James Milford Day (11 May 1815 – 22 October 1894) was a 19th-century Texas military figure. He was a member of

Mathew Caldwell Matthew Caldwell, (March 8, 1798 – December 28, 1842), also spelled Mathew Caldwell was a 19th-century Texas settler, military figure, Captain of the Gonzales – Seguin Rangers and a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Because of ...

's and Jack Hay's Seguin Rangers and a participant in the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War (Spanish language, Spanish: ''guerra de Estados Unidos-México, guerra mexicano-estadounidense''), also known in the United States as the Mexican War, and in Mexico as the United States intervention in Mexico, ...

Early life and family

James Milford Day was born May 11, 1815, in Anderson County, South Carolina. He was the son of Johnson Day and Sarah Hembree. Day accompanied his parents and siblings to Texas in 1835 and became part of the

Runaway Scrape The Runaway Scrape events took place mainly between September 1835 and April 1836 and were the evacuations by Texas residents fleeing the Mexican Army of Operations during the Texas Revolution, from the Battle of the Alamo through the decisive Ba ...

, that preceded

Sam Houston Samuel Houston (, ; March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863) was an American general and statesman who played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution. He served as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas and was one of the first two indi ...

's march to the

battle of San Jacinto The Battle of San Jacinto (), fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day La Porte and Deer Park, Texas, was the final and decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Samuel Houston, the Texan Army engaged and defeated General A ...

in 1836. When returning, the Johnson Day and George Nichols families met Henry B. King and John R. King along with a group bound for Texas near St. Augustine. With the same destination agreed upon, the three groups decided it safer to travel together. The troop arrived at Gonzales, Texas on October 6, 1837. Misfortune hit the Day family in Gonzales, when the father was killed in 1838. That same year, James Milford Day married Martha Nichols and they had 2 children. A third child died along with Martha during birth. Day's Mother would help raise and care for the children.

Career in Texas

In 1838, Day became one of the founders of Walnut Springs, a new town in Gonzales County, Texas. During this time, he moved his mother into an adobe built home in his new town. Day would join

's Gonzales–Seguin Rangers in 1839. Caldwell stationed half of his men in the town, to protect the new settlers of the upcoming town.Moore (2006), p. 198–199. The Day home site would be used extensively by the Rangers and become known as the Seguin Ranger Station.

Texas Republic Ranger

On March 29, 1839, a company of 80 men commanded by General

Edward Burleson Edward Murray Burleson (December 15, 1798 – December 26, 1851) was the third vice president of the Republic of Texas. After Texas was annexed to the United States, he served in the State Senate. Prior to his government service in Texas, he wa ...

had defeated Vicente Córdova and his rebels during a battle near Seguin, Texas, at "Battleground Prairie". Córdova survived, but was pursued by Caldwell's Rangers, Seguin militia and members of the

Henry Karnes Henry Wax Karnes (September 8, 1812August 16, 1840) was notable as a soldier and figure of the Texas Revolution, as well as the commander of General Sam Houston's "Spy Squad" at the Battle of San Jacinto. Biography Henry Wax Karnes, a native of ...

company, thus insuring his departure from Texas. While Day and his company were scouting and camped on the Guadalupe River, he was surprised by Cordova's fleeing company. Although holding their own, he was severely wounded but survived. It was here he would suffer an injury that impaired his ability to walk for the rest of his life.Moore (2006), p. 194. Day was a participant in the

battle of Plum Creek The Battle of Plum Creek was a clash between allied Tonkawa, militia, and Rangers of the Republic of Texas and a huge Comanche war party under Chief Buffalo Hump, which took place near Lockhart, Texas, on August 12, 1840, following the Great ...

on August 12, 1840.Moore (2007), p. 106. On September 18, 1842, Day fought at the battle of Salado Creek.Moore (2010), p. 63. During the war with Mexico, Day served in 1846 and 1847 in Captain McCulloch's Company.

Later life

Day would remarry twice. After the death of his wives, he would move to Gillespie County in 1879 to be near his son. There he died October 22, 1894.

Legacy

In 2011, a historic marker was placed at the site of the old ''Walnut Branch Ranger Station'' in Seguin. The old 1820s adobe structure had stood for almost 200 years and was due for recognition and restoration, when it was razed in about 2000. A brief message on the marker tells of the Day's contributions to the birth of Texas.Seguin Gazette Newspaper Article
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References

Citations

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Day, James 1815 births 1894 deaths People of the Texas Revolution Texas–Indian Wars Battles involving the Republic of Texas People from Seguin, Texas