BAILEY, WILLIAM WARNOCK
Dr. William Bailey is engaged in the general practice of medicine in LeClaire and stands high among the members of the medical profession in Scott county. He was born just across the Mississippi river in Rock Island county, Illinois, January 23, 1866, a son of James and Margaret (Warnock) Bailey, and is of Scotch-Irish descent. The father was born in County Down, Ireland, January 7, 1829, and came to the United States when a youth of nineteen years, accompanying his parents, Robert and Jane (Campbell) Bailey. The family home was established in Rock Island county and Robert Bailey being a stone mason by trade, became a pioneer in this line that county. He also entered eighty acres of raw land there, which he later improved, making his home thereon until the time of his demise. This place eventually came into possession of his son James, who for a number of years engaged in general farming and cattle raising, and as his financial resources permitted he extended the boundaries of his farm until it comprised two hundred and forty acres. He became one of the influential and enterprising men of that community, where he lived until 1897, when he was called to his final rest, his death occurring on the 18th of August of that year. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church and held various official positions, taking an active and helpful part in all departments of the church work. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Margaret Warnock, was likewise born in County Down and was a little maiden of seven years when she accompanied her parents, John and Mary (Campbell) Warnock, on their trip across the Atlantic to the United States. After a long and wearisome journey of twelve weeks on the water they located in St. Louis, Missouri, the year of their arrival there being 1848. In the following spring they continued their journey to Rock Island county, Illinois, where the father purchased land. This tract was situated in Rural township and Mr. Warnock thus became identified with the early development of the locality as an agriculturist, and both he and his wife passed away on the home farm.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. James Bailey were born eight children, as follows: Mary, who is still at home; Anna, who holds the principalship of the Ridgeview school in Moline, Illinois; William W., of this review; Jennie the wife of Roland Metzler, a farmer of Rural township, Rock Island county; John, who also resides in that township; Hugh W., who graduated from a veterinary college in Chicago and is now engaged in practice in Orion, Illinois; Ella, the wife of Roy Ferguson, of Henry county, Illinois; and Betsey, a teacher in the schools of rural township, Rock Island county.
Dr. William W. Bailey was reared to the pursuits of the home farm during the period of his boyhood and youth and in the meantime he pursued his studies in the district schools near the homestead in Rock Island county. He remained under the parental roof giving his father the benefit of his services until he had attained his majority and then for five years engaged in teaching. He used this means of livelihood merely as a foundation for a higher calling and having decided upon the profession of medicine as a life work, to this end, in September, 1894, he entered Marion Sims Medical College, the medical department of St. Louis University. He pursued a three-years' course, graduating from that institution in April, 1897, standing fourth highest in a class of ninety. During the vacation seasons he did special work in Rebecca Hospital of that city and thus gained a practical knowledge of medicine. Soon after his graduation, may 30, 1897, he opened an office in LeClaire and from that time to the present has engaged in general practice. In the years that have passed he has built up a good patronage and is numbered among the successful physicians of Scott county.
The Doctor was married December 27, 1894, to Miss Anna Mae Deal, a daughter of Henry and Sarah A. (Sinclair) Deal, residents of Rural township, Rock Island county, Illinois. They have one daughter, Grace.
Dr. Bailey is a Mason, belonging to Snow Lodge, No. 44, at LeClaire and to the Mystic Shrine at Davenport. He likewise holds membership relations with the Woodmen of the World, Modern Woodmen of America and the Court of Honor. In politics he is a republican and is a member of the town council and is president of the school board, while he is financially interested as a stockholder in the LeClaire Savings Bank. He is a man of culture and sense, generous to friend or foe, and his life of industry has brought a rich reward in the high estimate his acquaintances place upon him as a physician and a man.
This bio was extracted from the History of Davenport and Scott County, Vol. I and II, by Harry E. Downer, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago. It was transcribed by Debbie Clough Gerischer.