John P. Bailey

As printed in 1896

OHN P. BAILEY, senior member of the law firm of Bailey tv Bailey, is a native of Page count)', Ya., born near Harrisonburg, Rockingham county, on the 12th of September, 1853. George W. Bailey, his father, a native of Page county, Va., was married September 16, 1852, to Malinda Driver, and shortly thereafter moved to Ohio, locating about four miles north of the city of Lima, Allen county, where for some time he found employment as a farm laborer. After accumulating sufficient means, he engaged in the pursuit of agriculture for himself, which he carried on for some years as a renter, and subsequently purchased a farm of 1 10 acres, where he has since resided.

The subject of this sketch was a child some six weeks old when the family moved to Ohio. He was reared in the county of Allen, and, after acquiring a good public-school education, attended the normal schools of Ada and Lebanon, in which he pursued his studies assiduously for the purpose of preparing himself for the teacher’s profession. He was engaged in educational work for a period of eight years, the greater part of which time was spent as principal of the schools of Beaver Dam, Bluffton and Leipsic, and during the last three years as a teacher he read law with Barr & Werner, Leipsic.

Mr. Bailey came to Putnam county in 1878, and since February, 1882, has been a resident of Ottawa. He was admitted to the bar January 4, 1881, and began the practice of the profession in partnership with C. N. Haskell, under the firm name of Haskell & Bailey, a partnership which lasted until March, 1888. From the latter date until May, 1890, he was alone in the practice, and then entered into partnership with his brother, D. M. Bailey, the firm thus constituted still continuing.

Mr. Bailey has been an active man of affairs, and a hard worker in the democratic party in Putnam county several years. He held the office of prosecuting attorney from January, 1886, until January, 1892, and was twice his party’s candidate for the office of attorney-general, the first time in 1891, and again in 1893. He has represented his party in various conven-

',{Xn lions. As a lawyer, Mr. Bailey is careful, conscientious and capable, and as a citizen is progressive, public spirited and liberal, enjoying in an unusual degree the confidence and good will, not only of his professional brethern but of the public as well. Mr. Bailey takes an active interest in the K. of P. fraternity, being a charter member of lodge No. 565, Ottawa. He was married, September 2, 1875, to Miss Laura Edgecomb, daughter of Ezra and Louisa (Thayer) Edgecomb. Mrs. Bailey was born in Allen county, Ohio. Seven children have been born to them, viz: Arthur C., born August 17, 1876— died November 9, 1870; Maggie M., born May 2, 1879, died October 5, 1880; Lena B., born July 21, 1881; Bessie I., born July 5, i 884; George E., born August 16, 1886, Thayer E., July 8, 1889, and Ralph E., whose birth occurred December 3, 1893. Mr. Bailey was one of the organizers of the N. Y., M. & W. R. R now the F. Ft. W. & W. R. R.; he also assisted in the organization of the Ohio Telephone company, and to him, as much as any other man, is Putnam county indebted for this great improvement.

Daniel M. Bailey, brother of the above, and junior member of the law firm of Bailey & Bailey, is a native of Allen county, Ohio, and was born March 4, 1862. He was reared a farmer's boy, first attended the common schools, and later acquired a knowledge of the higher branches of learning in the normal schools of Lebanon, Ohio, and Valpariaso, fud. He taught school for eight or ten years in Allen county, and for a period of three years held the position of deputy clerk of the probate court, pursuing the study of law in the meantime under the instruction of M. A. Hoiiglanil, of luma. After his admission to the bar, March ( 1890, Mr. Bailey began the practice of the profession at Ottawa in partnership with his brother and lie has already won a conspicuous place among the successful attonie\ of the

Putnam county bar. Mr. Bailey, though a young man, has made commendable progress in his profession, and by adhering to the same has before him a future of much promise. On the 17th of September, 1884, Mr. Bailey and Miss Laura Hadsell, of Allen county, daughter of Daniel A. and Catherine (Aid ridge) Hadsell, entered into the marriage relation. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey are popular in Ottawa and are deservedly classed with the most respectable people of the city.

As printed in A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all th (1896). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.