James T. Bailey Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 1033-1034

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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JAMES T. BAILEY, chairman of the board of county commissioners of Hand 
county, and a prominent and well-to do agriculturist of York township, 
was born in Oak Hill, New York, November 5, 1836. His present home is 
on section 18, near the town of St. Lawrence. 

The grandfather of our subject on the paternal side was a captain in 
the American army, and was wounded at Bunker Hill. The grandfather on 
the maternal side was from West Granby, Connecticut, and served several 
years under General Washington and was with him at Valley Forge. Our 
subject's mother, Talithy (Gillette) Bailey, was a native of 
Connecticut, and died in Westfield, Massachusetts. His father, Hezekiah 
Bailey, was a native of Massachusetts, and was a blacksmith and farmer 
by occupation. He resided in Massachusetts and New York. 

Our subject's education was received in Westfield, Massachusetts, and 
at the age of seventeen years he shipped on a whaler, and spent three 
years on the seas. He went to Bloomington, Illinois, in 1859, from 
which place he enlisted for the cause of his country in August, 1861, 
becoming a member of Company I, Third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and 
served until December 15, 1862. He was out under Fremont, and was with 
Curtis at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, at which place he was slightly wounded 
and his horse shot from under him. 

He returned from the service and located in Bloomington, Illinois, 
where for fourteen years he was a member of the police force of that 
city, having charge of the night force for some years. He removed to 
Dakota and took a claim on section 2 in Gilbert township, in 1884, 
where he resided for several years. He has devoted his time to farming 
and stock raising, and has met with more than ordinary success. 

Our subject was married in 1866 to Harriett Rose, a native of England, 
who emigrated to America when a mere child, and was reared and educated 
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Bailey is a member of the 
Congregational church. The home has been blessed by the birth of two 
sons: James R. and Elmer D. 

Mr. Bailey is one of the public-spirited citizens of Hand county, and 
has given his support to the advancement of his locality. For seven 
years he was chairman of the township board and has served nine years 
on the county board, filling the office of chairman for several years. 
In political views he is a Republican, is well versed on the matters of 
moment, and stands firmly for the principles of his party.