Verda Chatfield & George Day

FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY

Verda Agnes Chatfield
7th of 10 children of Charles Henry Chatfield & Nellie Belle Chamberlin
Occupations: Diamond Match Co., ran a college boarding house, ran dress shop and motel
Born: Aug 23, 1908, Sanders, Rosebud Co., Montana
Died: Sep 26, 1978 (age 70), Chico, Butte Co., California; heart failure
Buried: Chico Cemetery (Catholic section) in Chico, Butte Co., California
Married: Mar 27, 1927, George William Day, Chico, Butte Co., California
Five children: Bernadette Day, Marceline Dolores Day, Leo Ronald “Jim” Day, Judith Lee Day, Jeffery Brian “Jeff” Day

George William Day
2nd of 2 children of William Guy Day & Bertha Nevada DeVoe
Raised by grandmother, Cornelia A. “Kittie” (Hulin) DeVoe
Occupation: Manager for Union Ice Co. in Watsonville and Vallejo, California
Born: May 2, 1898, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California
Died: Feb 17, 1954 (age 55), Chico, Butte Co., California; heart attack
Buried: Chico Cemetery (Catholic section) in Chico, Butte Co., California
Married (1): abt 1917, Louise Florence George, Chico, Butte Co., California
Two children: Robert Elwood “Bob” Day, George Louis “Junior/Pinkie/Boats” Day
Married (2): Mar 27, 1927, Verda Agnes Chatfield, Chico, Butte Co., California
Five children: Bernadette Day, Marceline Dolores “Marcie” Day, Leo Ronald “Jim” Day, Judith Lee “Judi” Day, Jeffery Brian “Jeff” Day

0. Bernadette Day
1st of 5 children of George William Day & Verda Agnes Chatfield
Born: Mar 14, 1928, Watsonville, Santa Cruz Co., California
Died: May 14, 1928, Watsonville, Santa Cruz Co., California
Buried: unknown

1. Marceline Dolores “Marcie” Day
1st of 4 living children of George William Day & Verda Agnes Chatfield
Born: Mar 13, 1929, Watsonville, Santa Cruz Co., California
Died: Mov 13, 2020 (age 91), Citrus Heights, Sacramento Co., California
Buried: Calvary Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum in Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California
Married: Jun 22, 1947, Roy Joseph Mangini, Redwood City, San Mateo Co., California
Four children

Roy Jospeh Mangini
1st of 4 children of Agostino “August” Mangini & Albena Garrazola
Born: May 31, 1924, Lodi, San Joaquin Co., California
Died: Feb 10, 2022 ( age 77), Roseville, Placer Co., California; Parkinson’s Disease (20 years)
Buried: Calvary Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum in Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California
Military: U.S. Air Force, Bombardier; Armistice was called while waiting at the train
Occupation: School administrator; football and track coach
Married: Jun 22, 1947, Marceline Dolores “Marcie” Day, Redwood City, San Mateo Co., California
Four children

2. Leo Ronald “Jim” Day
2nd of 4 living children of George William Day & Verda Agnes Chatfield
Born Jan 30, 1931, Manteca, San Joaquin Co., California
Died: Nov 26, 2015 (age 83), Auburn, Placer Co., California
Buried: New Auburn Cemetery in Auburn Placer Co., California
Occupation: Computer programmer, college professor
Married: Jun 15, 1952, Thelma Eileen Linekar, Oroville, Butte Co., California
Two children

Thelma Eileen Linekar
Daughter of Alfred C. Lineker & Elsie Elizabeth Bevan
Born: May 15, 1930, Palermo, Butte Co., California
Died: May 22, 2009 (age 79), El Dorado Co., California
Buried: New Auburn Cemetery in Auburn Placer Co., California
Occupation: Teacher
Married: Jun 15, 1952, Leo Ronald “Jim” Day, Oroville, Butte Co., California
Two children

3. Judith Lee “Judi” Day
3rd of 4 living children of George William Day & Verda Agnes Chatfield

4. Jeffery Brian “Jeff” Day
4th of 4 living children of George William Day & Verda Agnes Chatfield

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Louise Florence George (aka Florence Louise George):
Daughter of James Benedic George & Nellie D. Delp
Born: Aug 25, 1898, Illinois
Died: May 18, 1926 (age 27), Chico, Butte Co., California; botched abortion
Buried: Chico Cemetery in Chico, Butte Co., California
Married: abt 1917, George William Day, Chico, Butte Co., California
Two children: Robert Elwood “Bob” Day, George Louis “Junior/Pinkie/Boats” Day

1. Robert Elwood “Bob” Day
1st of 2 children of George William Day & Florence Louise George
Occupation: Teacher and principal in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara Co., California
Born: Oct 12, 1918, Chico, Butte Co., California
Died: Oct 30, 2022 (age 104), Chico, Butte Co., California
Buried: Glen Oaks Memorial Park in Chico, Butte Co., California
Married: Feb 19, 1939, Trula Mae Crawford, Reno, Washoe Co., Nevada
One child: Linda Mae Day

Trula Mae Crawford:
1st of 5 children of Errol Walter Crawford & Maud LaVerne Macy
Born: Mar 12, 1918, Chico, Butte Co., California
Died: Mar 25, 2008 (age 90), Chico, Butte Co., California
Buried: Glen Oaks Memorial Park in Chico, Butte Co., California
Married: Feb 19, 1939, Robert Elwood “Bob” Day, Reno, Washoe Co., Nevada
One child: Linda Mae Day

2. George Louis “Junior/Pinkie/Boats” Day
2nd of 2 children of George William Day & Florence Louise George
Military Service: US Naval Commander, Submarine Service/Pacific War Zone
Occupation: Career military
Born: Mar 2, 1925, Stockton, San Joaquin Co., California
Died: May 12, 1998 (age 72), Warwick, Kent Co., Rhode Island; lung cancer
No children
Buried: Cremated in Warwick, Kent Co., Rhode Island, ashes scattered San Diego, California
Married: 1945, Dorothy Jane (Sobrero) Peterson, Vallejo, Solano Co., California (Dorothy was 9 years George’s senior)

Dorothy Jane (Sobrero) Peterson:
Daughter of John Nicholas Sobrero & Mabel Lowell
Occupation: War effort at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California
Born: Oct 2, 1916, Johnsville, Plumas Co., California
Died: Oct 22, 2003 (age 86), El Cajon, San Diego Co., California; old age
Buried: Cremated, ashes combined w/George’s and scattered at sea off Point Loma, San Diego, California
Married (1): Lonnie Elvin “Pete” Peterson (1914 – 1941) died (age 27) in a logging accident in Humboldt Co., California
Two children: Don Elvin Peterson, John “Jack” Peterson
Married (2): 1945, George Louis “Junior/Pinkie/Boats” Day, Vallejo, Solano Co., California
No children

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Timeline and Records

Ten children of Charles Henry Chatfield & Nellie Belle Chamberlin:
1. Charles Joseph “Charley” Chatfield
1895 – 1986
2. Leo Willard Chatfield
1897 – 1956
3. Howard Francis Chatfield
1899 – 1953
4. Roy Elmer Chatfield
1901 – 1978
5. Nellie Mary “Nella May” Chatfield
1903 – 1983
6. Gordon Gregory Chatfield
1905 – 1948
7. Verda Agnes Chatfield
1908 – 1978
8. Arden Sherman Chatfield
1910 – 1981
9. Ina Jacqueline Chatfield
1913 – 1993
10. Noreen Ellen “Babe” Chatfield
1915 – 1968

Two children of William Guy Day & Bertha Nevada DeVoe
1. Guy Elmer Day
1890 – 1971
2. George William Day
1898 – 1954

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May 2, 1898: Birth of George William Day, 2nd of 2 children of William Guy Day & Bertha Nevada DeVoe, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California. George’s mother Bertha died in 1911 when he was age 12 and his brother Guy was nearly 23. George was raised by Bertha’s mother, Cornelia A. “Kittie” (Hulin) Devoe.

Jun 12, 1900: Federal Census for Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California:
Day, William G: Head, white, male, born Aug 1869, age 30, Married 11 yrs, born California, father born Virginia, mother born Virginia, Brick Mason
Bertha N: Wife, white, female, born Nov 1871, age 28, Married 11 yrs, 2 children born, 2 children living, born California, father born Michigan, mother born New York
Guy E: Son, white, male, born Apr 1890, age 10, born California, father born California, mother born California, at school
George W.: Son, white, male, born May 1897, age 3, born California, father born California, mother born California, at school

Aug 23, 1908: Birth of Verda Agnes Chatfield, 7th of 10 children of Charles Henry Chatfield & Nellie Belle Chamberlin, in Sanders, Rosebud Co., Montana

Apr 22, 1910: Federal Census for Chico, Butte Co., California:
Day, William G: Head, white, male, age 40, Married once 20 yrs, born California, father born Vermont, mother born Vermont, bricklayer buildings
Bertha N: Wife, white, female, age 36, Married once, 20 yrs, 2 children born, 2 children living, born California, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan
George W.: Son, white, male, age 12, born California, father born California, mother born California

Apr 23, 1910: Federal Census for Sanders School District, Rosebud Co., Montana:
Chatfield, Chas: head, age 39, married 16 years, born Colorado, father born Illinois, mother born Texas, farmer
Nellie: wife, age 37, married 16 years, born Montana, father born New York, mother born Pennsylvania
Chas: son, age 14, born Colorado, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri
Leo: son, age 12, born Wyoming, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri
Howard: son, age 10, born Colorado, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri
Roy: son, age 9, born Colorado, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri
Nellie May: daughter, age 7, born Colorado, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri
Gordon: son, age 4, born Wyoming, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri
Verda: daughter, age 1, born Montana, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri
Chamberlain, Mamie: sister-in-law, age 23, single, born in Texas, father born New York, mother born Pennsylvania, saleslady
Gregory, Anson: hired man, age 19, single, born Illinois, father born Illinois, mother born Illinois
Note: Nellie’s 23-year-old sister, Mamie Chamberlin, is living with Nellie and her family

Aug 29, 1910: Birth of Arden Sherman Chatfield, brother of Verda and 8th of 10 children of Charles Henry Chatfield & Nellie Belle Chamberlin, in Rosebud Co., Montana

Feb 5, 1911: Death of Bertha Nevada (DeVoe) Day, mother of George William Day:
Name: Bertha N Day
Birth Year: abt 1873
Death Date: 5 Feb 1911
Age at Death: 38
Death Place: Butte, California, USA

Bertha Nevada (Devoe) Day:

Feb 7, 1911, Chico Record, Chico, Butte Co., California:
Mother Killed While On Way To Depot To Bid Her Son Good-Bye. Mrs. Bertha Day Frightfully Mangled Under Wheel of Chico-Sacramento Motor. Coroner’s Jury Exonerates Southern Pacific Company From All Blame.
Mrs. Bertha Nevada Day was run down and instantly killed Sunday shortly after 12 o’clock noon by the Chico-Sacramento motor car. The woman was struck apparently while walking to the depot from her home on Eighth street. She left her home to go to the train to see her son, Guy Day, and his wife depart for Los Angeles. It was raining at the time and she held her umbrella over her head while walking against the wind and rain. It was due to this and accompanying noise of a switching freight train that prevented her from hearing the approaching motor.
Death instantaneous.
The death was instantaneous there is no doubt. The car passed entirely over Mrs. Day’s body, bruising and mangling her frightfully. No one saw the accident.
Southern Pacific Exonerated.
The coroner’s inquest held yesterday afternoon in the city hall resulted in a verdict exonerating the railroad company. The verdict was that death was due to the deceased being struck accidentally by a Southern Pacific motor car. Guy R. Kennedy represented William Day, husband of the deceased, and Guy and George Day, sons of the unfortunate woman. George Green, a special agent, was present in the interests of the railroad company.
Son Says Not Suicide.
On the stand at the inquest, Guy Day stated that he was informed soon after the accident that a woman had been run over by the car. He rushed to the scene and found his mother lying face-downward across the tracks near the Sixth street crossing. He asked someone to turn her over. At that time he was not sure it was his mother. When she was turned over her recognized her, and immediately said, “Could she have done it herself?” He stated his mother had no objection to his going to Los Angeles and that she was to follow him within a month for the benefit of her health. He was positive his mother did not commit suicide.
Goodmanson testified to seeing no one on the tracks and said the usual precautions had been used in backing down from the Chico depot to the sidetracks in Barber, where the car is stationed between runs.
Dr. O. Stansbury, who was summoned by Coroner Wallace to examine the body soon after the accident, testified to the extent of the wounds. According to his testimony, many bones were broken and the body was a mass of bruises and wounds.
Frank Adamson, Floyd McPherson, City Marshal Goe and J. Reed, private secretary of Superintendent Sheridan, also gave testimony. The case was given to the jury shortly after 4 o’clock, and within thirty minutes a verdict was arrived at. The jury was composed of J.W. Baker, foreman, C. Garthaffner, George T. Cole, G.W. Bennet, A.H. Wood, Jefferson Ewton, C.C. Richardson.
All Precautions Observed.
There was nothing in all the testimony to show that the railroad men had not exercised the proper caution in backing down the tracks, and on the other hand it was shown that the usual warning whistled has been blown. From the bits of torn clothing, umbrella and pieces of flesh and blood on the tracks, it was shown that the woman had been struck while on the private grounds of the railroad company.
The Dead Woman.
Bertha Nevada Day was born in Marysville, Yuba county, in 1872. Her parents name was Devoe. She had lived in this section of the State all her life, and was well and favorably known in this city. Her untimely death is sincerely mourned by a wide circle of loving friends and relatives.
Surviving are two sons, Guy and George Day of this city, and her husband, William Day. A sister-in-law, Mrs. Mary Williamson of Oroville, also survives. She was an honored member of Golden Feather Lodge, Fraternal Brotherhood.
Funeral Services Tomorrow.
The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Fraternal Brotherhood hall, corner of Third and Broadway. Rev. G.L. Lobdell will officiate, and the interment will occur in the Chico cemetery.

Feb 9, 1911, Chico Record, Chico, Butte Co., California:
Mrs. Day Laid At Rest.
The funeral of Mrs. Bertha Nevada Day was held yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock from The Fraternal Brotherhood Hall. The attendance was large and the floral offerings were many and beautiful. The services were under the auspices of The Fraternal Brotherhood, of which the deceased was an honored member. Rev. W.G. White preached the sermon.

Feb 24, 1913: Birth of Ina Chatfield, sister of Verda and 9th of 10 children of Charles Henry Chatfield & Nellie Belle Chamberlin, in Rosebud Co., Montana

Sep 29, 1915: Birth of Noreen Ellen “Babe” Chatfield, sister of Verda, my mother, and 10th of 10 children of Charles Henry Chatfield & Nellie Belle Chamberlin, in Los Molinos, Tehama Co., California

Headstones, Hearsay, and a Little History:
In 1915 the Chatfield family moved to the up-and-coming agricultural town of Chico, buying a fairly new two-story corner residence on four lots in the Chapmantown district, a working-class neighborhood near the Diamond Match Factory. In those days most people rented; few owned their own homes. With only two upstairs bedrooms, the younger boys sharing one, the girls the other, it was a small house for a large family. Downstairs, Grandma Chatfield created a tiny sleeping space for herself in an alcove under the stairway, keeping the small downstairs bedroom for company. Grandpa, always on the outs with Grandma, slept in the shed.

abt 1917: Marriage of George William Day & Louise Florence Louise George, his 1st wife, in Chico, Butte Co., California. They had two children, Robert “Bob” and George “Pinkie” Day.

Jun 1, 1917: WWI Draft Registration Card for George William Day:

Note: George’s age and birthdate conflict with all other census, military, and death records by three or four years which all reflect he was born in 1897 or 1898.

Jun 15, 1917: WWI Draft Registration Card record for George William Day:
Name: Geo William Day
Race: Caucasian (White)
Marital status: Married
Birth Date: 2 May 1894 (note: born in 1897 or 1898)
Birth Place: California
Residence Place: Solano, California, USA

Jan 9, 1920: Federal Census for Chico, Butte Co., California: (parents of Louise Day, wife of George William Day; no 1920 census record found for George)
George, James D.: Head, age 49, married, born Michigan, father born Ohio, mother born Michigan, chief clerk, telephone company
Nellie D.: Wife, age 45, married, born Nebraska, father born Pennsylvania, mother born Scotland, order clerk in grocery
Farrell, Marie: Daughter, age 25, married, born Kansas, father born Michigan, mother born Nebraska, telephone operator
Day, Louise G: Daughter, age 21, married, born Illinois, father born Michigan, mother born Nebraska, none
Day, Robert: Grandson, age 1 3/12, single, born California, father born Michigan, mother born Nebraska (father born California, mother born Illinois)

1920: U.S. City Directory, Chico, Butte Co., California (pg 27):
Day Geo (Louise) r 622 Hall

Jan 26, 1920: Federal Census for Chico, Butte Co., California:
Chatfield, Charles H.: head, owns, age 49, born Colorado, father born Illinois, mother born Texas, foreman for rice ranch
Nellie C.: wife, age 46, born Montana, father born New York, mother born Pennsylvania
Charles J.: son, age 24; born Colorado, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri, laborer rice ranch
Leo W.: son, age 22; born Wyoming, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri, laborer, rice ranch
Roy E.: son, age 18; born Colorado, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri, Lumber Grader in Match Factory
Nellie M.: daughter, age 16; born Colorado, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri, Forewoman in Match Factory
Gordon G.: son, age 14; born Wyoming, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri
Verda A.: daughter, age 11; born Montana, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri
Arden I.: son, age 9, born Montana, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri (Arden S.)
Ina J: daughter, age 6, born Montana, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri
Norine E.: age 4 3/12, born California, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri (Noreen)
Note: Charles is working for the Spaulding ranch 16 miles west of Chico, as foreman harvesting rice.

Dec 16, 1922 or 23: Letter from Charles Henry Chatfield, Verda’s father, to his brother-in-law, Fred Adams:
My Dear Fred,
Your letter received several days ago, and was all glad to hear from you, and sorry to hear you had such bad luck and I hope you do come to California, as I know you will never want to go back to Montana. We are now having our rainy weather and the orange season is just over.
Leo was box maker for a fruit packing company and they just got through here and left for Imperial Valley, (south of Los Angeles) and Gordon went with him in the auto. The boys all have their own cars and working steadily and at home except Leo & Gordon. Howard lives here in Chico and oldest little girl took the baby prize for the best looking baby in Chico. The prize was a diamond ring.
Verda is going to school at the convent at Marysville, and Nellie May starts the 1st of Jan to “Healds Business College” takes stenography and bookkeeping. She has worked almost 5 years for the Diamond Match Co. and is well liked by the Co.
Mrs. C. has worked there for nearly a year. They make $16.00 per week. I have been with them a little over 18 months. I am in the finished lumber department.
There are over 200 women and girls working in the Match factory, and they employ about 250 more in the box factory, window, door & sash and lumber departments.
We have a 8 roomed house and 4 lots and I tried the chicken business again, have about 100 Leghorns and Rhode Island Red’s, and we have all kinds of fruit in fact too much, but we seem to get away with it.
Charley went up after some Holly berries today and if he gets some I will send you some for Christmas.
We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. With lots of Love to Jacqueline and the girls and hope to see you all soon.
Your brother
Chas.
Write Soon
Note: Forsythe, Montana flooded during a bad rainy season and a good part of Fred & Jacquelin Adam’s house was underwater. This is the only known letter we have from Charles Henry Chatfield.

Jan 14, 1924: Postcard to Verda (age 15), who is attending a convent Catholic school in Marysville, from her brother, Gordon Chatfield (age 18):

1925: Verda Chatfield attends Chico High School (she is listed in a high school annual) in Chico, Butte Co., California

Headstones, Hearsay, and a Little History:
There was a time my grandmother, Nellie (Chamberlin) Chatfield,  worked at Diamond Match, employed as a wrapper, a floor lady, and then as a supervisor. In 1926 and 1927, my grandfather, Charles Henry Chatfield)  worked there too. So did some of their children: Howard, Verda, Nella May, Gordon and his wife, Hylda, and Roy and his sweetheart, Jo. Diamond Match was one of the largest manufacturing companies in America. The railroad line skirting the Chico plant carried lumber directly from its Stirling mountain operations and stored the dry lumber in the Chico yard until processed. The largest employer in Chico until its doors closed in 1958, Diamond manufactured wood matches and matchboxes, doors and sashes, veneer and plywood, wooden produce boxes, apiaries, and bee-keeping supplies. Much of the timber went to build the stately homes in San Francisco. It was a huge enterprise that included a machine shop, a foundry, and millworks along with an employee social hall, baseball diamond, and badminton courts. The west end of 16^thStreet led directly into the 133-acre site and was within walking distance of the Chatfield home on Boucher Street.


Photos: Verda posing in top photo, and at far right with girlfriends, showing off their stylish new haircuts, which were radical for the time!

1926: U.S. City Directory, Chico, Butte Co., California (pg 62):
Day George W (Louise F) slsmn h 4811 5th

May 18, 1926: Death of Louise Florence (George) Day (age 27), 1st wife of George William Day, in Chico, Butte Co., California; of a botched abortion, leaving behind two young sons, Robert Elwood “Bob” Day, George Louis “Junior/Pinkie/Boats” Day.

Burial of Louise Florence (George) Day, Chico Cemetery in Chico, Butte Co., California

California Death Index
Name: Florence L Day
Event Date: 18 May 1926
Event Place: Butte, California
Gender: Female
Age: 27
Birth Year (Estimated): 1899

Mar 27, 1927: Marriage of Verda Agnes Chatfield & George Louis Day, presumably in Chico, Butte Co., California.

Headstones, Hearsay, and a Little History:
When Verda married George Day, a non-Catholic who converted the day before their wedding, Grandma Nellie wasn’t a bit happy about the union. George was ten years older than Verda who was only 18 and he was a widower with two small sons (a two-year-old and an eight-year-old) and married Verda less than a year after his first wife’s death from a botched abortion. He drove a brand new Jordan, which cost a fortune, also a strike against him in Grandma’s eyes. In those days any one of those facts was enough to raise a mother’s eyebrows. He was also a bootlegger, but Grandma didn’t know that. Actually, George was in business with his Uncle Louis, distributing slot machines and punchboards (stand-up, lottery-type gambling games) to taverns and country stores, along with dispensing a little liquor on the side. Liquor was sold in mason jars and whenever a raid took place, the innkeeper bumped the jar of white lightning with his elbow knocking it over, any evidence disappearing down the drain. At that time bootlegging was the country’s most profitable industry and gambling was the real great American pastime. George’s 1927 Jordan was a beautiful touring car with a California top of a leather-covered hardwood roof, sliding plate glass windows, and a hood ornament that was a block away from the steering wheel. In 1926 a Jordan Playboy cost $1,845; in 1930 a Model T sticker was $300.

When Louise, George’s first wife, died in 1926, his oldest son Bob was sent to live with his grandmother in Chico; an aunt raised Junior, his younger son. Bob spent his summers with George and Verda from 5^th grade through high school in Watsonville and Vallejo, but preferred living with his grandmother; he was an only child there and well-taken care of by her.

Verda was more like a friend to Bob as they were only ten years apart in age. They got along at times, and at times, they didn’t. She got mad at Bob whenever she caught him snatching a mason jar of her stew; before she could nab him he’d make a run for the river to feed the bums and tramps. He ate with his friends in their hobo camp hidden under the bridge of the Pajaro, listening to their fancies of flight tales of riding the rails. He was in the third grade.

Bob sold papers for the Chico Enterprise, getting in line six days a week with the other urchins his age, plunking down his dime for six newspapers. You did your regular customers first, then ran like hell and yelled “Chico Enterprise! Chico Enterprise!” up and down the streets to sell the rest. They sold them for a nickel a paper, saved a dime for the next day’s batch, and made twenty cents of which they either saved, invested, or squandered. Bob enjoyed his earnings. The movies took a dime, a dime went for black licorice (which he kept in his mouth like chew, spatting black spittle on the sidewalk, making him feel grown-up) and the balance went to rent horses for 25 cents an hour to horseback ride in Bidwell Park with the other neighborhood kids.

Oct 24, 1929 was Black Thursday. The financial and stock markets had crashed and the news hit the streets like an avalanche; people couldn’t believe it. Bob had never sold so many papers, going back to the vendor several times to get six more, and six more, and six more. Young Bob couldn’t believe it either. It was the happiest day in his eleven-year-old life.

George and Verda had five children (they lost a child the year before Marceline was born), then along came Marceline, Jim, Judi, and Jeffery. George worked for the Union Ice Company for twenty-five years, first in Watsonville (which is where my dad, Carl Clemens, first worked with him), in Vallejo, and then in Redwood City.

1928: U.S. City Directory, Watsonville, Santa Cruz Co., California:
Day Geo W (Verda) driver Union Ice Co h51 Marchant

Mar 13, 1929: Birth of  Marceline Dolores “Marcie” Day, 1st of 4 living children of George William Day & Verda Agnes Chatfield, in Watsonville, Santa Cruz Co., California

Apr 29, 1930: Federal Census for Oakland, Alameda Co., California:
Day, George W: Head, rents $35, male, white, age 31, married, 1st marriage at 27, born California, father born California, mother born California, merchant in ice cream store
Verda A.: Wife, female, white, age 21, married, 1st marriage at 18, born Montana, father born Colorado, mother born Missouri, assistant in ice cream store
George Lewis: Son, male, white, age 5, single, born California, father born California, mother born Montana (note: born Illinois)
Marcelyn D.: Daughter, female, white, age 1, single, born California, father born California, mother born Montana

Jan 30, 1931: Birth of Leo Ronald “Jim” Day,  2nd of 4 living children of George William Day & Verda Agnes Chatfield, in Manteca, San Joaquin Co., California

1931: U.S. City Directory, Stockton, San Joaquin Co., California:
Day Geo W (Verda) agt Van Fleet-Derkee Stations Inc h131 Beach ave

Sep 14, 1932: Death of William Guy Day (age 63), father of Geroge William Day, in Dunsmuir, Siskiyou Co, California. William is buried alongside his wife Bertha (Devoe) Day and his son George’s 1st wife, Lousie (George) Day in the Chico Cemetery in Chico, Butte Co., California.

Headstones, Hearsay, and a Little History:
1934: Watsonville, California ~ In 1934, Carl and Babe (my mother and Verda’s sister) moved to Watsonville, a small agricultural town on the central coast 95 miles south of San Francisco. They wanted to be near Verda and George, and Carl got a job working for the Union Ice Company through George, who was his closest friend. For years Carl worked with him at Union Ice, first as a deliveryman, then as a manager. Along with regular home deliveries, he also filled commercial ice vending machines, delivered ice to all the restaurants, and to the huge army base filled with hundreds of tents and soldiers near Watsonville. Carl also delivered to the bars and discovered pinball.

1935: U.S. City Directory, Watsonville, Santa Cruz Co., California:
Day Geo W (Verda) asst mgr Union Ice Co h219 E High

1936: U.S. City Directory, Watsonville, Santa Cruz Co., California:
Day Geo W (Verda) agt Union Ice Co h419 California

1936: California Voter Registrations, Watsonville No. 19, Santa Cruz Co., California:
Day, George W., —Democrat—Ice Man…419 California St., Watsonville
Day, Mrs. Verda A.—Democrat—Housewife…419 California St., Watsonville

Feb 17, 1937: 17th Annual Union Ice Industries Convention at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco, California:

1938: California Voter Registrations, Watsonville No. 19, Santa Cruz Co., California:
Day, Mrs. Verda A.—Democrat—Housewife…419 California St., Watsonville

Headstones, Hearsay, and a Little History:
1939 • Watsonville, California ~ Our house was right on her way home from the grammar school and Marceline (Uncle George and Aunt Verda’s daughter) loved to stop off and visit mom. Marceline held Babe in high esteem, elevating her to a kindred spirit and favorite aunt. She thought our mother a much better mother than hers: she wasn’t as proper and strict as Verda, didn’t fuss about what the house looked like, didn’t care if her kids ran wild, didn’t give a whit about going to mass. She also talked to her niece about anything she wanted to talk about.

Eleven-year-old Marceline was there so often she seemed to be part of the furniture. One warm afternoon she quickly tripped up the porch stairs just as her Aunt Babe woke up from her daily nap on the chesterfield. She hadn’t been feeling well, and when Marceline asked why, she confided to her young niece that she would have a third child soon.

Marceline was crazy about babies and wanted her parents to have another one, too. She loved taking care of Carleen (Marceline was six years older to the day) and wanted more than anything to have a little sister of her own. It had been on her prayer list forever. She’d asked her parents, but they’d emphatically said no, they couldn’t. Left to her own devices, and thinking hard, she worried that perhaps they didn’t know how (disregarding the glaring fact that she already had two older half-brothers and one younger brother, not to mention herself).

Marceline had all kinds of questions for Aunt Babe: “How did you get Larry and Carleen? How does the baby get in the tummy? How does it get out?”
So my mother—being Mother—took a drag off her cigarette and told her.

At dinner that night, Marceline, beside herself with excitement and thinking they could use this information, explained the process to her parents¬. Levitating from his chair, George exploded, both fists slamming the table. “Godamnsonuvabitch! Jesuschristalmighty! Who in the hell told you WHERE BABIES COME FROM?”

“Aunt Babe,” said Marceline, her blue eyes brimming with tears.
“Now George,” soothed Verda, trying to calm him down. “Babe was only …”
George glared at Verda, “Your goddam sister …”

In high dudgeon, he snatched Marceline and Verda by their upper arms and marched over to our house, bounded up the porch, pounded on the screened door, stormed in, and bawled his sister-in-law out royally for taking it upon herself to inform their daughter of life’s private details.
Jabbing his finger with fury towards Babe, he ranted, “You had no damn business talking to Marceline about this, especially at her age! That’s our job, goddammit! What in the hell were you thinking, and why in the name of Jesus H. Christ do you think you had the right to do such a goddamn foolish thing?”
The women in my family don’t mince words, which is unfortunate, as it would make them so much easier to eat later. Babe simply looked at him, shrugged, and said, “Well, she asked me.”

That December my sister Betty, the third child in our family, was born. And possibly as a result of young Marceline’s coaching, Marceline’s own much-wanted sister Judi was born almost exactly a year later.The Clemens’ house was right on her way home from the grammar school and Marceline (Uncle George and Aunt Verda’s daughter) loved to stop off and visit Babe. Marceline held Babe in high esteem, elevating her to a kindred spirit and favorite aunt. She thought our mother a much better mother than hers: Mom wasn’t as proper and strict as Verda, didn’t fuss about what the house looked like, didn’t care if her kids ran wild, didn’t give a whit about going to mass. She also talked to her niece about anything that she wanted to talk about.

Eleven-year-old Marceline was there so often she seemed to be part of the furniture. One warm afternoon she quickly tripped up the porch stairs just as Babe woke up from her daily nap on the chesterfield. She hadn’t been feeling well, and when Marceline asked why, she confided to her young niece that she would soon be having a third child.

Marceline was crazy about babies and wanted her parents to have another one, too. She loved taking care of Carleen (Marceline was six years older to the day) and wanted more than anything to have a little sister of her own. It had been on her prayer list forever. She’d asked her parents, but they’d emphatically said no, they couldn’t. Left to her own devices, and thinking hard, she worried that perhaps they didn’t know how (disregarding the glaring fact that she already had two older half-brothers and one younger brother, not to mention herself).

Marceline had all kinds of questions for her Aunt Babe: “How did you get Larry and Carleen? How does the baby get in the tummy? How does it get out?”

So my mother—being Mother—took a drag off her cigarette and told her.

At dinner that night, Marceline, beside herself with excitement and thinking they could use this information, explained the process pretty well to her parents­. Levitating from his chair, George exploded, both fists slamming the table. “Cheesus H. Christ! Who in the goddamsonuvabitchinhell told you WHERE BABIES COME FROM?”

“Aunt Babe,” said Marceline, her blue eyes brimming with tears.
“Now George,” soothed Verda, trying to calm him down. “Babe was only …”
George glared at Verda, “Your goddam sister …”

In high dudgeon, he grabbed Marceline and Verda by their arms and marched over to Carl and Babe’s, bounded up the porch, pounded on the screened door, stormed in, and bawled his sister-in-law out royally for taking it upon herself to inform their daughter about life’s private details.

Jabbing his finger with fury towards Babe, he ranted, “You had no goddam business talking to Marceline about this, especially at her age! That’s our job, goddammit! What in the hell were you thinking, and why for chrissakes do you think you had the right to do such a goddamn foolish thing?”

The women in my family don’t mince words, which is unfortunate as it would make them so much easier to eat later. Babe simply looked at him, shrugged, and said, “Well, she asked me.”

That December my sister Betty, the third child in our family, was born. And possibly as a result of young Marceline’s coaching, Marceline’s own much-wanted sister Judi was born almost exactly a year later.

1940: California Voter Registrations, Parajo No. 4, Watsonville, Santa Cruz Co., California:
Day, George W.—Democrat—Ice Company Employee…633 California St., Watsonville
Day, Mrs. Verda A.—Democrat—Housewife…4633 California St., Watsonville

May 14, 1940: Federal Census for Watsonville, Santa Cruz Co., California:
Day, George W: Head, male, white, age 42, married, born California, assistant manager for ice company, elementary school, 8th grade
Verda: Wife, female, white, age 32, married, born Montana, high school, 4th year
George, Jr.: Son, male, white, age 15, single, born California, high school, 1st year
Marceline: Daughter, female, white, age 11, single, born California, elementary school, 6th grade
Jimmy: Son, male, white, age 9, single, born California, elementary school, 3rd grade

Headstones, Hearsay, and a Little History:
George was a slight wiry man, high-strung and unpredictable. A one-time semi-professional bantamweight boxer, he never weighed much more than 120 pounds and could lift twice his weight. Once a drinker (his stomach problems eventually kept him away from alcohol), he smoked a pack of Luckys a day.

Verda insisted that George drive the family to church even though he refused to attend. Every Sunday he asked why there was no breakfast, and every Sunday Verda reminded him they were going to communion. And every Sunday, George, who never left the house before eating breakfast, offered the same rant and opinion on the Catholic claim of going to hell for eating before communion, and on the priest who served it. “That sonofabitch. He’s not only had breakfast—he’s had a couple of shots of wine before it!” George waited in the car under a shade tree while his wife and children attended Mass, and God help them if they were the last ones out of the church. With his history, George already jeopardized his opportunity of getting to heaven, though with his language, I don’t think he had much of a chance anyway.

1941: WWII Draft Card for George William Day:
Name: George William Day
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 44
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 2 May 1897
Birth Place: Sacramento, California, USA
Residence Place: Vallejo, Solano, California, USA
Registration Date: 14 Feb 1942
Registration Place: Vallejo, Solano, California, USA
Employer: The Union Ice Co
Weight: 127
Complexion: Light Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Gray
Height: 5 6
Next of Kin: J B George

Nov 22, 1941: Letter excerpt from Noreen “Babe” (age 26), my mother, to my father’s sister, Amelia Conway (age 39), living in Byron, Minnesota:
Watsonville, Cal.
Nov. 22, 1941.
Dear Amelia and all:
The last letter I had from you was dated July 11, whether I have written since then I don’t know but I probably haven’t. Not much to write about.

We have put the house up for sale and if we do get a buyer I want to buy or rent a place in the country. I want a cow and chickens and a pig family etc. Milk is 14¢ a qt., eggs 50¢ a dozen, butter 45¢ a lb. and all other prices are according. It takes every nickel you make just to eat. Meat is such a luxury even hamburger is 31¢ a lb. and pork chops are 43¢, as for beef, well I don’t even glance at steaks any more, you cant buy a steak for less than 50¢ and it takes two big ones for my family.

My sister and her family from Vallejo just drove up so will finish this later.
(note: Verda and George Day)

Sunday p.m.
The Days left about 3:30 this afternoon, things are so hectic while they are here. There are George and Verda and four kids. Jr. is nearly seventeen and the baby is a year old. George and Carl are such good friends, they really think the world of each other. The(y) go off out in the car or someplace by themselves and talk by the hour. I would think they would get tired.

Everyone here is fine, the kids and I all had an attack of stomach flu but it only lasted one day each. Betty is so cute and growing so tall, she talks a blue streak, she calls her daddy, Carl, which I think is cute but he doesn’t think much of. Her hair is blonde and real curly and her eyes blue and they just sparkle with the devil in them, then she has a dimple in each cheek and the evenest little white teeth and pinkest cheeks. I wish you would see her before she outgrows her baby cuteness. Larry and Carleen are so proud of her and just love to hear people say that she is cute, they want to take her every place they go, just to show her off.
Write when you can and my love to all.
Noreen

1942: California Voter Registrations, Watsonville No. 22, Santa Cruz Co., California:
Day, George W., —Democrat—Ice Company Employee … 633 California St., Watsonville
Day, Mrs. Verda A.—Democrat—Housewife … 633 California St., Watsonville

1942: California Voter Registrations, Vallejo Precinct No. 44, Solano Co., California:
Day, Mrs. Verda A.—2015 Indiana, housewife, Dem.

Jul 23, 1942: Death of Charles Henry Chatfield (age 71), father of Verda (Chatfield) Day, at the Butte County Hospital in Oroville, California; of cardiac failure and malnutrition.

Jul 24, 1942: Chico Enterprise, Chico, Butte Co., California:
C.H. Chatfield Taken by Death
Charles H. Chatfield, widely known Chico resident for the past 25 years, and retired rancher, died at a local hospital yesterday following a short illness.
Chatfield was born in Florence, Colorado, September 21, 1870 and has been a resident of this community for 25 years. The family residence was at 666 East 16th street. He followed his occupation as a rancher until his retirement a few years ago.
He leaves to mourn him, his wife Nellie Chatfield of Chico and the following children, Charles J. of San Francisco, Leo W. of Camptonville, Howard F. and Roy E. of Chico, Gordon of Martinez, Arden with the U.S. Army, Mrs. Nellie McElhiney of Oakland, Mrs. Verda Day of Vallejo, Mrs. Noreen Clemens of Vallejo, and Mrs. Irma Fouch of Yuba City. Twelve grandchildren also survive.
One brother, Elmer Chatfield of Wyoming, and two sisters, Mrs. Ella Small of Superior, Arizona, and Mrs. Calla Joslyn of Santa Monica, California.
Friends are invited to attend the funeral services Saturday morning at 9:30 o’clock at the Black and Johnson Funeral home. Rev. Father Patrick J. Cronin of St. John the Baptist Catholic church will read the last rites and the interment will be held in Chico cemetery.

1944: California Voter Registrations, San Mateo Co., California:
Day, George W., 911 Valota Rd., Mgr … Dem
Day, Mrs. Verda A. 911 Valota Rd., Housewife … Dem

1946: U.S. City Directory, Redwood City, San Mateo Co., California:
Day Geo W (Verda) mgr Redwood Ice Delivery h1103 Hopkins av Telephone Redwood 4393-W

Note: Mom’s family visited often as most lived close. Her brother Roy and his sweetheart Jo, and her brother Gordon came on occasion. Her brother Charlie with his wife Velma came more often. Mom’s sisters’ families visited, Verda and George and their children, Junior and Bob who were George’s sons from his first marriage, along with Jim, Marceline, and Judi, and Jeffery. Her sister Ina with Jim with their girls, Joanne, Shirley, and Jimmy, and Nella May with her four, Buster, Mary Ellen, Beverly, and Barbara. Company was always staying at the house.

On his twelfth Christmas, my brother Larry received a small five-year leather-bound diary, with room enough on each page for three lines per day, and our cousins are often mentioned. Mom’s family visited more often than Dad’s as they lived closer. Her brother Roy and his sweetheart Jo, and her brother Gordon came on occasion. Her brother Charlie with his wife Velma came more often. Mom’s sisters visited: Verda and George and their children, Junior and Bob who were George’s sons from his first marriage, along with Jim, Marceline, and Judy, (Jeff came along later); her sister Ina with Jim with their girls, Joanne and Shirley (Jimmy, the youngest, like me, was born later); and Nella May with her four, Buster, Mary Ellen, Beverly, and Barbara. Company was always staying at the house.

My brother had a number of entries in his diary which mention our cousins, the Day family:
1947 • Larry’s Diary (age 13)
Feb 8 Today I went to Redwood City to visit the Days. While I was there I bought some stamps. I also bought some books today
Feb 9 Today I went for a walk through Redwood City. Bob and Trula live in back of Verda and George. Grandma Chatfield was also visiting there.
Feb 10 Missed school because family didn’t get back from Redwood City (130 mile trip) until 2 P.M. I delivered morning papers in the afternoon

May 2, 1947: When our cousin Marceline Day turned seventeen (the same age Mom was when she married Dad), she became engaged to a young man named Roy. She wrote my mother of her wedding plans; Mom penned back a four-page letter in her cursive handwriting:

May 2, 1947
Dear Marceline:
Received your letter when I got home late last night. Carl didn’t know where he had put it, but I found it by accident, otherwise I never would have found it.

Marceline, I don’t know this boy and therefore don’t know anything one way or the other about him, but I am going to put in my 2 cents worth. I don’t care who you marry but if you marry as young as you are you will regret it. I did, your mother did and so have hundreds of women I know and every darned one of us wishes we had waited until we were older. From 16 until 26 is the best time of your life. You may think you will be divinely happy and you probably will be—for six months. By then the glamour is gone. I tell you going out on dates with a boy is a lot different than having to look at him across the table day in and day out, going to bed with him night after night; it may be swell at first, but oh you get your belly full in such a short time, and I don’t mean that with a double meaning, but you probably will. You know Marceline, you were raised to be a good Catholic and with your heredity you will probably have an immense family if you don’t do something, have you thought about that? If you intend to follow rhythm, for heaven’s sake, get some good advice on it and follow it, come hell or high water! But for your own sake, for God’s sake, change your mind before it is too late. When you’re married for a long time, don’t go into it with the idea in the back of your mind that if you don’t like it you can get a divorce, go on and finish school and get a little experience first, don’t ever fear that you won’t get another chance. You know another thing Marce, you have never had to skimp in your life, you don’t know how to stretch money, and boy, the price of things now you are going to have to skimp. You may think now that it will be fun to be working, but when you have to leave work you have to shop, then hurry home and cook. Oh, I know, your thinking, “well, we will eat out,” but you will be darned lucky if you get to eat out once a week, there is the rent, the gas lights, and dozens of other items that you don’t think of now, but they will pop up and soon there will be one continuous struggle to keep your head above water. Your pride will keep you from appealing for help from your folks or his. I know you don’t believe any of this is going to happen but you wait and see, the same thing has happened to so many thousands of others. Why do you think it won’t to you?

Boy, if I had the chance to live my life over again do you think I would have gotten married at my age. I’ll say I wouldn’t have.

He may be wonderful to you and probably is, but did you ever hear that men change, once they get you, they don’t have to court you anymore—they don’t have to be so considerate of you. Another thing, they have a wife to support now, so he has to work and work hard, they are too darned tired to go out and it can get pretty deadly staying at home night after night. Maybe you think now that you won’t mind staying home, but when a person is young they should go out and have a good time. Time enough to sit home by the fire when you are old, and if there are children then you are tied down.

Don’t do it, kid. Don’t do it. He may be a swell guy, don’t drink, don’t smoke, and don’t gamble. Well, Carl doesn’t do those things either but do you think I have had any bed of roses? If I could change places with Carl’s sister Elizabeth, who has never married, has a good job and is her own boss, would I do it. I would jump at the chance and don’t think I wouldn’t. If she wants to buy a new coat or dress or take a trip does she have to ask anyone first. No, she is her own boss. I feel sure that I am just wasting my time, but you can’t say you weren’t told, and I haven’t tried to mince words.

We expect to be in Minnesota or on the road from the 7^th of June until the 29^th. But if you still decide that you are going to take the leap then I wish you all the happiness in the world, but I hope and pray that you change your mind before it is too late.
Lots of love,
Noreen

P.S. Tell your mother that Carleen’s arm is coming along fine. It must have not been a bad break as it didn’t hurt her a bit like the first time. I am going to the doctor with her tomorrow. (Carleen had broken her arm the first time when she ran it through the wringer washer. This second break was when she fell off her bike.)
N.C.

Marceline was crushed by my mother’s letter, unable to understand from where she spoke. Everyone else had already tried to talk her out of marrying Roy, and now her staunchest ally had turned against her. She was so in love with this big handsome football player, how could everyone be saying these things to her, especially Babe? When Marceline showed the letter to her fiancé, Roy said, “This is the last you’ll ever have anything to do with her.” She never spoke to my mother again.

Entries from Larry’s diary mentioning our cousins, the Day family:
1947 • Larry’s diary (age 13)
Jun 4  Graduated from 8th grade elementary school. I got a wristwatch and binder as gifts. Went to graduation party and danced with Barbara Miles
Jun 5  At 2 PM left for 3 week vacation to stay at George and Verda Day‘s home in Redwood City as Mom and Dad going to Minnesota
Jun 7  Jim Day (cousin) took me to a drive-in restaurant in Redwood city
Jun 9  Mowed lawn for uncle Geo. Day
Jun 10  Mowed lawns for vacation money, earned $1
Jun 15  Went to movies Odd Man Out and The Hat Box Mystery with Jim Day
Jun 18  Received letter from Mom and Dad in Rochester, Minnesota. They had an accident in their car but no one hurt.
Jun 21  Postcard from Mom and Dad in Minnesota
Jun 22  Marceline Day got married to Roy today. Reception here at George and Verda Day home after wedding.
Jun 27  Earned $4.50 today mowing lawns
Jun 29  Mom came to pick me up. She brought my cousins Shirley and JoAnne Fouch and Carleen with her. They stayed overnight.
Jun 30  Went to So. San Francisco to pick up Betty and Claudia at Aunt Velma’s and Uncle Charlie‘s. I was in Redwood City for 26 days
Aug 29  The Days arrived for a few days visit. I am sleeping on spare bed and they are in my room
Aug 30 Jeff the Day’s baby cries a lot and keeps us awake at night. Got ten dollars pay at the store.
Sep 2  The Days left finally and I moved back into my room. I hope to make twenty dollars this week (50 cents an hour)
Dec 28  Sunday: Went to Redwood City and stayed at Day’s house. Mom and Dad had to go down San Francisco to get some records for the store.

Nov 19, 1948: Death of Gordon Gregory Chatfield (age 42), older brother of Verda and the 6th of 10 children of Charles Chatfield and Nellie Chamberlin.

Nov 1948: Family photo was taken at a family gathering for the funeral of Nella May’s brother, Gordon Chatfield

Except for her other brothers Howard and Arden (they’re not in the pictures anyway), the whole family was there for Gordon’s funeral. The photo, taken at Charley and Velma’s house in South San Francisco, memorializes the occasion.

1948: U.S. City Directory, Redwood City, San Mateo Co., California:
Day Geo W (Verda) mgr Redwood Ice Delivery h165 Elwood

Entries from Larry’s diary mentioning our cousins, the Day family:
April 1949 • Larry’s diary (age 15)
Apr 30  Days came up with Judy and Jeff. They slept in my room and Betty snooped in my room. I slept in Betty’s bed.
May 1  Days went back to Redwood City. Took bath. Dad owes about $10,000 in bills has to pay bank $1000 tomorrow, only has $800
Oct 15  The Days paid us a surprise visit, whole family came. Jim slept with me. He’s a sophomore at San Jose State College, math. He is 4 years older than me

1950: U.S. City Directory, Redwood City, San Mateo Co., California:
Day Geo W (Verda A) mgr Redwood Ice Delivery h165 Elwood

Entries from Larry’s diary mentioning our cousins, the Day family:
1950 • Larry’s diary (age 16)
May 4  Tuolumne County Orchestra spring concert. Wore new suit first time. Stockton musicians came up. Hung up poster and programs on wall.
May 5  Got up at 3:15 and went to San Jose with band and Brass Choir for music festival. Got two excellent ratings, one for my solo and 1 for Brass Choir
May 6  Stayed overnight at the Days. Spent all day watching other soloist and groups play. Wore my medals. Got name on programs.
Jun 17  Days came up and slept in my room. Judy, Jeff, George and Verda came. Had to wear suit to church. Carleen went to Dardanelle
Jun 18  Mom and dad went to Modesto toy show. Will stay down 2 or 3 days. Saw how Mrs. Mike went alone. Days left
Aug 1  Went to Redwood City with mom, stayed overnight at Day’s. Mom drove mostly.
Aug 2  Ordered pin at Sherman Clay and got solo in Oakland. Met my aunt Nella May in Sears. Got Ukes and trumpet records. Got fruit.

Oct 15  The Days paid us a surprise visit, whole family came. Jim slept with me. He’s a sophomore at San Jose State College, math. He is 4 years older than me
Dec 16  Days came up and slept in my bed and broke it then fixed it. Jim here also.
Dec 17  Had bad cold so stayed in bed all day, missed church. Days left. Mom went to San Francisco without electric blanket. Heater on all day.

In 1952: After a final nervous breakdown, my mother left the family and moved to Las Vegas:
May 1952 • Letter from Mother to her sister, Verda
Monday, Las Vegas, Nevada 1952
Dear George and Verda,
I don’t suppose Carl has let you know yet, his pride would keep him, but I have done it, burned all my bridges behind me.

Don’t let George get any wild ideas about coming over here after me. I’m here and I intend to stay, how long I don’t know. I have a job and a good place to stay. I was pretty sick when I got here what with nerves and all and then I had bronchial pneumonia. I have been down with pneumonia all week and the day it was the worst, the doctor wanted me to go to the hospital. I didn’t have the money for a hospital as Carl gave me a $100 bill and told me to get out and not bother him or the kids again. Well, I will never go back but he can’t stop me from writing to them and I will. Maybe some day I can have them with me, at least part of the time.

Now, you can tell Mom or not. I won’t give anybody an explanation or tell them my reasons. That is my own business. She can just cross me off and you can too. If you all do, I don’t blame any of you. You can do as you like no matter what happens, I will go on living, whereas if I had stayed in Sonora I would be dead and by my own hand, and believe me, I would have made a better job of it this time than I did 2 years ago. I felt it better to be alive and separated from all those I love, than dead.

As to the future, I have no plans. I don’t intend on filing suit for divorce even after six weeks. I haven’t the money for one thing, for another I am not interested in another man and that is about the only reason I can see for getting a divorce, so one can remarry. Not me. I am going to live from day to day and let each day take care of itself. Let tomorrow come. At least I’ll have a chance of being here for tomorrow no matter what it brings.

I will tell you this much why I left. I was well on my way to being a lush. I had begun to like and enjoy the taste of whiskey and I was using it as a substitute for happiness. That’s no good, liquor never solved anything, and I was afraid sooner or later someone would tell the girls their mother was a drunk. Carleen already knew I was drinking so I felt that was one reason to get out. The other reasons are between Carl and I and neither one of us will ever talk about it. I’m not going to hit skid row over here. I just want to be left alone and work my life out myself. If you do write to me, please don’t write anything that is going to make me feel any worse than I do. My nerves are about shot and if I am to hold down a job I have to keep a hold of myself or I will lose it and I need it. If you feel you have to get moral with me and reproachful, I would rather you didn’t write at all.
Love, Noreen.
Note: In May 1952, Mom got a job working in Nick’s Smoke Shop at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada

1952 • Larry’s diary (age 18)
Feb 19  Band gave winter concert, went very well, full uniform. Stayed up most of the night studying. Went to Spartan Village saw Bob and Trula Day (Uncle George Day’s son by his first wife)
Jun 13 Band played for Graduation. Turned in horn and uniform. Both Jim Day and Bob Day (cousins who were half-brothers) graduated, both with honors. Saw George and Verda Day family.
Jun 15  Neighbor lent me $2 to get home on. Drove my car home and ate cherries, cleaned up kids rooms, really dirty. Talked to Mac half hour about job at Moccasin. Jim Day married Thelma
Aug 7 To San Francisco on bus trip with Dad, then to San Jose. Dad got shirts, showed him my room. Saw Jim and Thelma Day at home.
Sep 16 Back in San Jose State. Visited cousin Jim Day and his wife Thelma.

1952 • Second letter from Mom to her sister
Tuesday P.M. Las Vegas, Sep 1952
Dear Verda,
As I did not receive an answer to my letters I guess I am going to be given the silent treatment. It’s a little hard to understand. I can see why Mom would cut me off of all contact because I left the kids. I don’t think she would blame me much for leaving Carl, but the girls are different. I know no one has suffered as much over it as I have. I have been sick a lot and was in the hospital again for four and a half days two weeks ago. I have a viral infection in my respiratory tract, and it is especially bad in my throat, of course. If I can just stick it out, I think this climate will in time help me get well.

I am working at a place called “Bentley’s Trading Post”, 205 Fremont St. I like it, the people are different, nearly all tourists from all over the world. They do a terrific business, it is a jewelry store, camera shop, souvenir and novelty items. They are open from 8 A.M. until 10 or 11 P.M. I stay from 1 P.M. until they close. I close up, check the registers, make out the bank, turn off the lights, etc. As soon as they get some good help, I will run it myself at night. I guess the owners haven’t had a night off in six months. They pay me good, last week I got paid $60, and I like them. He is a very crude sort of person, very fat and a cripple, but good natured when he is feeling good, but boy, can he chew a person out when he doesn’t. He never has me yet. He starts to chew hell out of me but before he gets started, I just snap right back at him and stand there and call each other everything we can lay tongue to, while his wife who is a tiny little thing just stands back and laughs. She says thats the only way to handle Jack, just don’t take anything off of him, and I don’t.

I have a tiny little apartment, one room, with a bath and a kitchenette. It’s not much but its O.K. There is a washing machine in the shed for all the tenants to use, so I can do my own laundry, For this dump I pay $60 a month, but its a lot better than what some have for that money. Believe me, I have sure learned the value of a dollar since I have been getting some, but it sure feels good to get a pay check on Saturday night.

Well, tomorrow I have to be at work at 8 A.M., so I guess I had better try and get some sleep. That’s about my biggest trouble now is no sleep.

I would appreciate knowing how Mom is anyway. I am afraid she will die and no one will tell me. I usually get the Sacramento Bee and I look for news of the family, but have never seen any. I am dying inside of lonesomeness for the kids but I can’t go back to them. Carl wouldn’t let me but then I won’t go back to him. I had to leave or die so I guess I just have to take it and keep on missing them. Carleen has written to me three times and they aren’t very nice letters to get so I know she feels like I am no good too. Well, I guess I can’t blame her. Poor kid.

If you want to write my address is 205 Fremont St. I don’t care what or how you write, but I wish you would write. If I don’t hear from you I won’t write again. I am half in the notion of just up and leaving, going to Arizona or someplace and try and forget I ever had a family and never writing to anyone again. I don’t know why I do as I guess no one wants to hear from me anyway. Well, I’m going to bed now.
Love to all, Noreen.
Note: This is Mom’s second place of employment while living in Las Vegas; in May she was working at Nick’s Smoke Shop

1953: U.S. City Directory, Chico, Butte Co., California:
Day Geo W (Verda) furn rms h 216 Hazel h do

Feb 17, 1954: Death of George William Day (age 55), in Chico, Butte Co., California. George was interred in the Catholic Section of the Chico Cemetery.

Feb 1954: California Death Record:
Name: George William Day
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 2 May 1898
Birth Place: California
Death Date: 17 Feb 1954
Death Place: Butte
Father’s Surname: Day

1954: Chico Enterprise, Chico, Butte Co., California:
Funeral Services Held Today for George Day
Recitation of the rosary was held in the chapel of the Bruise Funeral Home Friday at 8 p.m. for George W. Day, retired manager for the Union Ice Company, who died early Wednesday morning. Father Burns of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church led the recitation during which Mrs. L.M. Anderson, organist, played a group of favorite sacred selections.

At 9:50 a.m. today the cortege proceeded to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church where requiem mass was celebrated. Interment was in the Catholic Section of the Chico Cemetery. Casketbearers included Russell A. Northrop, H.B. Vaurs, Tom Day, Carl J. Clemens, A.C. Zanuker and Roy J. Mangini.

Mar 1954: San Jose ~ Word reached Noreen that George Day passed away; he, too, was high strung like Mom and had also had a nervous breakdown. Dad had the honor of acting as one of his pallbearers even though he’d lost George Day as his best friend when Mom left.

Mar 23, 1954: San Jose, a letter to Verda from my mother, Noreen Clemens:
Saturday P.M.
Dear Verda
I have waited too long to write. I was shocked to hear about George and am so very, very sorry. We have had our differences and I think they were trivial. I can look back and see the fun we all had, the card games, picnics, etc. George was never anything but good or nice to me. I am truly sorry for you.

Ethyl (their brother Howard’s wife) wrote me today that Mom had had another fall and broken her leg again. I don’t see how she has lived through it all.

We are all pretty good, the kids are fine but I am still having kidney trouble. Don’t know yet what they are going to do for it. I have a stone and it is located where it can’t pass. I guess Larry worries more over it than I do. Do you have a television set? I guess it’s the best investment I ever made.

I have a good job here, like it very much, work seven hours a day, five days a week, have full charge of the record dept. in a music store. They don’t carry pop, most of our business is done by mail and with schools. We have over 600 schools on the mailing list. Don’t ever have to deal with customers. It pays good and I like it a lot.

Hope your family is all well. Guess they have all grown a lot. I wish I could get up to see Mom but don’t see how I can. I missed 2 days off work this past week with a kidney attack, tho’ it’s the first one I’ve had in six weeks. I know she can’t last much longer. Poor soul, what a hard life she has had.

Well, it is 12:30 and we have to be ready for 9 o’clock mass in the morning. Verda, there isn’t much I can say. Words can’t express it, but you know, or I wish you did, how I feel.
Love, Noreen

Aug 4, 1955 • San Jose, another letter from my mother, Noreen Clemens to her sister Verda:
Dear Verda:
Hope you and your family are well as we have been (most of the time).

I was married last Sunday in Carson City to Ray Haynie. No, I know you don’t know him but that’s the name. He is a grand person and the kids are crazy about him. He owns a garage here in town and is in the process now of getting a contract to manufacture manifolds for a firm that builds trucks. Financially, my worries are over. As soon as we get squared away we are either buying or building a new home. Ray has had a garage, service station and Chevy & Buick agency in Guam for the past nine years, has only been back in the States since January. He has been gone for so long that he is just different from these guys you usually meet today. You know how orientals treat a white woman. Don’t get excited, he is half Irish and half Danish, but he has been around them so much he treats me like a queen. Anyhow, I don’t know whether to let Mom know or not. You know how she feels about remarriage. I never thought I would ever do it, but I’m sure not sorry, and even Larry, as little as he says, is all for it.

I’ll tell you a little more about him in case Mom hears. He is 42, about the same build as George was only he is 5’8” tall. Has black curly hair, dark skin, gentle nature. He graduated from college in Boulder City, Colo. He has one brother and a father is all, who are very wealthy, a lot more than Ray is. He was born a Mormon but doesn’t seem to have much of any kind of religion now. I never saw a man more tickled with a family in all my life. He thinks Betty and Claudia are as good as a three-ring circus and loves Cathy like she was his. He took the girls with him last week to S.F. before I quit work and they saw their Dad. Of course, blabbermouth Betty told him I was going to get married. All he said was “the poor sucker”. Betty said he acted like he was never going to see them again. He can see them more often now. I cut down on his support, what he has to send to each, from $50 a month to $40, and Ray said as soon as they get going on the factory for manifolds he doesn’t want him to send anything, in fact he could stop right now. But Carl has a lot of pride and that would be a slap in the face to him. By the first of the year, I’ll tell him he can send $75 a month for all three.

This afternoon I am going to look at houses. I can hardly believe this has all happened to me. My doctor said it was about time I was getting some good luck for a change. You know I had an impacted wisdom tooth pulled last month, and the next day I started uterine bleeding. I flowed for 22 days, went into the hospital on the second of July, had 2 blood transfusions the fourth, and was curetted the fifth. Was off work until last week. I may have to go back to the hospital and have my uterus out, as I have a fibroid tumor. I haven’t stopped flowing since and I am going to the doctor this afternoon. I told Ray what was wrong and the condition I was in and I might have to have an operation but he said that didn’t make any difference to him, that wasn’t what he was marrying me for and he could wait for a normal married life.

Please let me know what you think about letting Mom know, you know her condition. I don’t mind anyone else but if it is going to have any ill effects on her, maybe it would be better for her not to. If she weren’t so rabid, I think she would be happy that we are going to have a good home, a good man and security.

Betty has become a different girl since she has been here. She was running around with a bad crowd in S.F. (never saw a Catholic high school yet that didn’t have more than their full share). Now she runs around with girls her own age, their parents watch them pretty close, none of them smoke or ride around at night. Like 15 and 16 year olds should be, but seldom are.

Wish I could tell you just how happy I am. Excuse the scratching and scribbling but it has been so long since I have written a letter that I am out of practice.
Love to all, Noreen
P.S. By the way Haynie is pronounced hay-knee.
Note: Betty, Claudia, and I were living with Mom at 183 George Street, in San Jose. Mom and Ray married on July 31, 1955; she was his fourth known wife.

Jan 2, 1956: Death of Nellie Belle (Chamberlin) Chatfield (age 82), mother of Verda, at home on Boucher in Chico, Butte Co., California. Nellie is buried in the Catholic Section of the Chico Cemetery, nowhere near her husband.

Jan 3, 1956: Chico Enterprise, Chico, Butte Co., California:
Nellie Chatfield
Recitation of the rosary will be held in the Brusie Funeral Home this evening at 8 o’clock for Mrs. Nellie Chatfield, who died at her home on Boucher Street Monday.
Mrs. Chatfield was born on Mar 7, 1873 in Kansas City, Mo., to Frank and Emma Chamberlin. She resided in Chico in the same house the entire time.
Mrs. Chatfield was a charter member of the Catholic Ladies relief society.
She is survived by eight children: Charles J. of, South San Francisco; Leo W., of Camptonville; Mrs. Nellie McElhiney, of Oakland; Arden, of Yountville; Mrs. Ina Fouch, of Yuba City; Mrs. Ray Hayknee, of San Jose; and Roy E. and Mrs. Verda Day, both of Chico; a brother, Willard Chamberlin of Corvallis, Ore., two sisters, Mrs. Ada Whitaker and Mrs. Mamie Rosborough, both of Baker, Ore. 21 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Chatfield lost a son, Gordon in World War II and another son, Howard, three months ago.
At 9:50 a.m. Wednesday the cortege will proceed to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church where requiem mass will be offered for the repose of the soul.
Those who desire may have masses said in lieu of flowers.

1956: U.S. City Directory, Chico, Butte Co., California:
Day Verda Mrs h216 Hazel

May 15, 1956: Letter from Noreen/Babe Clemens (my mother) to her sister Verda:

1957: U.S. City Directory, Chico, Butte Co., California:
Day Verda A (wid Geo W) h216 Hazel h do

Dec 18, 1957: Christmas card from Verda to her sister, to Nella May:

1958: U.S. City Directory, Chico, Butte Co., California:
Day Verda Mrs (Day’s Den) maid h216 Hazel 

1960: U.S. City Directory, Chico, Butte Co., California:
Day Verda Mrs (Day’s Den) maid Safari Motel h216 Hazel

Headstones, Hearsay, and a Little History:
When George Day retired in the 1950s, the family moved to Chico, and he and Verda ran a girl’s boarding house for college students and Verda continued after her husband died in 1954. Sometime in 1964, a boy came to the house to see the girls. He’d been drinking and was creating trouble and when Verda told him to leave, he knocked her to the ground. It caused the onset of her heart problems; she had a heart attack shortly after, the first of many. In 1978 she died of heart failure.

Jul 5, 1964: Letter to Verda from Mamie (Chamberlin) Rosborough, Verda’s aunt and the sister of Nellie Chatfield

Feb 13, 1965: Letter to Verda from Mamie (Chamberlin) Rosborough, Verda’s aunt and sister of Nellie Chatfield:

Mar 18, 1965: Letter from Nella May (who is working as a cook and housekeeper for a priest) to her sister Verda (Chatfield) Day:

May 8, 1966: Letter to Verda from Mamie (Chamberlin) Rosborough, Verda’s aunt and sister of Grandma Nellie Chatfield:

Dec 1974: Note from Charley and Velma Chatfield to Verda:

Sep 26, 1978: Death of Verda Agnes (Chatfield) Day (age 70), in Chico, Butte Co., California; of a heart attack.

California Death Index:
Name: Verda Agnes Day
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 23 Aug 1908
Birth Place: Montana
Death Date: 26 Sep 1978
Death Place: Butte

Social Security Claims Application:
Name: Mrs Verda Agnes Day
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Date: 23 Aug 1908
Birth Place: Billings, Montana
Death Date: Sep 1978
Father: Charles H Chatfield
Mother: Nellie Chamberlin
Notes: Jul 1943: Name listed as VERDA AGNES DAY; 28 Dec 1987: Name listed as VERDA DAY

Sep 26, 1978, Chico Enterprise, Chico, Butte Co., California, Tuesday:
VERDA DAY Rosary will be recited at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of the Bruise Funeral Home for Verda Agnes Day, 70, of 123 Henshaw Ave. Mrs. Day died today at a local hospital. Born Aug 23, 1908, in Sanders, Mont., to Charles and Nellie Chatfield, she moved to Chico with her family at the age of three and was educated here. She married George W. Day in 1927 and moved to the Bay Area, living in Watsonville and Redwood City, before returning to Chico in 1950. Mrs. Day was involved with college housing until her retirement in 1972. She was a member of the Catholic Ladies Relief Society, AARP, Senior Citizens organizations, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and Our Divine Savior Catholic Parish.

Survivors are her four sons, Robert E. of Paradise; George E. of Warwick, R.I., Leo Ronald of Sacramento, and Jeffery B. of Chico; two daughters, MArceline Mangini of Hayward and Judith L.  O’Brien of Sacramento; two brothers, Charles Joseph Chatfield of Paradise and Arden Chatfield of Chico; two sisters, Nellie May McElhiney of Martinez and Ina Fouch of Yuba City; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Father Edward O’Hara of Our Divine Savior Catholic Parish will act as celebrant of the mass at 9 a.m. Thursday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Visitation will be between 5 and 9 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of the Brusie Funeral Home.

Sep 26, 1978, Chico Enterprise, Chico, Butte Co., California, Tuesday (pg 2):

Sep 27, 1978: Burial Card for Verda Agnes (Chatfield) Day:

Sep 27, 1978: Burial of Verda Agnes (Chatfield) Day, Chico Cemetery in Chico, Butte, Co., California:

Note: Headstones, Hearsay, and a Little History, stories by Catherine Sevenau

2020. Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau.