Iowa
Old Press
Chief Reporter
Perry, Dallas co. Iowa
February 9, 1899
DIED ALMOST A CENTENARIAN
Thos. Bailey, a Hero of the Seminole War Died Yesterday Morning.
The oldest citizen of Perry died ten minutes after midnight,
Tuesday night. Mr. Thos. Bailey was attacked with the grip eight
days ago and he had been confined to his bed just one week when
he died. He was conscious to the last and was ready to depart
from this world. The deceased was 92 years, 10 months and 21 days
of age. He leaves a widow
whom he married in 1848, and who is past the seventy-third year
of her life. Also eight children survive him. They are Mrs. D.A.
Watkins, of Missouri; Mrs. S.V. Montrose, of Ft. Madison, Iowa;
Mrs. H.E. Lasher, of Big Rock, Ill.; Mrs. M.H. Ogburn, of
Wyoming, Ill; M.A. Bailey of St. Paul, Neb.; J.E. Bailey of Big
Rock, Ill.; U.G. Bailey, of Hinsale, Ill. and T.B. Bailey, of
this city. The funeral will be held from the house on Otley
Avenue and 7th street conducted by Rev. McDade, probably Friday
afternoon. Father Bailey was born in County Down, Ireland, March
17, 1806, and removed to America in the twenties. He was a mason
by trade and his early life was a roving one. He enlisted in
1839, in New York, as a United States soldier in the Seminole
Indian War, on a salary of seven dollars per month. He bore the
distinction of being the man who discovered the whereabouts of
the last lot of Indians that were captured, 98 in number. He and
three other men were out
hunting a bee tree in the timber of Florida, when some deer
crossed their path. While the other men continued the hunt, he
was satisfied that there were Indians about, and would not leave
until he had discovered their tracks. He reported the matter to
his major and it resulted in the capture of all the Indians left
excepting two chiefs, Billy Bowlegs and Sam Jones. Mr. Bailey
survived an attack of yellow fever and was made steward of a
hospital at $14 per month, but was somehow cheated out of his
pay. He was discharged at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, in 1844.
He was married July 4th, 1848. Nearly forty years ago Mr. Bailey
put some lime in his eye while working at his trade, and after
two years the sight in that eye was destroyed.
He formerly lived where the Presbyterian church now stands, but
sold the lots to the church and removed to his late home.
Although he was hale and hearty for a man of his years, he was
unable to withstand the ravages of the grip upon his physical
system.
[submitted by C.J.L., Oct. 2003]