BAILEY, James W.

BAILEY, LEWIS, BLATTNER, SPAULDINGS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/19/2003 at 20:44:26

JAMES W. BAILEY

For a third of a century James W. Bailey has maintained his residence in Clinton (sic) and throughout the entire period has been in the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company. He was born in Manchester, England, December 18, 1851, his parents being Elijah and Mary (Lewis) Bailey. The mother came to Iowa from British Columbia and died at the home of her son, James, in 1899, at the age of seventy-two years.

Our subject was an only child and his youth was largely passed in Canada.  His education being acquired in Toronto. He completed his course in the model school of the city. From early youth it was his desire to become an engineer and thus follow in the footsteps of his father, who had thus been connected with railroad service in England and Canada. In 1865 Mr. Bailey began working in a round-house on the Grand Trunk road as an engine-wiper and subsequently he filled the position of fireman for two years. On the expiration of that period he came to Clinton, Iowa, and was fireman on the Chicago & Northwestern Road until July 28, 1871, when he met with an accident which necessitated his retirement from the service for a time. After four months, however, he went to work in the office of Mr. Elliott, master mechanic, and in 1872 he was given a switch engine in the yards at Cedar Rapids, where he remained for a year. He was then transferred to Clinton and given a run between Clinton and Belle Plaine, having in charge a freight train until 1890, when he was given a passenger run between Clinton and Boone. He had that run on trains No. 2 and No. 5, until the first of April, 1891, when he was transferred to trains No. 15 and No. 6, the former being the fast mail. He has never met with an accident, a fact which largely indicates his carefulness and precision. He is a most trusted employe to the company and well merits the confidence reposed in him.

In Clinton, December 4, 1872, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Bailey and Miss Louise Blattner, who was born in Chicago in 1854, but was residing with relatives in Clinton at the time she became the wife of our subject. Her parents were born in Switzerland and died in Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey now have two children: Adelia, wife of George Spauldings, who is engaged in clerking for the paper company of Clinton, and by whom she has one son, James R.; and Louise, at home. The children were educated in the public schools of Clinton and Mr. Bailey has always taken great delight in providing for his family. In 1881 he purchased his present home, which stands as a monument to his enterprise and perseverance, for he entered upon his business career without capital and his success is the just reward of his labor. He belongs to Clinton Division No. 125, B. L. E., and in March, 1900, was elected its chief for a term of two years. He has been a member of the order since 1869, and has taken a deep and active interest in its work. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in the blue lodge, chapter, commandery, consistory and the Mystic Shrine, and both he and his wife are members of the order of the Eastern Star. He likewise belongs to the Elks, and is a member of the Iowa Legion of Honor. During his long residence in Clinton Mr. Bailey has ever held the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been associated, and his worth as a man and citizen, as well as in business circles, is widely acknowledged.
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.