From History of Grant County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 899.

ELIJAH BAYLEY (deceased), was born Aug. 2, 1811, as Massena, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y.; he was one of a family of ten children, of whom he was the seventh; the first twenty-five years of his life was spent at or near his native place; in 1836, he came West and spent about three years in the vicinity of Davenport, and Rock Island, Ill., teaching a portion of the time and making occasional trips South for his health; from Rock Island he came to Galena, where he was engaged as clerk in the confectionery establishment of D. A. Barrows for about three years; in 1841, one of the creditors of E. B. Kimball, of St. Louis, failed, and the stock goods came back into Mr. Kimball's hands; at the suggestion of Mr. Barrows, the goods were entrusted to Mr. Bayley to be taken to some of the mining towns to be disposed of. He selected Platteville as the most favorable point for that purpose, and his success was such that further shipments were made, and a partnership was formed between himself and Mr. Kimball, which lasted till 1852, when Mr. Bayley purchased Mr. Kimball's interest in the business for $30,000; his success continued, and, in 1861, immediately after the death of Mr. Hammond, with whom he had for some time been associated in business, he closed up his affairs as a merchant, and lived in retirement till his death, which occurred Dec. 25, 1878. Mr. Bayley's first wife, to whom he was married in 1844, was Miss Caroline J. Bevans; she died in 1868, leaving three children, one son and two daughters: the son - Leslie F., born April 13, 1850, and died March 5, 1870; Nora L. is now Mrs. D. B. Jones, of Chicago, and Annie S. at home.

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