In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1844, Orleans County
From The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens (1882)
WILLIAM A. BAILEY, contractor and builder, is a native of Vermont, and was born in Orleans County, August 17, 1844. When eight years of age, he moved with his father to Louisa County, Iowa, where he was reared. His father was a farmer, and his early days were spent on the farm, afterwards learning the carpenter's trade. In 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Nineteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, as a private. He served through the war, participating in the most active campaigns, and received a wound at the battle of Prairie Grove. After peace was restored, he went to Ohio, and attended college at Farmington, and then returned to Louisa County, Iowa, where he lived for eighteen months. For six years he was engaged in teaching, and for a time after this was connected with the Freeman's Bureau, in Southern Alabama. In 1872, he came to DeKalb County, Missouri, and worked at his trade for eighteen months, and then went to Southern Texas, where he remained occupied at his chosen calling for six months. Mr. Bailey then returned to DeKalb County, and thence to Maryville, where he has been actively engaged as a prominent contractor and builder. He was married in 1872, to Miss Ella Lackey, of Hartford, Connecticut.
As printed in The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1882. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.