Person:Elijah Bailey (5)

Found Elijah on 1870 ILL census, Mt. Carroll next to Joshua Bailey, Lydia Kennedy's father.  Assume that Elijah is Joshua's grown son.

1. ↑ , The History of Carroll County, Illinois: containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc (Chicago: Klett, 1878)
   p. 414.
2. ↑ Carroll County Pioneer Certificate, Carroll County, Illinois.

   ancestor: Elijah Bailey b 25 May 1824, d 7 Dec 1906
   Submitter: Dorothea Lewis, Thomson, IL

3. ↑ , History of Carroll County, Illinois, containing a history of the county--its cities, towns, etc. (Chicago: H.F. Kett & Co., Times Bldg., 187
   p. 385-386.

   Bailey, Ansel: Retired; born Warren Co., NY, May 4, 1821; lived there 17 years, and six of them in family came by team all the way here, and arrived Nov. 15, 1839; one of earliest settlers; Savanna was the only town in the county; squatted on unimproved land, none of the land being surveyed into sections; entered land from government; he owns 325 acres in Fair Haven and 80 acres in York; used to haul grain to Chicago, and has sold wheat at 25c and 35c in trade; beef $1.00 per cwt; hogs $1.50; has held office Commissioner of Highways, school offices, Alderman, and was elected Mayor of Mt. Carroll; his first wife was Catherine Balcoom from NY; his present wife was Mrs. Antonette Stevens, formerly Antonette Miller, from Bradford, Pa.; she had two children; he has four children: Mrs. Anna Graham, Mrs. Ettie Masters, Charlie, Nora, Myrtie A., Maggie M.

4.   Anonymous, Portrait and biographical album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sket
   p. 903-904.

   Elijah Bailey, Supervisor of Mt. Carroll Township, is a retired farmer in good circumstances, owning and occupying a pleasant home on Clay Street, Mt. Carroll, to which he removed in November, 1886. He represents a large amount of real-estate in the county, including two farms in York Township, and has borne no unimportant part in the growth and development of this section.
   
   Mr. Bailey was born in Hague Township, Warren Co., NY, on the beautiful shores of Lake George, May 25, 1824, and lived there until a lad of thirteen years. He then removed with his father to Yates County, where he completed a practical education, and remained two years. His next removal was westward to this county, in the year of 1839, with his parents, and they settled in what is now York Township, on a tract of uncultivated land. They put up a log house, then broke a portion of sod, in order to get in the season's crops, and next began the building of fences and the planting of trees at a time when there were but two or three other families in the township. Their nearest market was at Savanna, to which they transported their wheat with teams, and from which they brought their necessary household supplies. After a time they drifted into stock-raising, which industry was always profitable. In 1843 they put a good frame house, hauling the material from Savanna.
   
   Our subject remained here with his parents until reaching his majority, then started out for himself, purchasing land on the same section, and building this up from first principles, as his father had done the other. He was prospered in his labors, and in due time had a neat and commodious residence, with a barn and other outbuildings, and all the other appliances naturally brought about by the skillful agriculturist. To this place he brought a bride, in the fall of 1850, having been married October 30 of that year, to Miss Sarah A. Holman. Of this farm Mr. Bailey still retains possession, and it is hardly necessary to say that it possesses for him a far more than money value. Here his children were born, and here he has probably spent some of his happiest days. Of these children--six in number, and all living--the record is as follows: Alice is the wife of Norman Lewis, of Thompson, and the mother of nine children; Clara E. Married Mr. D. K. Tomlinson, and lives in Scotland, Dak.; Sylvia (Mrs. S. B. Reed) and Orson E. are residents of York Township, this county; Bertha E. is the wife of D. E. Eckman, of Savanna; Delanie E. lives at home, and is attending Mt. Carroll Seminary.
   
   Mr. Bailey cast his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay, having identified himself with the old Whig party,and, upon its abandonment, cordially endorsed Republican principles. He has officiated as Assissor of York Township twelve or fifteen years, and also served as Road Commissioner. In religious matters he is identified with the Baptist Church. He commenced in life without other means than strong hands and a determined spirit, and his accumulations are the result of his own industry and perseverance, aided by a capable and sensible wife. Mrs. Sarah A. (Holman) Bailey was born in Schroon, Essex Co., NY, Nov. 30, 1831, and when nine years of age removed with her parents to the western part of the State. When a girl of thirteen, she came with them to this county. They settled in York Township, and she remained under the home roof until her marriage.
   
   Peter Holman, the father of Mrs. Bailey, was born in Worcester County, Mass., Jan. 30, 1801, and married Miss Betsey Balcom. They began housekeeping in Hague, Warren Co., NY, and came to Illinois in 1844 for permanent settlement; Mr. Holman having been up and down the river four or five times. He finally took up a tract of land in York Township, upon which he resided until removing to Thomson. He was the first postmaster of Thomson, and held office until the incoming of the late Democratic Administration. He was also the first Justice of the Peace, elected at the first town-meeting, and held the office for a period of twenty years. The wife and mother died April 12, 1886, and Mr. Holman now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Bailey.
   
   Joshua Bailey, the father of our subject, was born in Rutland, VT, whence he emigrated to Warren County, NY, and there married Miss Lydia Kenyon. They became the parents of five children-- one daughter and four sons, the latter of whom are all living. After coming to this county, Mr. Bailey improved two farms in York Township, one of which he occupied until his death, which occurred in 1874. The mother died in New York, in 1836, when her son Elijah was about twelve years of age. Our subject and his father bothe assisted organizing the first school district of York Township, and the latter was the first Director appointed. He officiated as such for many years, and then the son stepped into his place, also occupying the office until resigning. The elder Bailey filled othe positions of trust and responsibility, was an active member of the Baptist Church for many years, and a man who enjoyed the entire confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens.

5. ↑ From original Personal Property lists for York Twp in 1854. List was in the Savanna Public Library History Room, Savanna, IL.