James Bayliss

As printed in 1892

AMES BAYLISS, a prominent old settler, but now retired from the active duties of life, was born at Stratford-on-Avon, England, November 7, 1808, the home of the famous Phiglish bard, Shakespeare. His father, Benjamin B.ayliss, was also born there in 1777, and when young was apprenticed to the tailor's trade, which occupation received his attention in his native land until 1818, when he crossed the ocean to America and opened a shop in the city of Philadelpliia. He brought his wife and six children with him and the vo.yage of the sailingvessel "Islington" occupied seven weeks. After coming to the United States, he resided successively ill Philadelphia, Germantown, New York City, and Rochester, N. Y., and died in the last-mentioned city July 10, 1861, and lies buried at Mt. Hoyje. He was a self-made and self-educated man, was of a very pious nature and was pastor of a church in Philadelphia. He thoroughly identified himself with the interests of his adopted country, and was bitterly opposed to kingdoms and monarchics. He was strictly temperate, and being also industrious and frugal, he accumulated a competency. His wife, Mary Trimble, was born at Stratford-on-Avon, England, and died in 18;50. Six children borne by her grew to maturity but only the eldest son is now living. The youngest daughter, Sarah, became an eminent school teacher and was married to a Mr. Koyce, with whom she first removed to Canada, then to Illinois and finally made the overland route to California, and when.James Bayliss visited that region he found her in San Francisco. She and her husband had a remarkable experience in crossing the snow-clad Rocky Mountains and would, without doubt, have frozen to death, had not a (loverument train been sent to their relief. She rode three hundred miles on a mule with her baby in her arms. She reared her family in California and made the living for them and her sick husband. She had one son, Prof. Josiah Roy'ce,who was graduated from the University of California, then attended an institution in Germany, and then returned to the United States and entered the.John Hopkins University of Baltimore. He later became a professor in the University of California, but is now professor of Philosophy in Harvard University. This estimable woman met with an accident which resulted in her death in 1891.

The only brother of.james Bayliss, Rev. Samuel Bayliss, was a prominent divine of the Congregational Church at Brooklyn, N. Y., and died while following his calling. James Bayliss spent the first ten years of his life at Stratford-on-Avon, England, but throughout his life he only received about three years' schooling. Upon reaching Philadelphia, he at once went to work to assist in making a living for the family and while in Germantown was in a manufacturing establishment, the highest wages he received there being 11.50 a week. Later, he worked in a calico-printing establishment in Philadelphia, and was. there when the first copper plates, or cylinders, were smuggled in from England. Subsequently, when working at the weaver's trade, he was taken sick and upon recovering learned the tailor's trade in the establishment of John Tack, which was one of the finest shops in the city of New York, located at No. 1 9 Broadway, and remained there for two years. In November, 1827, he came to Cleveland, then made his way on foot up the tow path to Akron and then overland to Kendall, which place he reached in the latter part of November, 1827. After working at his trade for some time, he, in connection with three young men, took charge of the Charity Rotch Boarding School, which they successfully conducted for four years.

In 1833, Mr. Bayliss removed to Tuscarawas County, bought thirty acres of land and engaged in farming and the lumber business. He operated a large sawmill and filled large contracts for three or four years, hut returned to Kendall and opened a tailor shop Which he conducted until 1849, when he was seized with the gold fever and started to California, leaving behind him a wife and three children. He and six men left Massillon for New York City, where they built a small three-ton boat, loaded it with goods and took it on board a vessel bound for the Isthmus of Panama. After many hardships, they succeeded in crossing the Isthmus with the aid of natives, and secured passage on a Dutch vessel, the "Sophia," and reached San Francisco at the end of ninety-one da'S, eight-eight of which they were entirely out of sight of land. They at once proceeded to San Francisco, thence to Sacramento and from there to the American River, where they made a considerable amount of money. At the end of about three months, they returned to Colom.a and there, when Mr. Bayliss' goods reached him, he oi)ened a store, called the Ohio Store, which he, in partnership with the others, conducted until his removal from the place. In the winter of 1851-52, he returned home via the Isthmus of Panama and New York City, and while in the latter place he went to the United States mint and had his gold coined. He returned to Massillon with several thousand dollars, with which he purchased a small farm near the city; soon after this he engaged in the dry-goods business and successfully conducted it for four years. In 1857. he began buying wool and became one of the most extensive dealers in the same in the State, and an excellent judge ot the article. In 1871, he purchased six hundred and forty acres of land, an unbroken section of excellent timber, and on this land he erected a sawmill, and for the first three 3-ears sold an immense amount of lumber at an excellent profit. Although he has sold some land at different times, he still has four hundred acres left, under part of which is being mined an excellent quality of coal. This land is improved with good buildings and is farmer on shares. He has a fine sugar grove of over fifteen hundred trees and manufactures a large amount of maple syrup each year. His land is undulating, and well watered and is exceptionally well adapted for the raising of stock, to which he has given considerable attention, Since 1881, he has been a resident of Massillon, and in 1882 built the rolling mills of this place. He organized and was chosen President of the Massillon Coal and Iron Company. He helped build the first warehouse in the town for storing wheat and it is known as a fact that Massillon has received and stored more wheat direct from the grower than any other depot in the world. January 1, 1831, he was married to Miss Eliza J. Fox, who was born in Tuscarawas Township, this county, to Jehial Fox, a native of Vermont and a carpenter, cabinet-maker, stone sewer and dresser. He came to Ohio in 1810, and afterward tilled the soil and worked at his trade, and was a prominent.Tusticc of the Peace a number of years.

Mrs. Bayliss died July 4, 1891, at the age of seventy-seven years. She and her husband spent sixty j'ears of their lives together and in 1881 celebrated their golden wedding, and the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage in 1891, at which time there had not been a death in the family. Five children were born to them: Edwin was a well-known manufacturer here; Edward B. is City Clerk and a leading business man of the town; Mary A. resides in Cleveland; Carrie M. is the wife of E. G. Willson, a prominent attorney and City Solicitor and Collector, and James M. Mr. Bayliss has held various positions on the School Board, is an active member of the State Association of Wool Buyers, is an active member of the State Agricultural Society and of the Stark County Horticultural Society, and in politics is a strong Republican. The house in which he lives was built before Massillon was laid out, but is still in good preservation and makes a comfortable and pleasant home. He is a very prominent old settler and in every respect an honorable gentleman.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

The five children comprised in the family of our subject are: Flora, Mrs. Thom.as AVliipple; Mary J.; Eliza, Mrs. John Snyder; Matilda and Hiram. Mr. Rogers is the proprietor of one hundred and forty acres of valu:i))le hind, on which he has erected every necessary building for carrying on the work of the estate, all being substantial and well arranged. He has been a useful citizen in this township and has served as Sciiool Director for some time. He cases a Republican vote during elections and is in favor of all measures which tend toward the development of the upbuilding of his adopted county.

The maiden name of our subject's wife was Margaret Knath, and she departed this life in May 1891. She was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church, and lived a happy married life of more than half a century with her husband. Their son, Hiram Rogers, resides on the old place, which he carries on in a most profitable manner. He was married to Miss Emma Bordner, and has become the father of six children: Herbert, Frank, Stella, Joseph,.Jesse and Dora.

As one of the pioneers of this county, Mr. Rogers is held in the highest esteem and has the confidence of all who know him. Stanch in principles, clear in perception and decided in character, he deserves the good things which have come to him, and the high character for probity which years of intimate business and social acquaintance have brought him.

As printed in Portrait biographical record of Stark county, Ohio. Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the Unit (1892). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.