John Clark Bailey

As printed in 1905

JOHN CLARK BAILEY.

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

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 Biographical review of Des Moines County, Iowa (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.