Bailey, William E. b 1872

BAILEY, CARAGHER, MOONEN, MANN, GALBRAITH, SCOTT, SMITH, BALE, DONNELLY, BUNSE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/21/2009 at 10:08:32

Bailey, William E.

One of the substantial and progressive citizens of Baxter, recently retired from the active duties of life, and who was formerly one of the leading agriculturists and stockmen of Jasper County, is William E. Bailey, a man who, as owner of the Oak Grove herd of shorthorn cattle, won a widespread reputation in his chosen field of endeavor, having been long noted for his excellent ability to judge live stock. He was a man who believed in employing the most approved methods in farming, studied his soil with a view of learning its quality and capacity and for what crops it was best adapted; he used fertilizers as needed and rotated his crops so that the land was not exhausted by repeated cultivation of a single product. He has been a leader of agricultural and horticultural literature, attended exhibits, made comparisons of his methods and results with those of his neighbors; he believes in attending the lectures and demonstrations made by those in charge of the agricultural and stock trains that the government or agricultural associations send over the Country, and is interested in the practical work of the national agricultural department and of the state experiment stations, in short, he believes in keeping fully awake to the possibilities of his calling and making every effort to increase the output along the most advanced lines. Thus his large success so early in life is not to be wondered at.

Mr. Bailey was born in Independence Township, this County, on May 5, 1872, and here he has spent his life, having always been identified with agricultural and stock raising pursuits. He is the son of William, Sr., and Elinor (Caragher) Moonen-Bailey, the father born in Lincolnshire, England, March 14, 1819. He came to New York State in 1830 and remained there four years engaged in farming. He came on to Ohio in 1835, then took up the study of medicine and surgery at Greentown, Stark County, Ohio, and he was later graduated from Lake Erie University, now the Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio, and for twenty years he practiced his profession with much success. In 1866 he moved to Newton, Iowa, where he continued to practice a year, then for eighteen months he engaged in the mercantile business there, then moved to Boonesboro. In various parts of the United States he carried on various business enterprises, conducted a sawmill for some time, and finally purchased a herd of cattle in Texas and brought them to Iowa. He was an extensive traveler and visited all parts of the Union. He was a man of strong characteristics and made his influence felt wherever he went, and was very successful as a businessman and a physician. His death occurred at Newton, Iowa, on July 25, 1907. He was twice married, his second wife, mother of the subject, being a native of Tioga County, New York, where she was born in 1835; she died on August 26, 1882. One child was born to the first union, Mrs. Lucy Mann, now residing in Turlock, California. The six children born to the second union of Dr. William Bailey were named as follows: John died in infancy; Mrs. Elinor Ann Galbraith, born December 22, 1856, died February 20, 1905; Mrs. Mary Sophia Scott, born December 9, 1868; William, of this review; Mrs. Margaret Smith, born November 20, 1876, lives in Newton, Iowa. These children were reared in Jasper County.

Dr. William Bailey, Sr., was a member of Unit Lodge No. 520, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Baxter. He was president of the school board here for four years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Newton, while his wife belonged to the Catholic Church there. He was one of the earliest and most successful of Jasper County's physicians.

The son, William Bailey, of this sketch, received a good education in the local schools and here he grew to manhood. He was married on December 3, 1903, to Lizzie K. Bale, who was born in Newton, Iowa, on January 17, 1881, and there she grew to womanhood and was educated and she has always lived in this County. She is the daughter of John and Mary (Donnelly) Bale, the father born in Rockford, Illinois, July 10, 1853, and he is residing with the subject of this sketch. The mother of Mrs. Bailey was born in Louisiana on July 6, 1855, and died in Newton, Iowa, on April 28, 1907. There were seven children in the family, all living, named as follows: Lizzie K., wife of Mr. Bailey, of this sketch; William, born September 23, 1883, lives in this County; Leo P., born May 3, 1886, is living in Baxter; Mrs. Henry Bunse, born April 28, 1889, lives near Newton; John, born February 21, 1892, lives in Baxter; Vernon, born August 23, 1895, lives in Newton; Maurice, born August 13, 1898, lives in Newton. All these children were born and reared in Jasper County. To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey one daughter has been born, Mary Thelma, whose birth occurred in Independence Township, August 6,1905.

Politically, Mr. Bailey is a Democrat, and he is a member of Active Lodge No. 516, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Baxter, and he belongs to the canton at Newton, while Mrs. Bailey is secretary of the Baxter Rebekah Lodge No. 579, of Baxter. He has been a member of the school board of Independence Township for two years. Mrs. Bailey is a member of the Catholic Church at Newton.

Mr. Bailey has been very successful in a business way and has laid by a sufficient competency to insure his future years from want. He sold his fine farm of one hundred and twenty-six acres, in the fall of 1911 and moved to Baxter, where he has a cozy, commodious and attractive home and here the family intends to reside permanently. His Oak Grove herd of shorthorn cattle was among the best to be found in the state.

The subject and wife are sociable, neighborly people, hospitable and obliging and they number their friends by the scores. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B.F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1237.