52 Ancestors, Week 25: Clyde Walter Day and Mamie McAninch Day

Clyde and Mamie

Clyde Walter Day and Mamie A McAninch were my great-grandparents.  I have very limited memory of them, so I would love to supplement this post with the memories of my aunts, cousins and siblings.  If you’d like, please comment, message me or e-mail me and I will add your comments (or corrections).  That way, we will have a record for the next generations.

Click within image to enlarge. Notice that all four
grandfathers served in the Civil War. 

Clyde was born 27 Oct 1881 in Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. He was the oldest of 11 children. He had 5 brothers and 3 sisters. (2 other siblings must have died). Clyde completed 8 years of schooling. His dad, Ross was a farmer and a mason.

Mamie was born July 1891 in Ringgold County, Iowa.  She was the 3rd of 4 children, and the only girl. Mamie also completed 8 years of schooling. Her dad, William was a farmer.

• In 1906, Clyde (25) and Mamie (15) were married.  Their sons Kyle and James were born in 1907 and 1909. 

• They moved to Nebraska in 1909. 

• On the 18 Apr 1910 Census, Clyde and Mamie and their two small children Kyle (3) and James (1) were living in Thurman, Rock County, Nebraska.  They were renting their farm, and William Magill (45) was living with them as a hired hand. 

• Lewis was born in 1910. (Likely named after Clyde’s mother Ida May Lewis) 

• Lloyd was born 14 Mar 1911.  Also, sometime between 1910 and 1915, little James died.

• Then in 1914, they moved back to Mount Ayr, Iowa, and Delbert (my grandfather) was born 27 Apr 1914.  

• In the 1915 Iowa census: Clyde (33) was a laborer with total earnings in 1914 of $500. Other members of the family were: Mamie (23), Kyle (9), Lewis (5), Lloyd (4) and Delbert (1).

• In 1916, Barton was born. Then they moved back to Long Pine City in Brown County, Nebraska.

• On 12 Sep 1918, Clyde registered for WW I.  He was 36, tall and slender with blue eyes and brown hair. The armistice was signed 11 Nov 1918, so he did not serve. 

WWI Registration Card, click within image to enlarge.

• In the 12 Jan 1920 Census, Clyde (43) is a Fireman for the Steam Railroad.  Also enumerated are Kyle (13), Lewis (10), Lloyd (8), Delbert (5),  and Barton (3).  Mamie (33) is pregnant with Lynn and he is born in April, 1920.

At some point, Delbert lived with his grandmother, Ida Day, but I don’t know when or where that was.

• In 1922, Clyde Walter, Jr was born (aka Junior).

• In 1925, Robert was born.

• In 1928, Bonnie Jean was born.

• On 18 Apr 1930, the census records indicate that they were living in Ainsworth City, Brown County, NE. They rent their home for $15 (per month?) and Clyde (53) is a mason/bricklayer, Mamie (43) and the children at home are Delbert (15), Barton (13), Lynn (10), Junior (7), Robert (5), and Bonnie (2 ½).

• Sadly, little Bonnie Jean died on 14 Jan 1938 in Ainsworth, NE.  

• In 1938 or 1939, the family moved to Casper.  (Although Delbert must have already been there by 1936)  

• In 1939, Clyde was listed in the telephone directory as a plasterer, living at 334 W Yellowstone Hwy. The Natrona County Courthouse was built with WPA funding at about this time and it is possible that he worked on it. 

Natrona County Courthouse

• On 9 Apr 1940, Clyde (58), a plasterer, and Mamie (48), Junior (17) and Robert (15) were living at 733 West Midwest Ave, in Casper. 

My Aunt Bev remembers that Mamie (Grandma Day) crocheted doilies and tablecloths, and that she sewed clothes for all 8 boys. Bev and Larry used to stay overnight with Clyde and Mamie when they were small. Larry and Clyde would have a great time, but Mamie was grouchy and not much fun for little Bev. * (Mamie had had a busy life, her first child was born when she was 15 and her 10th when she was 37.  She had 9 boys and then Bonnie Jean was born, and as noted above, Bonnie Jean died at age 9.)

• In the 1958 and 1959 city phone directory, Clyde and Mamie lived at 642 E 12th in Casper. 

My Aunt Pam:  Mamie was sick for all of my memories.  She had hardening of the arteries similar to dementia today. She lived with us for a while because she would wonder off for no reason. She got mean and Mom or Dad had to stay up all night just in case. My last memory of her was at Christmas with her passing the next March.  After that she had reverted to her childhood asking for her mom, etc. Dad wouldn't let me go after that. **

• Mamie (75) died 12 Mar 1967.

I believe this is the house where we visited.
The apple trees are no longer in the
yard next to the house. 

When we visited Clyde, (Grandpa Day) was in his late 80s or early 90s, and very thin.   I remember my Dad being very excited to see him, very fond of him and asking him if he’d eaten today.  I think Clyde pointed to his glass of whiskey to indicate that he had nutrition. Clyde was a character, with a twinkle in his eye.  His house was on the corner, with 6 or 8 apple trees, and we picked the apples off the trees and took them home.

Clyde and Mamie had the best green apples trees and beautiful roses and garden. One time Clyde had Delbert & Robert take him to ER for a bad stomachache. After several hours he needed to use the bathroom and came out saying " I am fine now, so let's go home"  he just needed a good bm.  Delbert & Robert made him stay since they had waited so long. Just one sign of his orneryness.    The only child hood memory I have of them was their silver aluminum Christmas tree with a color wheel. **

Clyde told my Dad that the O’Days were horse thieves in Ireland, so they dropped the ‘O’ to disassociate themselves from the thieves when they came to the US.  We kids assumed that Clyde or his parents had been the ones to come over from Ireland, but it turns out that the Days had been in North America since at least the mid-1700s.  Dad always said that he was more that 50% Irish.  So far, we can’t prove where the Days or the McAninch’s originated from, and we can’t find any Irish on his Mom’s side yet either.  But we’ll keep trying!

• Clyde (94) died 18 Aug 1975 in Casper, WY.

From Iowa to Nebraska to Wyoming

Sources:

• Iowa, Birth and Christenings Index, 1857-1947
• 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 United States Federal Census
• 1915 Iowa State Census
• US World War I Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918
• U.S. City Directories, 1921-1989
• Social Security Death Index
• Aunt Bev, * Aunt Pam **