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         P. D. BAILEY, a farmer residing on section 26, Elliott Township, came to this county on the 19th of April, 1860. He was born in Carroll County, Ky., and is a son of John and Sarah (Goddard) Bailey, the former a native of Delaware, of Scotch descent, and the latter of Maryland, born of English ancestry. The father was a farmer by occupation, and emigrated with his family to Des Moines County, Iowa, reaching his destination on the 7th of May, 1837. He rented a farm near the city of Burlington, and the following year purchased 160 acres of land in Union Township, where he made his home until 1853, when he sold out and removed to Henry County, settling near the city of Mt. Pleasant. He purchased a farm and also became the owner of a mill, which he operated for a number of years, and there resided until the death of his wife, which occurred in 1858. He then came to Louisa County, making his home with our subject until called to his last rest, in August, 1865. He was a man well informed on all public affairs, and a strong friend to education, or any enterprise which was for the good of the community. Mr. Bailey served as Justice of the Peace for many years, and he and his wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They were the parents of eight children, only three of whom are now living: Elizabeth, now the wife of George Kneff, of Browning, Mo.; Sarah A., wife of Samuel Willeford, of Georgetown, Col., and our subject.

P. D. Bailey was reared upon a farm, and received his education at the common schools. At the age of twenty-one he rented land and began farming for himself. On the 4th of September, 1853, his marriage with Deborah T. Watterhouse was celebrated. The lady is a native of New Jersey, and a daughter of Charles Watterhouse, a pioneer of this county, now deceased. Seven children . . .

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. . . have been born unto them: James M., now a resident of Mediapolis, Iowa; John C., who is engaged in farming in Des Moines County; Sarah Jane, who is now the wife of A. M. Wilson, of Stark County, Neb.; Amanda E., William S., Taylor L. and Tirzah, who yet reside with their parents.

Mr. Bailey’s first purchase of land in Louisa County consisted of forty acres, which was in a wild, uncultivated state, but by his energy and good management he has added to that tract until he now has 169 ˝ acres of fine land, all highly cultivated. Socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 19, at Wapello. He has held various offices of trust in his township, was Justice of the Peace for many years, served as Assessor of Elliott Township for seventeen years, held the office of County Supervisor for ten years, and in 1880 was the Government census taker for both Jefferson and Elliott townships. He is a self-made man financially, having made all that he has by his own efforts, and is one of the highly respected citizens of the township. Mr. Watterhouse, while living in Ohio, was a foreman on a canal, and resided in the neighborhood where Gen. Harrison was reared, while his daughter, Mrs. Bailey, was a schoolmate of Hon. Benjamin Harrison, the candidate for President of the Republican party in 1888.

James C. Bailey, deceased, was a native of Kentucky, and came to Louisa County, Iowa, in 1863, settling in Elliott Township, where he resided until his death, which occurred June 29, 1888. He was a soldier of Company K, 19th Iowa Infantry, and served about two years, when he received his discharge on account of physical disability. He held various township offices, and was one of the well-known and highly esteemed citizens of the county.