, Assessor (for sixteen years under both old and new state governments), and City Treasurer (1867-1880). His final position was City Receivership. Beyond government service, Day was deeply committed to religious and charitable work. He served as a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church and was instrumental in building the Fourth Street Methodist Church, serving on the committee to raise subscriptions and procure materials. He also taught school in North Wheeling.
Day was known for his fervent faith, generous charity, and scrupulous honesty. He resided at 835 Market Street with his son William McKay Day's family. Elijah Day died January 2, 1887, at age ninety-three after a brief illness. He was buried in Mount Wood Cemetery in Section B, Lot 107, alongside his wife Eliza who had died in 1858.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/2ft4k88h), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/ms6bbukf) (https://tinyurl.com/yux22umw)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave
Elijah Day was born in 1794 in Washington County, Pennsylvania, near Greene County. At age fourteen, he served as Deputy Sheriff of Greene County, riding through sparsely settled frontier territory. He married Eliza Robb, daughter of Samuel Robb, in Waynesburg and came to Wheeling in 1818 where he established a pottery on Market Street. He later operated a grocery at Market Square before dedicating himself to public service.
Day held numerous civic positions including Street Commissioner, County Coroner, Assessor (for sixteen years under both old and new state governments), and City Treasurer (1867-1880). His final position was City Receivership. Beyond government service, Day was deeply committed to religious and charitable work. He served as a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church and was instrumental in building the Fourth Street Methodist Church, serving on the committee to raise subscriptions and procure materials. He also taught school in North Wheeling.
Day was known for his fervent faith, generous charity, and scrupulous honesty. He resided at 835 Market Street with his son William McKay Day's family. Elijah Day died January 2, 1887, at age ninety-three after a brief illness. He was buried in Mount Wood Cemetery in Section B, Lot 107, alongside his wife Eliza who had died in 1858.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/2ft4k88h), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/ms6bbukf) (https://tinyurl.com/yux22umw)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave
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