Cherokee County Georgia Bios Bailey Family File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Tina Mitchell" Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/cherokee.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm BAILEY FAMILY Some of the Bailey family members removed from NC (believe from Rutherford County) to Cherokee County and Pickens County GA. Some family members then later removed to Van Buren County, AR. The old letter telling of the death of "Father Bailey" in Cherokee County, GA in 1846 was written by William & Agnes Knox and sent to T.B. Justice, Phillip [Justice], Charles Treadaway & others in NC. I only wish that William Knox would have referred to "Father" Bailey's first name in the letter. I believe the ancestor of this Bailey line ("Father" Bailey) is Elisha M. Bailey, but the letter of his death only refers to him as "Father" Bailey and thus I need confirmation that Elisha M. Bailey is the "Father" Bailey William Knox is referring to in the 1846 letter. William Knox states in the letter that "Father" Bailey had a will. Therefore, I am hoping to find record of this "Father" Bailey's will (believed to Elisha M. Bailey). William Knox, author of the 1846 letter, married Agnes Bailey and resided in Cherokee County, GA. William Knox is writing the letter to Bailey family members living in Henderson County, NC to notify them of "Father" Bailey's death. Agnes (Bailey) Knox is sister to Elizabeth (Bailey) Treadaway. Elizabeth Bailey married Charles Leo Treadaway and, after her marriage, removed from GA to NC and then to AR. Treadaway is my line. Charles Leo (C.L.) Treadaway was born in NC and married Elizabeth Bailey in Cherokee County GA in 1852. I don't know why C.L. Treadaway went to Cherokee County, GA but there he married Elizabeth Bailey in 1842. C.L. and Elizabeth (Bailey) Treadaway then went back to Henderson County, NC (where C.L. Treadaway was from) as they can be found on the 1850 census there with other Treadaway family members. By 1860 C.L. and Elizabeth (Bailey) Treadaway are in the census of Van Buren County, AR. I believe Elizabeth Bailey who married C.L. Treadaway is the daughter of Elsiha M. Bailey who is possibly the "Father" Bailey who died in 1846 but I have had no luck proving it thus far. Hopefully finding the will of "father" Bailey will bring it all together.....Tina -------------------------------------Also: There is a place in Van Buren County, AR called "Bailey Flats". This information came from a (very short) write up on Steve Bailey in the book "Biographies of Van Buren County, AR" by Van Buren County Historical Society 1996 Preston Publishing Company. I don't know if this Steve Bailey is related to our Bailey line. I will include the bio for your records anyway: Steve A. Bailey (1837 - 1905) arrived from Georgia in 1871. After living in Independence County, AR for a while he settled in "Bailey Flat" about four miles north of Morgantown in Van Buren County. He was born in Georgia. He married Nancy Thomas (1839 - 1902 ) and their children were Louiza, James, Will and Warren who were twins, Sallie, Mary Susan, Hannah, Julie and Lillie who were twins, Marion and Della. Steve was a farmer and was instrumental in organizing a new Masonic lodge at Morgantown and served as the first Worshipful Master after the lodge was chartered in 1879. Steve was a Civil War veteran and is buried in the Colony Cemetery. Submitted by: Burt Stark Jr. --------------------------- ---------- Here is the transcribed version of the 1846 letter informing family in NC of "Father" Bailey's death. I sure wish William Knox would have mentioned the first name of "Father" Bailey in the letter. I have taken all the names William Knox does mention and have found a connection to Bailey family. I have compiled all this data and would like to correspond with anybody else researching this Bailey family. Note: at the time the Van Buren County History book was written, (1983) the submitter Irma (Treadaway) Burnett had limited research knowledge on the connection of the Bailey family to the Treadaway and Justice families in NC. We have tried to "sort" out the Bailey family (based on the names mentioned in the letter). Tina ----------- ---------------------------No effort has been made to punctuate or correct spelling in this letter (TMM). "A History of Van Buren County 1833-1983" Page 154-155 We do not know the exact relationship of William and Agnis Knox to the Treadaway family. It was thought at first that William and Charles were probably brothers-in- law, but we have no record of a Treadaway, Agnis. [Virginia - I have found her to be Agnes Bailey sister to Elizabeth Bailey who married Charles Leo Treadaway, Tina]. We know there was a family connection because the letter ended up in the possession of my grandmother Martha Treadaway Ward (Aunt Matt) which pretty well established the fact that the Charles L. Treadaway, referred to in the letter, was her father. Of course in those days burial was held as soon as possible after death but often it was months and even years before a funeral service was said. Families had to wait on circuit riders or obtain the service of a minister the best they could. The P.S. is especially interesting in view of present day inflation. [In 1846, the C. L. Treadaway family, to whom this letter was written, was residing in Henderson County, NC based on census records. Thus the names mentioned reflect families that were still living in NC, prior to removal to Van Buren County, AR (Tina)] May the 19th, 1846 Georgia ) Cherokee County) Dear Brothers and Sisters and all our family connection in general. I do avail myself this opportunity of addressing you all by letter which leaves myself and family the enjoyers of a reasonable portion of health through the mercies and blessings of for which we do feel thankful to the God of peace. Hoping that these few lines may arrive safe at your hand and find you all in good health and prosperity and equal thankful for the same. I am being much disturbed in mind and address you at this time as I have been an eye witness of the departure of our poor old Page 155 Father Bailey. He deceased this life on the eleventh and in the triumphs of faith which I have great hope in his death - I do believe he is now in paradise and will be born the great day of the resurrection when all men shall be judged according to the deeds done in the body whether good or evil unto judgement they must go which he said to Friend Swinford that morning before he died. Brother Swinford I want to be carried away he says. Where do you want to be carried to Brother Bailey? Why I want to be carried to heaven in glory - my Lord come and take me away - quickly out of my misery - which he called upon God often to have mercy on him. He bore his affliction with a great deal of fortitude. He was confined near twelve weeks to his bed and was in his right mind until the last. I was with him a great deal in the time of his illness. I stayed with him twelve days and nights and was not at home but two nights in that time till he died. I heard him talk often. I do not believe that the things of the world was any pesterment to his mind. After he made his Will he appeared to resign to the will of Heaven. He made his Will in the manner as well as I can recollect; The two lots of land mother was to have her life time and the old mar [mare] a cow and calf and seventeen head of stock hogs and the kitchen furniture - out of which property she was to make Seleaner equal with the rest of the girls that was married and gone to give her schooling if she will embrace it. If not make the amount up in property. He will William one bay mare colt and two little dun colored bull calves as he has worked them some little. To have this amount of property when he arrives at the age of twenty-one years old. All the rest of the property is to be disposed of to the outstanding debts - which property is three work steers - two four years old, one three [years old], two cows, and one horse colt a year old which will have to be disposed of. Newton Perkins and myself his Executors of his estate which I objected but the old man insisted and I then consented to do the best I could for the family support and his happiness in life. All the property he has willed to the Old lady, at her death, or what remains, is to be equally divided among his children. I think this is about the way he left his Will or near so. We expect to have his funeral preached sometime and we want you all to come. Let us know if you can come and when and we will try to have the appointment made according to the time you will set so as you may be at the funeral. Times is hard in every way both in money matters and provisions. We have had a very backward spring - cold and wet and people not done planting. I have about ten acres to plant yet. I have lost so much time waiting on father but all things work to good for those that fear the Lord. Our connection in this section are all in Common health. B. D. Coward is complaining of misery in his back - a kidney complaint. Vera Mullins still keeps upon foot but very listless and complains very much but it's a common thing with all women in her condition to be helpless [she is pregnant with her third child]. Thomas B. Justice I want you to hand this to Phillip [Justice?] and Charles Treadaway and Martin Hamilton and connection Giffon and all and oblige me your friend and still remain your loving and affectionate Brother and Sister till death. William and Agnis Knox P. S. T. B. corn is worth fifty cents per bushel - wheat seventy five per bushel, bacon eight cents per pound. Our present wheat crop do look very promising at present and all small grain crops in our section of country. I think if no disaster befall small grain wheat may be bought at fifty cents per bushel after harvest, a common country price, for I never saw as much small grain in one season in all my life before and all good. Now in some places the people say the fly is injuring the wheat very much but I do not think there is any with us or very little. William Knox ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. 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