Capt. Osmond Bailey 1799-1872

BAILEY

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 1/3/2020 at 10:05:18

Dubuque Daily Times, Friday, Saturday, Jun 01, 1872, Dubuque, IA, Page: 4

DEATH OF OSMOND BAILEY

The Davenport Gazette brings the news of the death, on the 2 inst., at Eureka, Wis., of Capt. Osmond Bailey, at the ripe age of over seventy years. Mr. Bailey was one of the first white men that settled in Iowa. He learned the furrier’s trade in Philadelphia when a youth, and afterwards entered into the employ of the American Fur Company. In 1825 he visited the region about St. Paul in the interest of that company, and in 1826 came down the Mississippi River with a flatboat load of furs. In the summer of that year he encamped on the island of Rock Island for several days, and met a party of Indians on the west side of the river who had furs for sale. Some twenty or more years ago he accumulated quite a fortune in business in Milwaukee, and in 1854 or 1855, removed to Dubuque and entered the hat, cap and fur trade. The crash of ’57 ruined his fortune. He remained in Dubuque until after the breaking out of the war, and in ’62 organized a company for the 37th Iowa (Greybeard) Regiment, continuing in the service until the rebellion was subdued. Shortly thereafter he embarked in the grocery trade in Davenport, and was active there until about eighteen months ago, when illness compelled his retirement. He removed to Wisconsin, where he has lived about a year. For many years Mr. Bailey was a pillar in the Methodist church wherever he was a resident. He was universally esteemed.