Eben Bailey

As printed in 1909

EBEN BAILEY.

Eben Bailey, who for many years has been influentially associated with the farming and stock-raising, interests of Clay township, this county, and who is a veteran of the Civil war, was born in Berlin, Vermont, August 23, 1837, a son of Ebenezer and Sallie (Benjamin) Bailey, both natives of Vermont, where they spent their entire lives, the mother passing away in 1867. Eben Bailey acquired his preliminary education at the district schools of his native village and was subsequently given the added advantage of a course of study in a well known academy at Berry, Vermont. He remained at home with his parents until he was nineteen years of age, when he removed to Mount Holly, Vermont, where he was engaged in business at the breaking out of the Civil war. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union army, joining Company H, Fourteenth Vermont Volunteer Infantry, and served until July 13, 1863, during his military career participating in the battle of Gettysburg. After the war he returned to Mount Holly, Vermont, where he engaged in business until the year 1869, when he went to Des Moines, Iowa, remaining there until 1870, when he located in Clay township, taking, up a claim of eighty acres in section 14, in which section his brother, William B. Bailey, also took up a claim. The land being in a primitive state when Mr. Bailey settled upon it, he was required to make all of the necessary improvements in order to transform it into a fit state for cultivation. This he succeeded in doing and the property is provided with a comfortable home, commodious barn, outbuildings and all conveniences necessary to successfully pursue general farming and stock raising. From the onset Mr. Bailey met with success in his farming venture, his fields from year to year proving fruitful, which enabled him to add to his tract from time to time until now he owns one hundred and sixty acres, constituting one of the finest farms in the township.

On October 17, 1859. he was united in marriage to Miss Alary J. Jackson, a native of Berlin, X'vermont, who became the mother of the following children: Bertie R., who was born November 17. 1860, and departed this life on February 10, three years later; Percy, born April 23, 1866, and passed away February 7, 1873; and Mnnie B., whose birth occurred April 3, 1874, and who died when fourteen years of age. The wife and mother passed away on April 1, 1888. On June 28, 1890, Mr. Bailey wedded Miss Hattie Nichelson, who was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania. December 15, 1862, and they have had the following children: Nina E., born June 26, 1891; Marshall H., born February 16, 1893; Lloyd E., whose birth occurred June 19, 1894; Grace E., who was born November 14, one year later; Ester E., whose birth occurred February 10, 1898; Dwight L, born November 25, 1899; Morris J., who is in his eighth year; and Mainard W., who is three years of age. Mr. Piailey is a member of Royal Lodge, A. F. & A. M., having affiliated himself with the order at Wallingford, Vermont, in the year 1863, and is also a member of Clay Chapter No. 112. Mr. Bailey is one of the financial supports of the community whose success and prosperity are due to his own exertion and he entertains the respect of the entire community.

As printed in History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.