The Rev. John H. Day was born in East Tennessee, January 14, 1829. His father was John Day, who was reared in Tennessee and his mother was Miss Jennie Senter, daughter of Rev. William Senter, a Hard Shell Baptist preacher. In 1835 the family moved to near Jackson, Madison County, Tennessee. Here thirteen miles from Jackson in a quiet farm home the family was reared. In the family were four boys and five girls. Through industry they made money and had plenty of the necessities of life. In 1845 the mother died. She was a pure Christian character.

In 1850 Brother Day was married to Miss Margaret Ann Coleburn. Soon after marriage they moved to Gibson County, and in 1860 moved back to Madison County. Sister Day proved to be an ideal preacher's wife. She was a devoted Christian. To them were born six children, one of whom is dead. Brother Day and wife owned their home they were poor and made their living by hard work.

In 1860 at the Beechfluff Cumberland Presbyterian Church Brother Day gave his heart and life to God. This occurred at a meeting conducted by Reverends Joe Pope and George Minchester. After a week at the altar every time a call was made, he accepted Christ as he was riding home from church. Brother Day says "From that time to this I have never doubted my conversion." He joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church the next night. His wife had previously joined. It was supposed that they would be Baptist's as they were of Baptist families, but the Cumberland church had the greater attraction for them. He was made an elder and served as such for four years. During this time the struggle with a call to the ministry was going on. The question with him was "Does God want me to preach?" Finally he decided to submit the subject to the Presbytery. At Greenwood church, near Hatchey river, Madison Presbytery, he was accepted as a candidate for the ministry. Ephesions 2:1 "You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and in sins," was assigned as a text from which to write a discourse. During this time he had the hardest struggle of his life on this question of a call to the ministry and the acceptance of that call. In Crockett County, Tennessee, he was licensed to preach, and at Spring Creek, the home village where he was reared; he was set apart to the full work of the ministry. Of the ministers that helped in his ordination only one is now living, and that is Rev. W. M. Normant, of Tennessee.

Brother Day says, "I loved to do what I could for my Master." Oh' that many would adopt this sentiment as theirs. He had a very good education and to this he added by close application to his books. He became a subscriber to the old "Banner of Peace," from which he received much help.

Brother Day's first charge was Old Liberty Camp Ground, in Decatur County, Tennessee, where he was pastor for fifteen years. During this time three hundred had been received into the church. Besides many other charges he did considerable evangelistic work. In 1882 he left Tennessee, and came to Red River County, Texas, where he taught school for the next two years. They were full of labor organizing churches and serving as pastor. He was pastor at Bogota three years and at Blossom for thirteen years. Much of this labor has come to naught because of the U.S.A. steal. Red River Presbytery became disorganized and was united to Dallas-Bonham Presbytery. Our hero and Rev. J. H. McKnight were the only ministers remaining true. Brother McKnight died of a broken heart before he had time to meet his brethren in Synod after the division. In 1864 Brother Day was made a mason and next year became a Royal Arch Mason.

He made it a rule to fill his appointments unless prevented by sickness. He never missed the meeting of his Presbytery but four times. He attended seveal synods and six General Assemblies. In concluding this sketch, I wish to give some history and facts in Brother Day's own words: "I am a true Cumberland Presbyterian, yes, I thank God that though the U.S.A.'s may take our property and annoy us as much as they please, still we are free to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience. Then the Great Judge will decide right. He cannot be bribed by wicked men. I rejoice to know that all will be right then. Now, let us look on the bright side and do our duty and then we can rejoice to know that we are Cumberland Presbyterians. Our church has a great mission born, we look all the way down the line and can see God's hand in it."

And further he says "I am now nearly eighty-six years old. I have my own home. I have had good health all these years. My eye sight is good, my hearing is not quite so good, but I am not deaf. My voice is clear and I can preach every Sunday if necessary. I preached last Sabbath, (second Sunday in September 1914. My text was John 3:1-2. "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the sons of God."

[Source: Our Senior Soldiers: The Biographies and Autobiographies of Eighty Cumberland Presbyterian Preachers. Compiled by The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication. The Assistance of Revs. J. L. Price and W. P. Kloster is Greatfully Acknowledged. Nashville, Tenn.: The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1915, pages 36-39]