Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-12-23
u
Geographic sketch Of u Distin-
guissaed Pioneer of 40.

Geographic Sketch of n Distin-
guisiaed Pioneer of 40.
The San Francisco Bulletin says: Sher-
man Day, q respected pioneer citizen,
whose life has been actively identified with
the States history, died at his Berkeley
home Sunday morning, at the ripe age OF
70 years. His death was not unexpected.
For about a fortnight troublesome symp-
toms of heart disease had confined him to
the house. As the church bells for morn
ing worship were sounding he peacefully
passed away.
Deceased was born in Connecticut, and
was graduated from Yale College in the
| class of 1926. He was the only son OF DR.,
| jeremiah Day, for over 80 years Yale
President, his administration directly pre-
| ceding that of ex-President Woolsey
Among Sherman Days classmates were
men who ranked with the foremost scholars
| of the country. DR.. Day had but three
children, q son and two daughters. The
| daughters are dead. One of them was
the wife of Rev. Thomas K. Beecher,
| D. D., the other of Prof. T. K.
Thatcher, Senior Professor Of Ancient
| Languages in Yale College. Sher.
| man Days mother was Martha Sherman,
a daughter of Roger Sherman, one Of the
| signers of the Declaration of Independ-
ence. Deceased was a cousin of Senator
| Hoar of Massachusetts,, and of William
| Abbott of Boston. After graduation he
visited Europe, and shortly after his re-
| turn was married to Elizabeth King,
yhom he had known from childhood. He
| then again went to Europe with his wife,
| spending some time in Marseilles, where
| he was engaged in mercantile pursuits.
| After his return he made his home for
many years in Brooklyn, N. Y. He was
by profession a civil engineer, and many
| proofs of his skill in the way of bridges,
| etc., may still be seen throughout the
| Western States. He was the designer OF
| the present Plymouth Church structure in
Brooklyn, N. Y, and was an intimate
| friend of its eminent pastor.
He came to this State in 1849, and, To-
| eating at once in San Francisco, resumed
| the practice of the profession. Unlike
| others, the mining excitements did not
| then entice him from his chosen vocation,
| although he devoted much time to mining
| engineering. He surveyed the first rail
| road between San Jose and Sacramento,
| and one of the first passable wagon-roads
| over the Sierras was his work. He served
| in the State Senate in 1849-50. In 1868 be
was appointed United States Surveyor
General, and served one term, acting also
at this time as Railroad Commissioner.
For many years, beginning about 1857, he
| was superintendent of the New Almaden
| mines, and later of the Mariposa mine.
He was a trustee of the College Of Cali.
fornia from its inception until its CONSOLE
dation with the State University. He was
an intimate friend and college-mate of
President Dursnt. Through life he was a
stanch Wing and Republican and cast his
last vote with that party at the late cleo
ton. Deceased was a member of the So
ciety of California Pioneers, and of Ae
Phi Beta Kappa Society of Yale. For his
age he was remarkable mentally and physi-
cally. His mind was clear and active to
the last. Last months issue of the Over
land Monthly contained q historical arti-
Gle from his pen, and, on Thursday last, he
wrote a long letter to IN absent son. His
wife died several years ago. He leaves
four children: Mrs. G. T. a. Palmer OF
Berkeley, Roger s. Day of Los Angeles,
Mrs. Fl. A. Palmer of Berkeley and Clin-
ton Day, an architect of this city. He was
a man of scrupulous integrity, modest and
unassuming in disposition, and a de-
vout though unpretentious professor OF
religion.