Daniel Day (manufacturer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Daniel Day
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| Born | March 3, 1767 Mendon, Massachusetts, Colony, England
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| Died | October 26, 1848 (aged 81) |
| Occupation | Early American Textile Pioneer |
| Known for | Established first woolen mill in the Blackstone Valley, (second only to Slater's cotton mill) |
| Spouse(s) | Sylvia Wheelock |
| Children | two sons, and two daughter |
| Parent(s) | Joseph Day and Debra Taft |
Daniel Day (born in 1767 in Mendon, Massachusetts – died in 1848 in Uxbridge, Massachusetts) was an important American pioneer in making wool products. He is famous for starting one of the first woolen mills in the United States. His mill played a big part in the early days of the Industrial Revolution in America, especially in the Blackstone Valley.
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Who Was Daniel Day?
Daniel Day was born in Mendon, Massachusetts. His parents were Joseph Day and Deborah Taft. He married Sylvia Wheelock. Together, they had two sons and two daughters. The family lived in Mendon until about 1800. Daniel Day was also a descendant of the Taft family, who were early settlers in America.
Starting a Business: The Daniel Day Mill
When Daniel Day was 43 years old, he started one of the oldest woolen mills in the United States. This was called the Daniel Day Mill. He built a dam on the West River in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Near the dam, he built his mill to process wool.
Today, this area is known as "Elmdale." It is located near Wheelockville and Hecla in Uxbridge. Daniel Day's mill was very important. It was the first woolen mill in the historic Blackstone River Valley. This valley was a major center for the Industrial Revolution in the U.S.
A Key Part of the Industrial Revolution
The Daniel Day Mill, started in 1809, was a big deal. It was the first textile mill in Uxbridge. It was also the first woolen mill in the entire Blackstone Valley. In fact, it was one of the earliest woolen mills in Massachusetts and the United States.
This mill was part of a system of factories, dams, and villages. This system was developed by John and Samuel Slater. It became known as the Rhode Island System.
Daniel Day's son, Joseph, joined the business around 1811. They soon added a loom to the mill. By 1825, they had made the mill much bigger.
Daniel Day's Legacy
Daniel Day's family continued to be involved in the textile industry. His daughter married Luke Taft. Luke Taft later started another famous mill in Uxbridge, called the Luke Taft Mill. This mill is now known as the Waucantuck Mill Complex.
Daniel Day was also an ancestor of a branch of the Wheelock family. This family started a factory that is still in business today. It is called Berroco, Inc., and is located in North Smithfield, Rhode Island.
Daniel Day passed away on October 26, 1848. He was 81 years old. He died in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. His wife, Sylvia Day, had passed away earlier, in 1842.
