William H. Bailey

As printed in 1905

WILLIAM HENRY BAILEY.

Of the more successful and better-known farmers of Des Aloines county, a worthy representative is William H. Bailey, now residing on his large and well-kept farm in Huron township. Mr. Bailey was born on March 24, 1858, in Orange county, Missouri, the son of John and Martha (Fausett) Bailey. When he was but three years old, his parents removed to Henderson county, Illinois. After living in that locality for two years the family made another change, this time to the vicinity of Keithsburg, In., where the father rented a farm on which the family remained for a period of seventeen years. At the expiration of this time the family moved to New Boston, which was the home for the ensuing twelve years.

Mr. Bailey gained his early knowledge of books in the public schools of Mercer county, Illinois, receiving a good common-school education, and learning the principles and methods of agriculture on his father's farm in the meantime. Being thus brought up with a thorough knowledge of farming, he has always followed that vocation. He commenced farming for himself when he was twenty-one years of age, his first independent venture being when he rented four hundred eighty acres of land from Mrs. Thompson. That this venture was a success is proved by the fact that he remained on this place continuously from 1879 till 1893.

In the latter year his father came to Des Moines county and bought a farm of one hundred twenty acres in Section 26, and Mr. Bailey rented this farm and lived there for the following six years. He then bought land for himself, buying eighty acres in Huron township, from Charles Fowler, forty-acres of which are in Section 25, and forty in Section 30. This proved to be such a paying investment that at the end of three years he sold the eighty-acre farm, and was enabled to purchase one hundred forty acres in Section 26, where he now makes his home. This last tract he bought from Clarence and Clark Loper. It is rich, fertile land, well adapted to general farming and stock-raising.

Mr. Bailey has, by the application of energy, perseverance, and sound judgment, greatly improved the place, introducing new methods and apparatus, and making it in many respects a model farm, whether considered with regard to appearance, convenience, or producing power. In the stock-raising branch of his business he makes a specialty of Poland China hogs, raising about seventy head annually.

During his residence in Mercer county, Illinois, Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to ]Miss Sarah Catherine Hinson, on Dec. 2, 1886. he was the daughter of Garret and

BIOGRAPHICAL REl I/iir

Eva (Bunton) Hiiisoii. ami was born in Ross county, Ohio, on Feb. 15, 1862. Her father, Garret Hinson, was also a native of Ross county, Ohio, being born there on March 21, 1821, but eventually making his home in Kingston, Benton township, in this county.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have been born four children, two of whom died in infancy. The two living are Hazel Leonora and Eva Marie.

Mr. Bailey, as an extensive reader, careful thinker, and active business man, has manifested considerable interest in public affairs; and believing it the duty of every citizen to serve the community in which he lives in any way that he may be called upon for the public good, has acted as public-school director for three years. Fraternally, he is well known, being a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He has always shown himself ready to accept any duty or to support any movement calculated to advance the general welfare. He is a man of great force of character, is possessed of much business ability, has been very successful in the conduct of his affairs, and enjoys the universal respect of his friends and acquaintances throughout the township in which he resides.

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.