The Bailey Families of Des Moines County, Iowa

JEREMIAH R. BAILEY, a farmer residing on section 32, Yellow Spring Township, Des Moines County, Iowa, was born in Center,j_j County, Pa., June 5, 1835, and is a son of Ephraim and Mary' H. (Rankin") Bailey', both of whom were also natives of Center County. Our subject was reared upon a farm, educated at the common schools, and emigrated to Iowa with his parents in 1855. they locating on section 32, Yellow Spring Township, Des Moines County, and adjoining where our subject now lives. Ephraim and Marv H. Bailey are the parents of six children, all of whom are now living. Jeremiah R. is the eldest; Sarah, the next, is the wife of Martin L. Heizer, of Mediapolis; Mary' J. is the wife of James McJIul-

DES MOINES COaTY.

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In 1871 Mr. Baiiey made his first purchase of land, which consisted of a farm of forty acres on section 32 of Yellow Spring Township. Upon this land the family yet resides, though he now owns eighty' acres. Mr. Bailey and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church, and he also belongs to Sheppard Post, No. 159, G. A. R.

Ephraim Bailey, the father of our subject, now lives a retired life in the village of Kossuth. His wife died in 1856, and he was again married, Abbie R. Rankin, a cousin by his former marriage, becoming his wife.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM HENRY BAILEY.

Of the more successful and better-known farmers of Des Aloines county, a worthy representative is William H. Bailey, now residing on his large and well-kept farm in Huron township. Mr. Bailey was born on March 24, 1858, in Orange county, Missouri, the son of John and Martha (Fausett) Bailey. When he was but three years old, his parents removed to Henderson county, Illinois. After living in that locality for two years the family made another change, this time to the vicinity of Keithsburg, In., where the father rented a farm on which the family remained for a period of seventeen years. At the expiration of this time the family moved to New Boston, which was the home for the ensuing twelve years.

Mr. Bailey gained his early knowledge of books in the public schools of Mercer county, Illinois, receiving a good common-school education, and learning the principles and methods of agriculture on his father's farm in the meantime. Being thus brought up with a thorough knowledge of farming, he has always followed that vocation. He commenced farming for himself when he was twenty-one years of age, his first independent venture being when he rented four hundred eighty acres of land from Mrs. Thompson. That this venture was a success is proved by the fact that he remained on this place continuously from 1879 till 1893.

In the latter year his father came to Des Moines county and bought a farm of one hundred twenty acres in Section 26, and Mr. Bailey rented this farm and lived there for the following six years. He then bought land for himself, buying eighty acres in Huron township, from Charles Fowler, forty-acres of which are in Section 25, and forty in Section 30. This proved to be such a paying investment that at the end of three years he sold the eighty-acre farm, and was enabled to purchase one hundred forty acres in Section 26, where he now makes his home. This last tract he bought from Clarence and Clark Loper. It is rich, fertile land, well adapted to general farming and stock-raising.

Mr. Bailey has, by the application of energy, perseverance, and sound judgment, greatly improved the place, introducing new methods and apparatus, and making it in many respects a model farm, whether considered with regard to appearance, convenience, or producing power. In the stock-raising branch of his business he makes a specialty of Poland China hogs, raising about seventy head annually.

During his residence in Mercer county, Illinois, Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to ]Miss Sarah Catherine Hinson, on Dec. 2, 1886. he was the daughter of Garret and

BIOGRAPHICAL REl I/iir

Eva (Bunton) Hiiisoii. ami was born in Ross county, Ohio, on Feb. 15, 1862. Her father, Garret Hinson, was also a native of Ross county, Ohio, being born there on March 21, 1821, but eventually making his home in Kingston, Benton township, in this county.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have been born four children, two of whom died in infancy. The two living are Hazel Leonora and Eva Marie.

Mr. Bailey, as an extensive reader, careful thinker, and active business man, has manifested considerable interest in public affairs; and believing it the duty of every citizen to serve the community in which he lives in any way that he may be called upon for the public good, has acted as public-school director for three years. Fraternally, he is well known, being a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He has always shown himself ready to accept any duty or to support any movement calculated to advance the general welfare. He is a man of great force of character, is possessed of much business ability, has been very successful in the conduct of his affairs, and enjoys the universal respect of his friends and acquaintances throughout the township in which he resides.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN CLARK BAILEY.

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Section 25, Huron township, Des Moines county. Through the succeeding ten years he devoted his energies to the cultivation and improvement of his land here, dying the 9th of May, 1896, when he was seventy-two years of age.

Mr. and Mrs. Bailey were the parents of seven children: Mary, who has departed this life; Emma, who died at the age of fifteen years; William H., who is living in Huron township; George T., who resides in Monmouth, Ill.; John C.; Sarah, the wife of William Garmer, a resident of Columbus Junction, Iowa; and Lola, the wife of Jefferson Day, who is living in Mercer county, Illinois. After the death of her husband Mrs. Bailey was again married, becoming the wife of Abraham Taylor, and they now live on the old homestead farm.

John Clark Bailey was reared by his parents in Alercer county. Illinois, and is indebted to the public-school system of that State for the educational advantages he received. He worked at farm labor on the old homestead during his boyhood days, and has always engaged in agricultural pursuits until the present year, when he has been doing carpenter work.

In the fall of 1885 he came to Huron township, and settled on the farm which his father purchased, superintending its cultivation and improvement for nine years. In February, 1894, he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, situated on Sections 13 and 14, Huron township, belonging to David Grimes's estate, and at once located on that property, devoting it to general farming purposes. He has over one hundred head of Poland China hogs, and in one year his sale of hogs has brought him thirteen hundred and fifty dollars. In 1903 Mr. Bailey erected a large and substantial barn forty by forty-eight feet. The farm buildings are models of convenience, and are kept in good repair. Everything about the place is attractive because of its neatness and thrift, and Mr. Bailey is well known as an enterprising agriculturist, his methods being practical and progressive.

On Sept. 10, 1887, Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Chattie Thompson, who was born in South Burlington township. May 9, 1867, and is a daughter of Theodore and Frances (Patterson) Thompson. Three children have been born unto them: John Wesley, born July 27, 1890; Ebbie, March 14, 1893; and Elizabeth, April 12, 1900.

Politically, Mr. Bailey is a Democrat, believing firmly in the principles of the party, and doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. He was elected trustee of his township in 1897, but would not serve. For two years, however, he has served as school director. He prefers to do his public duty- as a private citizen in order that he may be left free to give most of his time and attention to his business affairs. He is now a prosperous farmer, wide-awake and enterprising, so managing his business interests that each year he adds to his income.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

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He first married a Miss Thompson, by whom he had eight children>; and of his union with.Maria Haggard were born two sons: Monroe, subject of this sketch; and Charles, now a resident of St. Louis, Mo., where he is employed in the street railway\' service as a motormaii. Maria Haggard Bailey was born in Kentucky, coming as a small child to Illinois with her parents, who. settling in Hancock county devoted their lives to the work of the farm, and both died there. She herself died in Hancock county, her demise occurring when our sui)jeet was but two years of age. She was a member of the Baptist church.. She and her husband are buried in Hancock county.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.