Bailey, Ansel Kinne 1835 – 1909

BAILEY, KINNE, HIGHAM, COLVILLE, STODDARD

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:45

Source: Decorah Republican Sept. 23, 1909, P1, C3-7, P2-C3

THE MASTER CALLED, AND HE SAID: “LORD, I AM READY.”

Father is dead.

This is the word which the junior editor of the REPUBLICAN has known for a long time he might be called on to send to the readers of this paper almost any week, but when the Silent Messenger came to the side of him who has for so many years penned the Editorial Comments that were seldom missing from this page, and with gentle but firm hand guided him out of the things of this life, few may know what a sense of loneliness crept over those to whom he had not merely been a father, but had so entered into their pleasures, their ambitions, their successes, their pains, their sorrows, and their faults that he was friend, companion, chum. And he was even more than all these—he was their inspiration to accomplish, their courageous counselor in adversity, their fountain of sympathy, their admonitor in weakness, but always were his words tempered with kindness, his acts with justice. Seldom did he utter a command--rather did he prefer to make a request, and the thought of disobedience never suggested itself even when in later years he was broken in health and was want to lean on those whom he had helped so immeasurably in the days of his strength.

As I look back upon the past forty years, during which it has been my good fortune as son, employe and business partner to be his daily associate, I cannot help but feel that it has been a rare opportunity that is to the lot of but few.

Said one to me, a few years ago, “When I see you and your father passing back and forth together, always with something in common, always interested, it seems more like two brothers, one older than the other” And in many ways it was so.

Said another, who was a home comer a few weeks ago, “In my boyhood I always looked up to him, and he inspired me as did no other.”

And still another said, “I would rather have lost and had his friendship, than to have won without it.”

If he so impressed others, is it any wonder then that he who are left to keep green his memory feel that something has gone out of life never to be replaced--something sweet, and wholesome, a daily benediction?

I trust I may be pardoned, for this once, in having been so personal. The occasion will never occur again—it is beyond the human possibilities—but love and reverence have guided the heart and the hand to pay this tribute, weak and feeble and inadequate though it may be.

EDWIN C. BAILEY

Hon. Ansel Kinne Bailey was born in the town of Wales, Erie county, New York, November 18, 1835, and was the second son of Wesley and Eunice (Kinne) Bailey, both of whom were descendants of New England stock. The father of our subject was born in Readsboro, Vermont, in February, 1808, a son of Elder Elijah Bailey, a minister of the Methodist church originally, but afterward withdrawing therefrom because he could not reconcile his conscience to the attitude of his church at that time on the question of negro slavery. Eunice Kinne was the eldest daughter of Prentice Kinne, a native of Connecticut and a pioneer settler in the town of Manlius (now De Witt), Onondaga county, New York, where she was born Oct. 22, 1807,--one of a family of eight sons and three daughters.

The career and occupation of Mr. A. K. Bailey can be traced to a line of circumstances beginning with the grandfather on the paternal side, Rev. Elijah Bailey, But little is known of him except the general fact above stated, and that he preached at a little church in Vermont for a score or so of years, for seventeen of which he consecutively represented his town in the General Assembly (or Legislature) of that State. That he was a man of positive convictions and much mental force is evident from his power over others. The church he preached to followed “the course of empire” and member by member gradually moved away to “the Genesee country,” as the western part of New York was then called. That region was then being settled up, and was the “far west” of the early decades of this century.

Wherever these pioneer went they carried their religion with them; and if there were no churches they called in their neighbors on Sundays, and opening their Bibles expounded their truths.

After this church faded out Elijah Bailey moved to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where his declining years were spent, evidently acting as a missionary, preaching the gospel of Christ and of freedom to all, black and white. In time little churches of like belief grew up in the Genesee country, on Cape Cod and elsewhere. Some method of regular communication between them was felt to be necessary. This led to the establishment of a newspaper, and Wesley Bailey was chosen to edit it. With no knowledge of the printing business, little training as a writer, and very small capital, in 1837 he started the South Cortland Luminary and Intelligencer. After publishing it at South Cortland, New York, less than two years, the office was removed to Fayetteville, Onondaga county, and its name changed to correspond with the new location. From its nature it was more of an abolition paper than a church organ. Mr. Bailey’s subsequent career is told by this extract from an obituary notice written in February, 1891, by his eldest son, Hon. E. P. Bailey editor of the Utica (New York) Daily Observer:

“He had followed his father’s footsteps in entering the ministry, and was preaching to a Methodist congregation. The father of Grover Cleveland was pastor of the Presbyterian church in the same village. Wesley Bailey was also editing the village paper. This was not such a vehicle of local intelligence as is the village newspaper of to-day, but a newspaper devoted largely to religious and political matters. Wesley Bailey had become one of the pioneer anti slavery writers who sprang up about that time. He was naturally conservative and had been a Democrat, but his moral convictions uprose against the sin of human bondage, and he gave himself up to the crusade which the Abolitionists began and the Rebellion completed,--the extermination of slavery. It was the work he was doing with his pen that led him into notice.

“Utica was somewhat known as the home of a body of Abolitionists, who were disquieting the politics of the time. One had been mobbed and driven to Peterboro, the home of Gerrit Smith, and the type of the Friend of Man newspaper had been thrown from its windows into Whitesboro street. That paper’s existence became feeble and its life was wearing out when the Fayetteville paper came under the eye of Alvan Stewart, a gifted man whom affluence wronged of the incentive to perfect his gifts. He found in its editorials an earnestness veiled in geniality and humor which charmed him. ‘Brother De Long’ he said, ‘that is the man we want here.’ A few weeks later James C. DeLong and another, agreeing with Mr. Stewart, made a journey to Fayetteville—more of an event than a trip to Chicago to-day—and they remained for days, until their object was accomplished. October, 1842, found Wesley Bailey in Utica getting out the initial number of The Liberty Press. It speedily attained a large circulation, was enriched by the pens of many writers, and made its editor widely known. There grew up thereafter a new element in politics, and the Free-Soilers encamped in the political field near to the line of the Abolitionists. They did not fight for the extirpation of slavery as did the Abolitionists, but for its restriction to the territory it already held. In the campaign of 1848 the more practical of Abolitionists joined the Free-Soil party, and thereafter in a measure lost their old identity. It was after this campaign that Mr. Bailey strongly impressed with the need of work in the cause of temperance made his paper a temperance journal and changed its name to The Utica Teetotaler. He became identified with the Sons of Temperance, then a powerful organization, numbering many hundred of ‘divisions’ in the state, and was the Grand Scribe for several years. But he did not lose his interest in politics, and in the Fremont campaign of 1856 the interests he represented were given a place on the state ticket and he was elected a State Prison Inspector. He relinquished his paper to his second son, Ansel K. Bailey, and George W. Bungay, the poet. The end of his official term left him free to make a venture he had long desired to enter upon. He visited Iowa and selected his future home,—a pretty city, yet not more than a village, in a lovely valley forty miles west of the Mississippi and a few miles from the Minnesota line. Here he removed with his family excepting his eldest son, in March of 1860, and started the Decorah Republican, with Ansel K. Bailey as junior partner. The paper and the partnership prospered. Some years ago, temporarily enfeebled, he gave up his interest in the paper and never resumed active labor”

The education of Mr. A. K. Bailey began in the public schools of Utica, New York; but at the age of thirteen years he “graduated,” so far as his schooling went, and entered his father’s office as a “devil” In time he grew to be its foreman and in 1856, on the day he became of age,—after the senior Bailey had been elected Inspector of State Prisons,--he gave his note in the sum of $500 to his father and became sole editor and proprietor of the Utica Teatotaler, a paper devoted, as its name indicated, to the advocacy of temperance. After publishing it for nearly two years, he sold the establishment to George W. Bungay, editor of a publication of like character printed at Ilion, New York. Mr. Bungay was a poet and lecturer of much local celebrity, but not a printer, and a part of the trade was that his office should be moved to Utica, and Mr. Bailey held the positions of office editor, business manager and principal compositor of the Independent. This relation lasted until January, 1860, when the publication suspended, and Mr. Bailey decided to come to Iowa with his father. Prior to removal, the printing office at Decorah had been purchased, and on the 30th of March of that year the two families landed in Decorah, Iowa, and on the 13th of April the first number of the Decorah Republic, by Wesley Bailey & Son was issued. Subsequently the name was changed to Republican, and it has been continued uninterruptedly ever since by A. K. Bailey & Brother, and afterwards by A. K. Bailey & Son, the present junior partner being Edwin C. Bailey, second son of our subject. Mr. Bailey was elected Treasurer and Recorder of Winneshiek county in 1863, and after serving one term declined a re-election in order to devote himself wholly to the interests of his paper. It was his desire to enlist in the War of the Rebellion, but as he was the practical printer of the concern, with two families to support, and as journeymen printers were almost impossible to obtain, circumstances seemed to render it imperative that he should remain as a home guard.

In 1869, at the unsolicited request of an influential political friend made through Representative (now Senator) Allison, he was appointed postmaster of Decorah by General U. S. Grant, and entered upon his official duties July 4th of that year. This office he held through four successive administrations, and retired on the 4th of July, 1885, by removal at the hand of Grover Cleveland, on the ground of “offensive partisanship.” This was the first political change made in Iowa presidential post offices by Mr. Cleveland for that cause. As he was informed that the accusation in no manner reflected upon his private or official character, Mr. Bailey declared that he pleaded guilty and retired cheerfully from the services of our “Uncle Samuel”

ln 1889 he was elected State Senator for the Forty-Second District,--composed of Winneshiek and Howard counties,’’ and served in the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth General Assemblies. In the former he was chairman of the committee on Federal Relations, and was a member of several others, chief of which was that of Appropriations. In the Twenty-fourth General Assembly his best work was done in helping to formulate the present law, popularly known as the Australian ballot law. The Senate of that session was controlled by the Democrats, with Lieutenant Governor Barstow presiding. As it was his privilege to appoint al the committees, they were therefore all dominated by Democrats and all had Democratic chairmen. Mr. Bailey and one Republican colleague represented the minority of the Committee on Elections to whom all ballot bills were sent. Both parties favored the passage of such a bill; no one opposed. There was strife as to which party should secure the political credit of having given the desired boon to electors. The House was Republican, and before the Senate committee had fairly held a meeting to consider the Senate bills, the House bill had been passed with almost party lines drawn, and had been sent to the Upper House. This gave the Republican bill prestige and “right of way” But it came to the committee in about as bad form as ever a law was made up. In their haste the House had voted to “consider the bill engrossed,” and had passed it as originally drafted by its author, Mr. Norris, of Delaware county. It was written with a pencil on thirty slips of printing paper, without white margins or black spaces. The pages were tied together with a cotton string, and the amendments made by the House in passing it—quite a number—were attached with mucilage as tags to the margins. What was to be done with it the committee could not say. All the members had the right, and it was their duty, to examine it line by line and word for word; but that was futile, to say the least. There was every chance to reject it on account of its condition. Mr. Bailey saw the situation, offered to edit it, and by the aid of the parent of the bill made a correct copy, which could be printed in usual form. The proposition was accepted, and when put in shape was found to be satisfactory to a majority of the committee. It was amended by them and reported back to the Senate as a substitute bill, with explanations as to what it was and why a substitute. This was passed by the Senate and sent to the House, where it was re-enacted and then became a law. The work done upon it was only such as comes easy to a trained preparer of “copy,” but the dispatch used and the tangible form in which order came out of the chaos was very surprising to a majority of his committee associates.

Though active in politics, and widely known as an editor and a politician, the subject of this sketch has endeavored to square his life with a profession of religion made in 1856, and renewed by active church work during all the intervening years. In transferring his residence from New York to Iowa he transferred his allegiance from a Presbyterian church in the former state to the Congregational church in Decorah, and identified himself with its work at once. In July, 1860 he was chosen Superintendent of its Sabbath school,--a position he held continuously for fifteen years, and has since occupied it with occasional respites. In his thirty-five years’ residence he has served the church more than twenty five years in this position. For many years he has been a trustee of the church, and in other offices has done it some important service.

The foregoing is taken from the Memorial Record, a publication issued some years ago. It is given here and now because it tells some things which even some of the closest friends of Mr. Bailey have never known, and gives to the public knowledge of the influences which followed him through life.

On April 14th, 1859, the deceased was joined in marriage with Sarah Higham at Utica, N. Y. We are told that it was a typical April day, with a spring downpour of rain that soaked pedestrians to the skin, but if those who believe that such conditions are of influence upon after life could have been privileged to know the sunshine and happiness, and devotion that was their portion of nearly forty-seven years they would realize that clouds nor rain can mar where Christian love is the guiding hand. They were sweethearts in the truest and best since of the word.

To them were born five children, the surviving ones being Mrs. Lizzie H. Colville of St. Paul, Minn, Mrs. Alice B. Stoddard and Edwin C. Bailey of Decorah. Arthur Kinney Bailey died in infancy in October, 1876 and Charles Tupper Bailey rests in a soldier’s grave at Hancock, Mich. Where he died in 1899.

Beside his children he leaves two brothers—Hon. E. Prentis Bailey editor of the Utica (N. Y.) Observer, and A. Stewart Bailey of Minneapolis.

The greatest grief that came to Mr. Bailey was the death of his beloved wife—our mother—on February 5th, 1906,--following a brief illness. From that time on much that was dear to him in life lost its luster, and while he found comfort in the love of his children and the care of his grandchildren, he often expressed his readiness to meet his Savior and render an account of his life work.

In 1893, following a sojourn of ten days at the exposition in Chicago, he returned home feeling greatly wearier. At first he thought it was but the natural result of days of constant sight seeing and being about on his feet more than was his custom. As the weeks went by it developed that more serious ailment had fastened itself upon him, and he was warned by the physician whom he consulted that he had best put his affairs in order, and as much as possible relinquish all work. This he did in part, but after more than forty years of activity in labor that he loved it was not easy to lay aside the pen and he did some of his best work in the time that has intervened. His affliction was diabetes, and gradually the effects of the disease made themselves more apparent in a weakness of the muscles and limbs that caused him to spend more of his time at home, but it was not until within the past two years that he ceased to pay regular visits to the office and to do some of the mechanical work as well. Up to last Thursday he continued to do editorial work in as large portion as his strength would permit.

At times, with increasing frequency, he has been subject to spells of acute indigestion which left him weak and exhausted, but from these he recovered with remarkable ease. On Wednesday last he suffered a slight attack, complicated with a bronchial cold, but on Thursday he was up and about the neighborhood as usual. Between eight and nine o’clock in the evening he was again taken ill, suddenly, and during Friday and Saturday he was confined to his bed. Sunday morning he was feeling better and apparently on the road to recovery, but in the afternoon he became much worse, rallying slightly on Monday, when at noon a sudden change came, and at a few minutes after two o’clock he passed peacefully out of this life and into the life everlasting. There was no pain, no suffering—he had simply gone to sleep to know no physical awakening.

Of the pioneers who were in business in Decorah in 1860 Mr. Bailey was one of three who still held relations with the public and the only one who had been continuously associated with one business during all the intervening years. The others are Alonzo Bradish and Robert F. Gibson, but they were engaged in other lines in the early days. C. N. Goddard, who has ever been one of his closest friends retired from trade two years ago.

There was but one ambition in the life of the deceased that was not realized. On April 13th next he would have celebrated his fiftieth anniversary as editor of the REPUBLICAN and it was with this hope in his heart that two of his most recent articles were penned. All his earthly affairs had long been arranged and he looked upon his final leave taking with a tranquil courage that was a daily testimonial of faith in the hereafter and the resurrection.

Yesterday we laid him away. A prayer at the home preceded the service which was held at the Congregational church, Dr. M. Willett officiating, and interment was made by the side of his wife and other loved ones who rest in Phelps cemetery. The music was furnished by the church choir.

The active pall bearers were J. J. Hoppenstad, R. F. B. Portman, Ben Bear, E. L. Bear, J. H. Hargreaves and Geo. Hislop, and six old friends acted as honorary pall bearers—R. F. Gibson, E. J. Riley, L. L. Cadwell, N. H. Adams, B. Anundsen and N. H. Adams.

The esteem for the departee evidenced by the closing of the business houses during the service, the adjournment of District Court which is now in session, the dismissal of school, and the presence of many citizens and the fire department in a body, as well as the sympathy and assistance that was showered upon the family are things that we shall strive to remember. Some day we may be able to repay in part what we feel has been done for us.

Beside all the living children, and relatives residing in Decorah, there were present from out of town the younger brother of the deceased, A. S. Bailey of Minneapolis, his cousins Mr. and Mrs. Howard A. Kinne of Orleans township, and his son in law David F. Colville of St. Paul.

Source: Decorah Republican Sept. 23, 1909, P6 C1-2

The sad news comes this morning of the death of A. K. Bailey, senior editor of The Decorah Republican. Everyone, whether an old friend or only an acquaintance, will mourn the passing away of the man who has made the Republican the best county paper in the state and whose name has been an honored household word for many years.

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Sept. 24, 1909, FP, C3

Veteran Editor Passes Away
Ansel Kinne Bailey, the veteran editor of the Deeorah Republican, passed away last Monday afternoon after a short illness commencing the Thursday previous to his death. Al¬though for years a sufferer from diabetes, his death was the immediate result of an attack of acute indigestion complicated with a bronchial cold.
The deceased was born in Erie Co., New York, Nov. 18, 1835, the son of Wesley Bailey who came to Decorah in March 1860 and, with the subject of this brief sketch as junior partner established the Decorah Republic. Later the name of the paper was changed to the Republican, but has always been published by the Bailey family, first by Wesley Bailey & Son and later by A. K. Bailey & Son.
Mr. Bailey was elected treasurer and recorder of Winneshiek County in 1863 and after one term declined re-election. In 1869 he was appointed postmaster at Decorah by Pres. Grant and held that office until 1885. In 1889, he was elect¬ed state senator from the Winnesheik-Howard district, serving two terms.
He leaves two brothers, two daughters and one son. His wife preceded him in death in 1906.
The funeral occurred Wednesday forenoon at the Congregational church, the business houses and schools closing out of respect to the memory of the deceased.

Phelps Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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