This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: benald2 Surnames: Bailey Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.illinois.counties.adams/3271.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Thomas Bailey, a capitalist of Camp Point. who has been prominent in many business enterprises and in advancing progressive measures that prove of much benefit to the county, has been a resident of Illinois since March 20, 1840. He has now passed the eighty-seventh milestone on life's journey, and his career has been one of usefulness and honor.. He was born in Poland, Cumberland county, Maine, on the 8th of October, 1817, and is a son of Levi Bailey, whose birth occurred in the same locality, in April, 1791. He represents one of the old New England families of English ancestry that was founded in America in August, 1635. Thomas Bailey, his grandfather, was born in Newbury, Massachusetts, February 14, 1746, and removed from that state to Maine. He was married to Elizabeth Kimball. Levi Bailey was drafted as a soldier in the war of 1812. he was a farmer by occupation and established his home in Cumberland county, Maine. He was there married to Miss Nabby Haskell, who was bo! rn in the Pine Tree state in 1794. There they reared their family and spent their entire lives. Thomas Bailey is one of a family of eleven children, ten of whom reached mature years, while three are yet living. His youth was passed in Maine, where he was afforded good common-school advantages and after he ceased to be a student he became a teacher in the public schools there. Attracted by the business opportunities of the growing west, he left New England on the 11th of March, I839, and went to Boston, where he worked on a market farm for three months. and also worked four months in a brickyard to get money to go west. He then went to Parkman, Ohio, and later to Troy, that state, where he taught one term of school. In March, 1840, he continued on his westward journey until he reached Adams county, Illinois, where he followed the profession of teaching for five years. Later he was engaged in teaching at intervals, although his time was largely devoted to farming interests, improving two quarter sections of land where he now lives. In I843 he purchased one hundred and ! sixty acres of land here and began the development of a farm. The tract was wild and unimproved but he soon placed it under a high state of cultivation and carried forward the work of improvement, adding all modern equipments and accessories as they were introduced. He erected a residence and contributed in a substantial measure to the growth and upbuilding of Camp Point by laying out several additions to the town, which has benefited materially by his efforts. From time to time he has purchased land and has been the owner of several hundred acres. His attention, however, has not been confined entirely to agricultural pursuits. for he engaged in merchandizing and milling in Camp Point for a number of years. He has also figured prominently in financial circles and in I867 was the founder of the Bailey Bank, a private banking institution which he conducted with success for thirteen years. Throughout his entire life he has been a very active and enterprising business man, qui! ck to note and utilize opportunities. He has made the most of the adv antages which have surrounded him and as the years have passed has become one of the capitalists of Adams county through his judicious investments and his careful management of his business affairs. About 1873, in company with George W. Cyrus, he, established the Camp Point Journal and continued its operation for three years, when he sold out to Mr. Cyrus, present editor. Public interests have received the co-operation and support of Mr. Bailey, who in office has proved his loyalty to the general good. He was elected, in 1850, as the first supervisor of his township and served for five years. In I858 he was elected for a term of three years, and about 1875 was once more chosen for that office. For two years he served as chairman of the board of supervisors and altogether acted as chairman for about five years. He is now the only survivor of the first county board. For forty years he filled the office of justice of the peace in Camp Point township and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial, being based upon the equity of the case and the law applicable thereto. He has been a delegate to county, state and national conventions and has ever been unfaltering in his support for the principles of his party. Mr. Bailey was married in Camp Point, March 13, I845, to Miss Rebecca Seaton, who was born in Kentucky but was reared mostly in Illinois. Her father was Richard Seaton, who came from Kentucky In 1835. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bailey was born a daughter, Eleanor, who became the wife of A. B. Kelley, a jeweler of Camp Point. She died in December, I881, and Mr. Kelley has also passed away. In the spring of I894 Mr. Bailey was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife. He was married again in I895 to Pamelia J. Johnson, the widow of George R. Johnson. She was born in Kentuckv but was reared in Illinois, coming to this state in 1831. By her first marriage she had ten children, eight of whom are yet living. Mr. Bailey is a member of the lodge and chapter of the Masonic fraternity at Camp Point. He has served as master of his lodge and has also been its representative to the grand lodge. lie was made an Odd Fellow in 1858 and a Mason shortly afterward. He has likewise filled all of the chairs in the Odd Fellows lodge, is past grand and is a member of the encampment. He has started a number of lodges and he gave most liberally toward the building of the Odd Fellows lodge hall in Camp Point. His fellow members showed their appreciation of his services and personal worth, in 1892, by presenting him with a fine star medal, indicating a membership of a quarter of a century. In his political views Mr. Bailey was an old line whig and cast his first presidential ballot for William Henry Harrison in I840. In I856 he supported John C. Fremont, the first candidate of the new republican party, and has since voted for each of its presidential nominees with the exception of the years 1872 and! I876, when he voted for Horace Greeley and Samuel J. Tilden respectively. Mr. Bailey gave to the town of Camp Point a tract of land of twenty acres adjoining the corporation limits on the north, which is known as Bailey Park. He also built and gave to the town its opera house and the income derived therefrom is given to the worthy poor of the town. He is a man of benevolent and kindly spirit, generous to the poor, and indeed he cannot listen to a tale of distress unmoved. His sympathy is manifested in substantial assistance and many have reason to bless him for what he has done for them in their hour of need. As a pioneer settler he is familiar with the history of the county from the period when it was just emerging from its primitive condition and taking on the evidences and change of civilization. In I844 he broke prairie here with four yoke of oxen, commencing this work with teams of wild steers which he continued driving until they were well broken to the. work. He has seen great changes along agricultural lines, and In fact all departments ! of activity in Adams county, and has always favored progress and improvement. His name has been a synonym of integrity in business affairs, and he is to-day one of the most honored and respected residents of this portion of the state. PAST AND PRESENT OF THE CITY OF QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY, ILLINOIS. By William H. Collins. S. J. Clark Publishing Co.; 1905. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.