Elias E. Day Doña Ana County, New Mexico

Elias E. Day, vice-president and manager of the F. H. Bascom Company of Las Cruces, came to that city from Massachusetts on the 29th of March, 1886. He was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, pursued his preliminary education in the public schools, and was graduated from Tuft's college with the Bachelor of Arts degree. He saw reports of the immigration bureau at Washington, and being just out of college, he decided to try western life. Going to Las Cruces, he began farming, but found that pursuit was neither congenial nor profitable, and he afterward acted as bookkeeper for a contractor and also learned the business, remaining in that position for a year and a half. In August, 1889, he entered the hardware store of F. H. Bascom, familiarized himself with the trade, and when the business was incorporated on the 1st of January, 1902, under the firm style of F. H. Bascom Company, he became one of the stockholders, and is now the vice-president and manager, with F. H. Bascom as president and G. W. Frenger secretary and treasurer. They draw thirty per cent of their trade from Las Cruces and the rest is divided over the district from the Texas line on the south to the Sierra county line on the north, to Deming on the west, and on the east to the east side of the Organ mountains. Their establishment is an extensive one, supplying all this district, and the firm also does a large business as builders and contractors. They introduced the typical mission architecture with modern improvements, and the firm has recently erected a convent in mission style for the Sisters of Loretto. Mr. Day devotes his time principally to the contracting and building branch of the business. The trade of the house is constantly and rapidly gaining.

In 1893 Mr. Day was married to Miss Grace Center, a native of Massachusetts, and they have three daughters. Fraternally he is connected with Aztec Lodge No. 3, A. F. & A. M. ; Palma Camp No. 8, Woodmen of the World; Modoc Tribe No. 12, Improved Order of Red Men. He likewise belongs to Valley Lodge No. 15, I. O. O. F., Ridgly Encampment at Silver City; Canton D, El Paso, Patriarchs Militant. He is also a member of Deming Royal Arch Chapter and is past grand master of Masons of New Mexico. Interested in community affairs, he was appointed county commissioner for Doña Ana County in 1899 by Governor Otero, and was superintendent of schools of the county in 1901-2. He was the first president of the Mesilla valley chamber of commerce, and is closely identified with many movements for public progress and substantial improvements.

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Source: History of New Mexico, Its Resources and People, Volume II, Pacific States Publishing Co., 1907.

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