Yolo-Lassen-Shasta County CA Archives Biographies.....Bailey, A. G. 1883 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com January 13, 2006, 11:32 pm Author: Tom Gregory (1913) A. G. BAILEY A professional career that began with his admission to the bar of the state January 14, 1907, gives abundant indication of future successes for Mr. Bailey. Indeed, already he has achieved a position highly creditable to one so young in years and in professional experience. Conscientious endeavor, dating back to early childhood and continued without abatement up to the present time, has brought him to an established position among the able citizens of Yolo county, and he further has the honor of being one of the youngest district attorneys in California. Nature endowed him with qualities well adapting him to public affairs. Conservative in spirit, yet a friend of progress, a logical reasoner and a fluent speaker, he throws himself into professional affairs with an energy that bespeaks success when coupled with the attributes indispensable to the law. The family represented by Mr. Bailey ranks among the pioneer element of the west. Both of his grandfathers came to California during the memorable era of 1849, and his father, who came, a mere boy, in 1854, settled at French Gulch, Shasta county. The mother came to the state from Missouri in 1862, and she and her husband are now residents of Janesville, Lassen county. In that county occurred the birth of A. G. Bailey May 12, 1883, and from there he was taken to Oregon in early life by his parents, who, however, in a short time returned to California and settled in Shasta county. At the age of fourteen years he accompanied the family back to his native county, where at the age of eighteen years he secured a grammar-grade teacher's certificate. At that time his father became an invalid through rheumatism, and the support of the family devolved upon the youth, obliging him to teach for three years when he had been ambitious to attend college. Meanwhile he labored to secure the establishment of a high school in his home town, and with the aid of several progressive citizens he succeeded in his object, afterward himself attending the school and completing the four years' course in two years. After he came to Woodland in the summer of 1905 he attended the high school of this city. It would be difficult for Mr. Bailey to recall the time when he first decided to become a lawyer. Toward that profession were directed his childhood studies. Shortly after he came to Woodland he began to read law in the office of A. C. Huston and at the date previously given he passed a very creditable examination which resulted in his admission to the bar. In common with all penniless and briefless young lawyers, he found the early days of professional life disheartening, but with a determination not the least of his attributes he continued to study and fit himself for later emergencies. No matter how formidable the obstacles, he never lost faith in his ability to succeed. Meanwhile he took an active part in political affairs as a stanch Democrat. On the reform platform of that party in 1910 he was chosen district attorney of Yolo county, and since then he has served ably in that capacity. During the year of his election to the office he established a home of his own, being united with Miss Clara Griggs, a native of Woodland. In fraternal relations he is identified with the Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. For three years he was a member of Company F, Second Regiment, California National Guard, and served with his company in San Francisco during the fire of 1906. The cases which Mr. Bailey has handled have proved his qualifications for professional work. In the Lopez case he defended the man upon the theory that he was the victim of a conspiracy. The jury disagreed in two trials and Judge Gaddis finally dismissed the case. In 1908 Jesse Prince, a negro, killed an old man named Dopson near Gray's Bend. The murderer was friendless and penniless and the court appointed Mr. Bailey to defend him. The duty was performed conscientiously and the accused received the light sentence of five years for manslaughter. Persons competent to judge state that Mr. Bailey handled that difficult case with remarkable skill. In a number of cases he has been associated with other counsel. In his position as district attorney he has endeavored to strictly enforce the laws, and in the brief period of his service has ably demonstrated his determination to live up to his oath of office. The results show that he has prosecuted twice as many felony cases as were ever handled by any predecessor extending over the same period. The duties of the office becoming so large as to leave little time for his private practice, it became necessary to associate himself with Lawrence H. Wilson, assemblyman for the sixteenth district, under the firm name of A. G. Bailey & L. H. Wilson, since which time he has been enabled to give all his attention to the county's legal matters. Mr. Bailey's work shows a persistent study of the law, a wide knowledge of its intricacies and a decided ability for the profession he has chosen as his life calling. Additional Comments: Extracted from HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA WITH Biographical Sketches OF The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY TOM GREGORY AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yolo/bios/bailey346bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/ File size: 6.0 Kb