BAILEY, CHESTER L.

BAILEY, GARDNER

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/26/2004 at 15:07:24

Biography reproduced from page 655 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Chester L. Bailey of the firm of Anderson & Bailey, meat dealers, has been identified with commercial interests of Algona for the past two years. He was born at Independence, Buchanan county, Iowa, on the 21st of July, 1879, and is a son of William Herbert and Martha Jane Bailey. The father was born in Rockford, Illinois, April 5, 1856, and there he was educated and reared to manhood. The mother’s birth occurred in Vassar, Tuscola county, Michigan, on the 16th of November, 1855. When a child of ten years, in 1865, her people removed to Rockford, Illinois, where she met Mr. Bailey, whose wife she became on September 14, 1878, at the age of twenty-two years. Very soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bailey came to Iowa, locating on a farm in the vicinity of Independence. They remained there two years and at the end of that time removed to a place on Black Cat creek, north of Algona, residing there for a year. Agricultural pursuits always engaged the attention of Mr. Bailey, who passed away on the 7th of December, 1900. The mother is still living. There was also a daughter in the family, Mildred, who died at the age of six years.

Chester L. Bailey was reared in a manner similar to other country youths, acquiring his early education in the district schools of Union township and attending public school in Algona for seven years. As soon as he was old enough he began to assist with the lighter duties about the farm, his responsibilities increasing with the development of his strength, and before he had mastered the common branches of English learning he was doing practically a man’s work in the fields. After leaving school he devoted his entire attention to work on the home farm under his father until January 1, 1910, when he rented the same and removed to Algona and engaged in the live-stock business. He subsequently became associated with Mr. Anderson and they opened a meat market that they have ever since been operating under the firm name of Anderson & Bailey. This has proven to be a very profitable undertaking as they have succeeded in building up an extensive trade. They carry a good line of fresh and cured meats, fish, poultry and oysters, of excellent quality, that they offer at reasonable prices. Their establishment is neat and attractive in appearance and as they are most painstaking in their efforts to accommodate their customers, are accorded a large and constantly increasing patronage among a most desirable class of people.

On the 13th of July, 1901, Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Norma Gardner, a daughter of R. M. Gardner of this city, and they have become the parents of two children: Mildred, who was born October 26, 1902; and Merle, whose birth occurred on the 15th of April, 1907.

The family attend the Congregational church, and Mr. Bailey is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, while he votes the republican ticket. He is an industrious man, of progressive ideas and upright methods in this business transactions and has won the esteem and confidence of all with whom he has had dealings.