His parents were Henry and Ann Eliza (Wright) Day, and he was born in Bridgewater Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.
In 1858 Robert resigned from the Erie Railroad and taking Horace Greeley's advice went west in search of work in his chosen field.
After spending a short time in Texas he migrated to the city of New Orleans where he became connected with the Tallert and Bro's Company, which was headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, building stationary engines for Grist Mills and Cotton Gins.
[4] Captain Day was one of the leaders of an escape from Libby in February 1864 but was recaptured and sent to several Confederate Prisoner of War Camps in Georgia and the Carolina's.
"[5] In 1882 Robert Day accepted the position of Road Foreman for the newly created Norfolk and Western Railway on the Shenandoah line and relocated his family to Roanoke, formerly known as Big Lick and quickly became active in local civics and economic development and distinguished himself a leader in several national organizations of that era.
He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, a Civil War Veterans group, which sought to assist the wives and orphans of Union Soldiers and played an increasingly powerful role in national politics.
[10] "The Joshua L. Chamberlain Camp #20 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Roanoke, VA honored Major Robert H. Day in a ceremony and memorial service 10 a.m. Saturday, May 23, 2015 at Evergreen Burial Park.