The Mount Ayr Record-News, 1928

After an illness of several months duration, Dr. Samuel Bailey, oldest practicing physician in Ringgold county and one of the best known physicians in Iowa, passed away at his home in west Mount Ayr Friday at two o'clock a.m. The end came peacefully and marked the close of a long and useful life. For half a century Dr. Bailey had served the community, and in the early days he endured the hardships of the pioneers, his practice extending to the remotest corners of the county and into the adjoining counties. He was a close student and kept abreast of his profession. Throughout his life he was interested in the activities of the community, being active in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for many years a teacher in the Sunday school; affiliated with the Masonic and I. O. o. F. fraternities and the higher branches of both orders, in which he held offices of trust.

The large attendance at the funeral service, held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 at the Methodist Episcopal church, and conducted by the pastor, Rev. Jay KIRKENDALL, testified to the high regard in which Dr. BAILEY was held. The audience was composed chiefly of men and women who had reached or passed the meridian of life. The floral tributes were profuse and beautiful and bore silent testimony to the high regard in which Dr. BAILEY was held. Interment was in Rose Hill cemetery.

The following obituary was read at the funeral service:

      Dr. Samuel BAILEY was born September 1st, 1851, in Rock Island county, Illinois. He was the son of James and Ann (BLAKELY) BAILEY, natives of Ireland, who came to America in their youth, and were married in Rock Island. His father died when he was an infant three months old. He was reared by his widowed mother and was given the benefit of good education. He began the study of medicine with Dr. J. H. SEYLOR, of Promption, Mercer county, Illinois, and subsequently entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois, from which he graduated in February, 1879. Immediately after his graduation he located in Mount Ayr, where he built up a good practice, and early gained the confidence and esteem of his patrons and the brethren in his chosen profession.

On April 7, 1897, he was married to Miss Julia A. MERRILL, daughter of Dr. John T. MERRILL.

He has always been identified with all that pertains to the social and material developments of the place. His was first elected coroner of Ringgold county in 1882 and has held the office many terms since. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, lodge and chapter, also of the lodge and encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. he was a member of the Episcopal church, being confirmed by Bishop Lee in 1866, and later joined the Methodist Episcopal church at Mount Ayr, Iowa, under the pastorate of the Rev. W. B. THOMPSON. Dr. BAILEY had one brother, Thomas, who died in 1920.

He leaves to mourn his loss his wife, two nieces, five nephews, numerous cousins and a host of friends.

Since it is not possible to see all of the many friends and thank each one personally for the many acts of kindness and for their thoughtfulness in providing flowers for the sick room during the long illness of Dr. BAILEY and for the floral tributes on the occasion of the funeral, I take this means of expressing to all my sincere and heart-felt thanks.--Mrs. Julia BAILEY.