FRANCIS ROOT DAY

Francis Root Day was born at St. Joseph, Missouri, on August 16, 1859, the son of Charles Webster Day. He came from Revolutionary stock, being the great great grandson of Eli Root who was a member of the legislature of 1777, moderator of the town-meeting in 1779, and a lieutenant and later captain of militia in the Revolutionary Army.

When the Civil War broke out, Francis' parents moved to Chicago to avoid secessionist sentiments in their former home. He attended public school and high school in Chicago and then entered the University of Michigan for pre-medical training. Dr. Day received his M.D. from Rush Medical College in 1883. (Other sources give the date as 1882 and 1884.) An eighteen months internship was served by Dr. Day at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, and he also took postgraduate work in London and Paris.

Dr. Day practiced in Chicago until 1886. Following which he was for a short time surgeon aboard the "S.S. Australia", but in October, 1887, he decided to settle in Honolulu and took over the practice of Dr. George H. Martin. He soon had a large practice, numbering among his patients some of Honolulu's most prominent citizens.

In 1893 Dr. Day was one of three doctors appointed to the new Provisional Government's Board of Health and later he became president of the Board. Four years later he was sent at the Board's expense to Japan and China to familiarize himself with quarantine methods there. Appointed port physician in 1894, he held this position until the federal authorities took over in 1898 at the time of annexation. In 1896 he was appointed to the Board of Dental Examiners. Dr. Day and Dr. Clifford B. Wood formed a partnership in March, 1899, which lasted until Dr. Day's death. In April, 1900, Dr. and Mrs. Day began a trip around the world and did not return to Honolulu until September, 1902.

Dr. Day died in Honolulu June 1, 1906, at the age of 46. He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Emily (Foster) Day.

Dr. Day helped organize the Hawaiian Camera Club in 1889, served as its second vice-president, and both he and Mrs. Day exhibited pictures at the first show. A violinist, the doctor was a member of the Cecilian Instrument Club, limited to six members, and of the musical section of the Kilohana Art League. He was also a member of the Annexation Club, an active member of the Hawaiian Medical Association, the Hawaiian Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, which he joined within three years of its organization, Hawaiian Lodge Number 21, F. and A.M., the Shrine, Mystic Lodge Number 2, Knights of the Pythias, and was president of the University Club at the time of his death.

The following is taken from the "Pacific Commercial Advertiser" of June 2, 1906:

Possessed of a most winning personality, Dr. Day was liked by even casual acquaintances. Those who enjoyed more intimate relations with him esteemed him a true and genial friend. His influence was ever cast on the side of good government and the higher ideas of civic progress. Taking him all in all, there are few men among his contemporaries whose removal would create a more universally felt vacancy in the community.

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