Matthias Day

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Evidence for curriculum vitae and whether he was really an inventor and newspaper publisher - CG ( discussion ) 09:10, 2. Mar. 2017 (CET)

Matthias Day, Jr. (* 1821 , † 1904 ) was an American inventor , newspaper publisher and founder of the city of Daytona Beach in Florida .

Day was a man of vision from a young age. He first moved from Mansfield , Ohio to what is now Daytona Beach in the mid-19th century , but it wasn't until 1871 that he was given the opportunity to fulfill his dream of having his own country and community. He purchased 2,144 acres (approximately 868  hectares ) in Florida ( Volusia County )  along the Halifax River and offered the land to interested parties. Under his supervision, the land was examined and prepared for settlement.

But he was unable to repay the mortgage he had taken out for the purchase, so in 1872 he faced foreclosure and lost all of his property. He then left Florida and went back to Ohio.

The existing settlers decided in the following time to unite to form a community. The official formation took place in 1876. In memory of the unfortunate founder with his good intentions, they named the community Daytona (from "Day's Little Town"), which later became Daytona Beach.

Matthias Day, Jr. died in 1904. A plaque hangs today at Daytona Beach City Hall in Daytona Beach.