For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 487
JOSEPH L. BAILEY. Joseph L. Bailey, who occupies a portion of the family homestead in Wilton township, was born in this county February 29, 1864. He is a son of Joseph and Eliza (Harrison) Bailey, both of whom were natives of Lincolnshire, England. The parents were married in their native country and came to the United States in a sailing vessel in 1851. While on the ocean there was an outbreak of small-pox among the passengers of the ship and many of them died and were buried at sea. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey lived for a time at Salem, Ohio, and then came to Muscatine county, Iowa, where they made their home upon a farm in Wilton township. The father departed this life in 1889. At the time of the Civil war, while he was living in Ohio, he was twice urged to come west and raise onions on a large scale for a period of five years, delivering them by wagon to Davenport, which was then the terminal of the railroad. According to the terms proposed the onions were to be sown broadcast for three years and drilled the last two years. Our subject's grandfather Bailey was a Methodist minister and became prominent as a missionary of that denomination. The mother of our subject is still living and makes her home at Wilton Junction, Iowa. There were seven children in the family: Charles, deceased; William, of Reswick, Iowa; Marjorie, the wife of William Harrison, of Perry, Iowa; Fanny, the wife of William Marchant, a farmer of Wilton township; John H., of Minburn, Iowa; George T., of Omaha, Nebraska; and Joseph L., our subject.Educated in the common schools, Joseph L. Bailey was reared upon the home farm and after the death of his father located on half of the old homestead, where he still lives. He now owns eighty acres and his wife is the owner of twenty acres of timber land. He has made many improvements upon his place, including a comfortable dwelling, a commodious barn, outhouses, fences, etc., and has set out an orchard and shade trees, so that it is one of the attractive farms of the region. It is known as Pleasant View Stock Farm. Here he raises a good grade of stock and also does general farming.
In 1887 Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Emma Snyder, of Crestline, Crawford county, Ohio, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Schlembaker) Snyder, both of German descent. Mr. Snyder spent all his life in Ohio and was a contractor and builder. He served through the entire Civil war in the Union army and was called away in 1902, his beloved wife having died in 1893. They were the parents of four children: Josephine, the wife of George Patterson, of Alliance, Ohio; William, deceased; Emma, now Mrs. Bailey; and Elizabeth, who died in 1899. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Bailey has been blessed by one child, Florence Oneida, who was born July 14, 1897, and is now attending the public schools.
Mr. Bailey is one of the well known citizens of Muscatine county, where he has spent his entire life. He inherited many of the sterling characteristics of his English ancestors and is highly respected by all who know him. Politically he is identified with the republican party and served for two terms as constable of his township. He is a member of the Methodist church and of the Masonic lodge at Wilton Junction, he and his wife both being connected with the Order of the Eastern Star.
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