James F. Bailey

BAILEY, DAVIDSON, SHEPHERD, MILLER

Posted By: Volunteer - Paul French
Date: 6/12/2005 at 16:35:01

Deceased, James F. BAILEY was born August 23, 1825 in Belmont Co., Ohio and passes away Wednesday, December 26, 1906, aged 51 years 4 months 3 days. With his parents he moved to Morgan County, Ohio in 1835, the little village of McConnelsville now the county seat of Morgan County, being his home town, and of which he retained pleasant memories and delighted to talk of the close of Life. In the call for volunteers for the Mexican War 1846, he enlisted as a private in Co. H. 3d. Reg. Ohio Vol. being honorably discharged one year later. In the spring of 1850 he came to Van Buren Co., Iowa locating at Bonaparte until the fall of 1851, he joined the rush for the gold fields of California, going via New Orleans, thence by steamer to the Isthmus and from there to San Francisco on a sailing vessel. On this voyage he came near perishing for food and water being out 77 days. While there he was engaged in mining and on public works. Returning in 1855 in July of the same year he was united in marriage to Celesting DAVIDISON, this union being blessed with the birth of a daughter, now Mrs. Ella SHEPHERD of Kansas City, Kansas. In January of 1856 they moved to a farm one mile northwest of Bentonsport, where in happy companionship they labored and acquired acre by acre until the “BAILEY FARM” of 300 acres was considered one of the most fertile in the county. Both were frugal, industrious and honest; loyal members of the M. E. church and in every enterprise for the advancement of the church and civilization were enthusiastic and lineral [sic - liberal?] in their support. The type of citizen that makes the world better. About 1890? they decided to retire and purchasing the Dr. COWLES residence, made their home in Bentonsport. Mrs. Bailey passed away September 9, 1898. In October 1899 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth MILLER who with his daughter, Ella, 2 grandchildren, four great grandchildren, a brother and many friends and relatives mourn the loss of a good man.

Mr. Bailey was a master mason of the 3rd degree, a member of the Bonaparte, Ia Masonic Lodge, under whose auspices their brother was laid to rest. He was formerly a member of the Masonic Lodge in Bentonsport becoming a member in 1857 and after its dissolution transferring to the above named. To the relatives and friends is the legacy of “a life of honor and of worth, whose glory far exceeds alldse [sic].”

Source: OBITUARIES IN VAN BUREN COUNTY, IOWA from 1899 to May 1911, From papers owned by Mrs. Redhead of Bentonsport, Iowa. Submitted by Mr. & Mrs. Stan Shepherd, Ft. Madison, Iowa, to The Ill-Ia-Mo Searcher, Issue 54, page 43.

[This appears to be a condensation of the original obituary. Original capitalization and punctuation preserved.]