Hugh Wallace Bailey

As printed in 1910

HUGH WALLACE BAILEY, M. D. V.

Dr. Hugh Wallace Bailey, a veterinary surgeon of Orion, has become recognized as a man of ability in his chosen calling, who through the exercise of his native talents has become very successful in the practice of his profession. One of Illinois' native sons, he was born near Coal Valley, Rock Island county, on the 26th of January, 1872, and is a son of James and Margaret (Warnock) Bailey. Both parents were born in County Down, Ireland, and came to America with their parents in the year 1849. The Bailey and Warnock families sailed on the same vessel from the old country, landing in New York after a voyage of eleven weeks, and then together went to Bufifalo by way of the Erie canal and thence to Chicago by the lakes. From that city they traveled overland to Rock Island county, where the homes of both families were established, and where the grandfathers of our subject, Robert Bailey and John Warnock, were both engaged in the occupation of farming. In the Warnock family were six sons and two daughters, while the Bailey family consisted of three sons and one daughter who grew to maturity and twin daughters who passed away in infancy.

James Bailey, the father of Dr. Bailey, also engaged in farming in Rock Island county, in which line of activity he was very successful, becoming a large landowner. He and his father-in-law, John Warnock, were the first to introduce into that county thoroughbred Durham cattle, and both became very extensive breeders, their stock becoming widely known throughout the district, being in great demand for breeding purposes. They were both republicans in politics and were very active and prominent in community affairs, especially Mr. Warnock, who was supervisor of Rural township for many years. Mr. Bailey was a prominent and faithful member of the United Presbyterian church, in which he served as elder for a number of years, and was also an active worker in the Sunday school, being a man of excellent character and high and honorable principles, who enjoyed the unqualified respect and regard of all who were associated with him in business or private life. He passed away on the 16th of August, 1897, his remains being interred in the Homestead church cemetery near his old home. His widow still survives and is a most estimable lady, greatly admired and loved by all who know her. In their family were eight children, all of whom still survive, namely: Mary E., at home; Anna, principal of a school at Moline, Illinois; William W., practicing medicine at LeClaire, Iowa; Jennie, who married Rolland Metzler and makes her home on the old home farm in Rock Island county; John W., who is married and carries on farming near Coal Valley; Hugh Wallace, of this review; Ella, the wife of Roy Ferguson, a prominent farmer of Western township; and Bessie, a teacher in the Henry county schools.

No event of special importance came to vary the routine of life for Hugh Wallace Bailey during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was spent in Rock Island county, amid the scenes and environments of rural life. He spent his time in the usual manner of the country lads of that day, acquiring his early education in the district schools near his home. He remained under the parental roof, giving his father the benefit of his assistance in the work of the home farm, until he attained his majority, when he started out in business life on his own account as a farmer. He was married when about twenty-five years of age, after which he purchased a farm in Rural township. Rock Island county, and there carried on general farming for a number of years. He also became an extensive raiser and breeder of thoroughbred Hereford cattle, in which he was eminently successful. He was thus engaged until 1906 when, thinking a professional life would be more congenial if not more profitable, he went to Chicago, where he became a student in the McKilHp Veterinary College. During the periods of vacation he established himself in his profession in Orion, Henry county, and immediately upon his graduation, which occurred in March, 1909, took up a permanent location in this city and has since been engaged in the practice of his chosen calling here. He maintains a hospital for the treatment of all kinds of animal diseases and although he has been here but a short time, he has already built up a large practice among the farmers and stockmen of the community in Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island counties, which is constantly growing in volume and importance. He makes a specialty of animal dentistry and in this line has been very successful, his reputation as a careful, capable and efficient practitioner extending over a wide territory.

On the 25th of August, 1897, Dr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Jennie S. Wilson, a daughter of John A. and Jennie (Scott) Wilson, of Rock Island county, Illinois, both parents being natives of the Prairie state. The father is a son of Judge Wilson, who for many years was judge of Rock Island county and a most benevolent gentleman, befriending the wives and widows of the soldiers during the time of the Civil war. John A. Wilson was for a number of years an extensive and successful farmer of Rock Island county, also carrying on stock-raising on a very large scale. He was well known in public circles, being a very prominent and influential factor in community affairs. A democrat in politics, he was supervisor of Rural township for a longer time than any other man. He and his wife still survive and make their home on their ranch near Emmet, Nebraska. They are the parents of four daughters and two sons, Jennie Saria, the wife of Dr. Bailey, being the only member of the family living in Henry county. The entire Wilson family are musical in their taste, Mrs. Wilson being a very accomplished musician, while a daughter, Alma E., is an instructor of music in the Leonard-Wilson School of Music in Chicago and also a vocal teacher in the Cosmopolitan School of Music & Dramatic Art in that city. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Bailey have been born three daughters, Elta M., Jennie Lucille and Helen W., all of whom are yet in school. They all seem to inherit considerable musical ability from their mother, who is very proficient in that art, and they will be given thorough advanced training in both music and literature.

Dr. Bailey and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the latter being very active in the work of both the church and Sunday school. Fraternally he belongs to Valley Lodge, No. 547, A. F. & A. M., at Coal Valley, and also to the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he supports both parties, doing all in his power to further the best interests of the community but has never desired nor held public office himself. He has not, however, been remiss in his duties of citizenship, but on the other hand has been actively and helpfully interested in community affairs, always keeping thoroughly posted in all matters of public moment. He is very strong in his advocacy of all measures which are calculated to conserve and promote the public welfare and his influence at all times is on the side of progress, advancement and reform. Early trained to habits of industry and diligence, those qualities have been manifest throughout his entire business career and have been salient elements in the gratifying measure of success which he today enjoys. He also inherited from his parents their high ideals of life and his record has ever been in harmony with those things which go to make up honorable and upright manhood, so that he ranks foremost among Orion's representative and valued citizens.

As printed in History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.