Bailey, J. E.

PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF MORGAN AND SCOTT COUNTIES, ILLINOIS
Chicago: Chapman Bros., Publishers

1889


J. E. BAILEY was born near Bradfordsville, Marion County, Ky., April 20, 1831. Mr. Bailey was raised on a farm and received his education in the common-schools. His father kept him at home until he was nineteen years old, when he hired him out to work on the turnpike road in Kentucky. He continued this business for seven years, when he removed to Lewis County, Mo., and engaged in farming. He remained there three years, when in 1860, he removed to Morgan County, Ill., and worked on a railroad section for one year. At the first call for troops by President Lincoln, he responded by enlisting on April 16, 1861, in the 10th Illinois Infantry and was mustered in at Jacksonville, whence he was sent to Cairo. Here he assisted in hauling down a rebel flag. He was mustered out at Cairo, after three months' service, and returned home for a short time, when he re-enlisted at St. Louis in the 11th Missouri Infantry. He was in the battles of New Madrid, Point Pleasant, Corinth, Iuka, Guntown, Tupelo, Jackson, Miss., and accompanied the expedition up the Yazoo. He then joined Grant at Vicksburg, and engaged in the siege of that city for forty days. His company guarded Gen. Grant's headquarters, which was situated 120 yards from the breastworks, making it a somewhat dangerous duty. He took part in the charge on the 2nd of May, 1863. After the surrender of Pemberton, he went with his regiment to Mobile. They proceeded from there to Tennessee, and afterward skirmished around Nashville, and was also in the battle of Nashville two days. At Grand Junction he re-enlisted in the "veteran corps" and came home on a furlough, returning to his regiment before his time expired and served until the close of the war, being mustered out in January, 1865, having served four years and three months. Mr. Bailey was not wounded, although his comrades fell all around him, and he was in sixteen different engagements.

After the war, Mr. Bailey returned to Morgan County and worked on the railroad for several years. In 1867 he bought his present place of sixty acres, with no improvements, but has added to it until now he has a fine farm, well-improved, and well-watered. He planted an orchard in an early day which now yields an abundance of apples, peaches, and plums. He also has a fine vineyard. Upon his farm he erected a comfortable farm-house, the main part of which is 16x28, with a wing 12x24, while he has a capacious barn, 30x40.

John Bailey, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Taylor County, Ky. Reuben Bailey, the father of John, and grandfather of J. E. Bailey, was born in Virginia of English descent. He was an early settler of Taylor County, where he was a prominent farmer until his death. John Bailey engaged in farming in Kentucky until 1859, when he came to Scott County, Ind., locating near Jeffersonville. He is now living on his original purchase at the age of eighty-five years.

Politically, Mr. Bailey is a Democrat, and is also a member of the Baptist Church. J. E. Bailey's mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Carpenter, was born in Marion County, Ky., where she died. She was the mother of eight children, two of whom died in infancy. William A., the eldest served in the Mexican War and enlisted from Kentucky under Capt. Hardin.

J. E. Bailey married Mrs. Phoebe Peters, oct. 11, 1866. She is a native of Indiana. Mr. Bailey is a member of the G.A.R., and also of the Baptist Church, and in politics he is a strong Republican. In this community he is reckoned as a man of excellent judgment and a good citizen.


1889 Index
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