Mark W. Bailey Biography


	This biography appears on pages 124-127 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				HON. MARK W. BAILEY.  

	In the demise of the Hon. Mark W. Bailey South Dakota lost a 
citizen who had contributed much of value to the development of the 
country. He was born at Laporte, Indiana, on the 9th of June, 1848, and 
in the following spring was taken by his parents to Boscobel, Grant 
county, Wisconsin, where his boyhood was spent and he acquired his 
education. At the age of fourteen years he was messenger in the 
Wisconsin legislature and was then regarded as a bright, active boy of 
unusual promise. When but eighteen years of age he began teaching and 
taught a year at Prairie du Chien, at Minona, Menasha and Boscobel. 
While teaching he devoted the time not required by his work in that 
connection to the study of law and had very little assistance during 
the whole time that he was pursuing his professional course. On the 
17th of November, 1871, he was admitted to the bar at Prairie du Chien 
before Judge Mills of the fifth judicial circuit. He had previously 
also studied surveying and civil engineering. in October, 1872, he came 
to Dakota territory and for a few weeks was in the office of Judge 
Smith, of Vermillion. In January, 1873, he removed to Canton, where he 
resided until his death. After his arrival in the latter city he 
devoted his attention chiefly to the practice of law. At times, 
however, when the business of the profession did not occupy all his 
time he engaged in other pursuits. For instance, in the summer of 1873 
he, in company with Mr. Read, was awarded a surveying contract by the 
government and the following summer was given the contract on the line 
of the Northern Pacific Railroad. He went into the field and gave the 
work of both contracts his personal attention. In the fall of the same 
year he was nominated by the republicans of his district as their 
candidate for the upper house of the Dakota legislature and was elected 
by a large majority after a brief but sharp campaign. He was a leading 
and active member of the legislature which convened the following 
winter. That session will be remembered as very important, as those who 
had been engaged in compiling the laws of the territory submitted their 
work for legislative approval. Members of the legislature at that time 
say that the labors of Mr. Bailey were second to none in value.  

	The legislature adjourned in February, 1877, and about the 1st of 
April following Mr. Bailey went to the Black Hills. He had been given 
charge of an important mining case in the Hills and went there to give 
the matter his personal attention. His journey was a severe and 
laborious one and the following July he suffered a severe attack of 
fever. A month later he returned to Canton much broken in health. He 
recovered sufficiently, however, to take an active part in the cases 
tried at the October term of the district court. The following winter 
it was evident that his strength was fast failing and about the 1st of 
April he became utterly prostrated. Again he rallied and went to the 
home of his parents at Fennimore, Wisconsin, where his death occurred 
on the 15th of November, 1878. His professional attainments were high 
and his ability as a lawyer commanded the respect of his brethren in 
the profession. A naturally keen mind, careful study of statute and 
precedent, care in the preparation of cases and a convincing manner 
combined to make him an opponent to be feared. He never used his powers 
for base ends, realizing that if the law is to be held in the honor 
that should be accorded it the legal profession must adhere to high 
standards of justice and integrity and must place right before personal 
gain,  

	Mr. Bailey was married in 1876 to Miss Maggie Miller, who 
survives him.