"History" by Sarah Prill Bailey (1814-1910)

Cindy H. had this all proofed and reformatted, but when I pasted it in this page, it 
lost the formatting. Perhaps I can figure out a way to make it stick.  
 
James Bailey by Sarah Prill Bailey in 1906
 
The following notes are hand written on the cover of this document.
 
1. This history was dictated from memory (entirely) at Emporia, Kansas in the year 
1906 by Sarah Prill Bailey in her ninety-third year. The dictation was copied by 
Leonard Payne, Grandson of James Bailey, who was a son of James Edwin Bailey and 
a Stepson of Sarah Prill Bailey.
 
2. Given to Warren Smith Nov. 15, 1986 by Mrs. Donald Brasier (Josephine).
(Doris H. Smith's handwriting)
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Still what can come out of an old dry log, though I will tell what I can.  That 
is all any person is required to do.  I will tell without dates.
 
Esther Stubbs' mother gave me this history from her own mouth, sixty-three or 
four years ago.  That is a long time to keep things stowed away in a person's memory. 
Still Rebecca Bailey said they had, I think seven boys, that is, the Pearson boys. 
They lived near Stillwater, Miami County, Ohio.  They all stayed at home and worked 
together until each had a good farm.  Land was cheap in Ohio then.  I will give their 
names as well as I can. There are two girls, Mary and Rebecca.  Mary the eldest and 
Rebecca the youngest.  John Pearson, Moses Pearson, Samuel Pearson, Joseph Pearson, 
Robert Pearson, William Pearson, Wilkinson Pearson.   All settled near each other except 
Samuel and Wilkinson.  John's farm was south of the rest, near the river amongst the hills. 
A very pretty place.  Had to go down a hill to the spring.  Still I admire that, I love hills, 
as my birthplace was among the Virginia Hills.  Uncle John was well to do.  Good brick house, 
fine orchards, peach and apple.  They were great to work.  Aunt Mary had her girls to spin wool, 
and she would weave and make lots of cloth.  She had her loom in the basement of the house. 
They were good people.  I loved to go there.  Still Uncle John was a bit peculiar,
but as good as good could be.  Five children living and one not.  He fell out of 
a hickory tree and it killed him. 
 
Benjamin, Margaret, Esther, John and Mary.  Benjamin married a friend of mine. 
They sold their property and moved to Iowa.  He sickened and died.  Margaret died. 
Esther married Samuel Steddom, he died.  John married and moved to Cedar county, Iowa. 
He is as good a man as ever his father was.  I cannot tell much about his children. 
Mary lives on the home place.   His name is Greenlee.   They have no children. 
 
I have not written about Aunt Mary Miles.  I think she is older than Uncle John, 
still he is first.  Mary married William Miles.  They settled up near Ludlow Creek, 
had a nice farm.  Their sons, David and Benjamin, live nearby.  They sold out and moved to Iowa.  I think William and three of the children died before they went to Iowa.  Their children's names were, David, Benjamin, Esther, Elizabeth, Samuel, William, Eunice Ann, Wilkinson, Mary, Sarah Jane.  Yes, they that lived to Iowa, except Esther.  She married a Coppock.  They lived in a large brick house. Had a nice family.   Rebecca married Samuel Abbot.  They had three children.  I cannot tell much about them after they moved to Iowa. 
 
Neither can I about Samuel or William, but David moved near us in Lee County, Iowa. 
They had three boys and one girl.  Webster was the oldest.  He married Ruth White and 
they moved to Kansas, out near the Great Bend.  He Was Sheriff there several years. 
Branston had some office in the reform school for several years.  I do not remember 
for how long, and Wilkinson was a farmer. Leota's man was a cattle man. 
Benjamin's children,  well I cannot call the oldest's name just now, but he 
married near Oskaloosa, I cannot tell any further about him, but Laura married Doctor Minthorn, 
and Laban married his sister.  Williams family, I do not know their whereabouts. 
His last wife had no children.  They belonged to the Christian Church.  The church was nearby. 
Their youngest daughter lived near.  We went to see Jane.  I think her man is a Dunkard. 
He worked in a wagon shop.  The Dunkards had a meeting.  We went to it. 
They had quite a revival.  Yes, a good time we had in Ohio. We took dinner with Jane. 
She has a nice man.  I think his name is Peter. They all live in a rich Pennsylvania settlement.  We stayed with Uncle several days.  Had a precious time of it.  I think that was in ‘63.  Yes, 1863.  Well, that is a long time to have this housed up on these old rickety shelves of mine. 
 
Here we come back South on Stillwater not far from the River to Uncle William Pearson's. 
He lives on the old homestead farm plenty of everything.  Lots of fruit, but the buildings 
are old and old fashioned, but comfortable.  They have three children.  Ezra, Amos and 
I cannot call the girl's name.  His wife died the same spring Joseph's died.  He married, 
but not quite so soon.  Here is where old father and mother Pearson moved to when they first 
came to this part of the country.  Still I cannot tell when they came but I think they came 
from around Carolina. [There is handwriting here that I cannot distinguish.  Something about 
"new", "South Carolina",  and "Rush"]  I think they were English descent.  William is a farmer, 
still he is some lame, very much like Josiah Bailey.  He built himself a very neat little 
cottage.  I think he brought the water up from the spring to the basement. His first wife 
was a Jenkins and the last one of a Pearson.  Here I am at Uncle William's.  Spent many a 
week there.  Yes, when he was a widower David and Susan Miles were with him and she was 
sick a great deal.  They would often have two girls.  I was one of them quite a while. 
Yes many times we would have four girls.  I was one of them for quite a while. Yes, 
Uncle and Sarah Jane, and Aunt Mary Miles' girls. I had many good days and even weeks 
there, and had many a good time.  Yes, they had a large stove, one of the first that 
come around and I loved to bake on it.  Still it was very hot one day.  I baked
quite a lot and carried it into the cellar' while it was warm.  I suffered quite
 
a while, and the doctor took me home, so I worked quite a while for them. 
Still I have been there often.  On the last time we were there we had to cross 
the river and it was partly frozen.  We had a time getting our beast to start in. 
When midway she stopped.  There we were in the middle of the river, and nearly dark. 
I reckon we worked with her for nearly an hour.  Still she started when ready and not 
before.  She was like some children I have seen.  We got there just there just the same 
a little after supper, had a good supper, and good night's rest.  The next day John's 
widow came in and several of their children.  We had quite a reunion before starting 
home to Iowa. 
 
Here I go to Uncle Wilks, as they call him, another good man.  He and his wife are 
Newlights or Christians. They live eight or ten miles Northwest of the rest, 
not from Covington, a little town near the line. He had a nice property, 
yes, a pretty home. 
I loved to visit them. They have nice buildings nicely arranged.  Plenty to do and several children. 
Each one has his place and work.  One to do the feeding, some to milk, some to 
feed the calves.  At least it was so when we were there. Everything in order, 
Pearson-like.  They are an orderly people. 
 
I love them for it. The last time I was there it was in '63. The time of the war. 
The children all gone but a daughter and a daughter-in-law.  Her man was in the 
army.  Also some of the other boys. One of them got his 
head shot off.  We went to visit the children that live near them.  All have nice farms 
and nice little cottage houses.  James had come home from the war sick.  He wanted a 
squirrel.  His wife took the gun and went out and killed him one.  She had a crop of 
corn she had raised herself. Did the plowing and all.  We had a very pleasant visit 
with all of them, then went back to Uncle's. They told how brave the girls were. 
Uncle had his father-in-law's estate to settle.  And he sold the property and had 
the money.  I cannot tell, I think three or four thousand dollars in the house. 
They went on a visit not thinking of the money, neither did the girls until they 
were gone.  Then they were put to their wits to know what to do with it, so 
many bushwhackers around.  So when they retired the babe was in its crib 
by the bedside.  They loaded the gun and laid it across the crib, 
and it fell in the night and shot a hole through the crept and the floor. 
I saw the hole the Pearson pluck all through.
 
Moses Pearson lived North of Uncle John's.  Joined farms.  Just as good a man.  He had his ways.  He was a farmer,
although he had many other offices and businesses.  He was not afraid of what man could do.  They had five children. 
The eldest of them were drowned.  Three of the children were going to spelling School.  They crossed the ice. 
It broke through.  They all go in, James E. Bailey and a work hand ran to their assistance.  Still the ice would break. 
They got rails and made a bridge and got them out.  Rhoda died, I think, soon after they got her home, Mahala was so 
resolute that she jumped up on the ice until her limbs were frozen.  I think they were sore for a year if not more. 
This happened a year or more before I was married.  Still I will remember the circumstance. Mahala married Eli Jay. 
They lived near Richmond, Indiana.  Yes, they are teachers in Earlham college.  The other children 
I cannot tell much about.  Moses was a widower at that time, still this is the day, that they 
were going to pass meeting him and Eunice Macy.  They to wait another month. Moses and Eunice 
had several children.  I cannot tell where they are.  I didn't tell about Moses' farm, still 
it was North of John's.  They have a good brick building--nice place.  I well remember 
the hill down back of their barn.  It was a pretty place to run downhill.  Us girls 
used to have some good times together.  Now we are strangers, some one place and 
some another, and many gone to their long home, enjoying the sweets of that 
heavenly home over there, where we need no sun, moon or any other light 
for the Lord God is our Light and Caretaker. 
 
Well, I might as well tell about Uncle Robert Pearson, 
as I am here by the side of Uncle Moses. Yes, Rob's are just 
North, joins Moses.  They have a large brick house, 
and all buildings necessary, and fruit, the finest of it. 
I got an apple which weighed twenty-two ounces. 
I used to spin rolls and weave for them. 
I had the liberty to go into their orchard.  When I wanted to go 
I did go.  He was a Friend, and She a Newlight, or Christian, as some call
them.  They had three boys and one girl.  The smallest 
boy always came to my room to meals. He knew he would be carried out. 
Grandfather Pearson would often be there as Grandmother, was gone to 
her long home.  I loved Grandfather, but never saw 
Grandmother.  Robert's children were good, but 
like most children, they loved fun. Alexander 
married Phoebe Miller. They moved to Kansas.  He was killed 
by falling into a well which he was digging. 
His wife lives down at Barclay. 
She has been married twice since his death. Her 
second husband's name was Haworth.  Her third Crew, 
I think. I was to visit her two years ago. I had a good time. 
She showed me the pictures of the Uncle Pearson's men, or 
some of them.  It did me good to see them.  They looked so 
good, yes, and the Aunts too. Uncle John looked like 
his mouth was just ready to say "How art thou, Sarah?"  Oh, it was 
so very natural!  The next was Alfred.  He married Susan Long. 
He lived with the parents while I knew them.  They had little twins. 
Boys they were.  I never could tell them apart they 
looked so nearly alike.  I think only a few ounces 
difference in their weight.  Uncle and Aunt came over 
to Indiana to visit us. He was not very well when they 
started for home, so that was the last time I ever 
saw him.  He died in a short time.  The boys still 
on the farm.  Martha married a man by the name of 
Dibbra.  I cannot tell much about them, only 
she was a nice little girl.  I think the 
youngest boy sickened and died.  Ann is 
suffering very much with a cancer, if 
she is living she has suffered for 
years.  She is just ten years older 
than I am.  That is the way I know her age. 
 
Here I will go back to Uncle Samuel's, 
which ought to have come sooner for age, 
still I think thou wilt understand. 
He has a beautiful farm, surroundings nice. 
A large brick dwelling, everything neatly arranged, 
and as drying house 
which holds forty bushels of cut fruit. 
Oh, it is so nicely arranged.  The house 
is round, made of brick.  Then the 
pond and spring and milk house caps 
all. They are brick.  The smoke 
house is in the upper story.  I shall not undertake 
to tell how many hooks there are in 
it.  The pond took my eye.  That was 
Uncle's bathing place.  He had his second wife. 
Only one child by the first, five 
by the second.  Two boys, three girls.  One boy died.  I cannot 
tell of the others. 
I think the girls all married and went to California.  This 
was after Uncle Samuel went to Iowa.  Yes, he sold his pretty 
farm and moved to Iowa.  He came to visit us before going. We 
lived in Indiana, Wayne County, and he in Ohio, Miami County. 
He told he had $18,000.00 to carry to Iowa. I think they did well at first
, but poor Uncle fell off a load of plank and died. 
He was another good man, gone home to try the realities of the Heavenly 
Home over on the other shore.  Yes, I think he was 
ready to meet his Precious Savior.  What a happy thought to think of, that we can live, let come what may, that 
we are ready to go at a moment's warning.  I think we can live so near our Master that He will care for us. 
I feel like praising Him at all times.
 
Here we go to Uncle Joseph Pearson's.  He lives still 
farther Northwest from Robert's, on a farm.
He is a Cabinet maker and a good farmer, and a thorough-going person, 
great for fruit. 
He has quite a family, six boys and four girls.  Their names are Allan, 
Robert, Paul, Charles,  Seth and Levi.  I guess I can find the girls' names: 
Phoebe, Esther, Eunice, Jane.  Along time 
ago Joseph got high about California and thought he would 
go there.  There was no way or road 
to go but over the mountains, hills and valleys, 
and Indians thick along the road.  So, Joseph 
concluded he would not go.  Still he rigged 
up two of his boys, who went and had a hard time 
of it.  I cannot tell how long they did stay, but 
they did no good at the gold digging.  I 
think one of the boys walked all the way home, 
if not both of them.  They were very thorough 
going people, the Pearson's were.  Joseph and 
Rebecca started to meeting, one day while young, 
they saw a bear in the field which they were 
walking through, and Joseph took after it and 
run it up a tree.  Joseph and Rebecca carried 
clubs and they killed it, but did not get to 
Meeting.  Joseph lived in a frame house.  He was a well to do farmer. 
I remember of Rebecca telling me of his bear scrape. 
That was before my father bought a farm near- by in the same 
settlement.  Five or six years after we moved to Ohio. 
We came from Virginia in 1828.  Yes, 
1828 is a long time ago.  I have seen many ups and downs
since that time.  The Pearson's were 
all married at that time and keeping house.  Joseph had 
a corn field which the bears would come 
in and eat his corn, so he fixed a plan to keep them 
out where they got over the fence. 
He took his gun and a rope one evening and went home. 
He heard the gun in the night.  He 
thought he had the bear now.  But he did not go out 
till morning.  There was the bear sure 
enough. His boys were just as resolute about things. 
I remember one of them was out in the 
field at work. He spied a fox.  He threw what he had down and ran. 
He caught the fox.  They 
could run down a wild turkey. Yes, the girls were as much so. 
I was there one winter helping 
Lydia, that was Joseph's wife.  I was sewing for her. 
The children went to school, and Phoebe 
did most of the work. She would do the washing at night. 
So they drew the water.  She was 
getting her rinse water and slipped both feet 
in the well. She scrambled out quick, no one 
to help if she had gone in.  The children married off. 
I cannot tell you much about them we 
had moved to Indiana.  Mother died the spring after 
I was there.  Joseph married pretty soon 
after he sold his farm and bought four or five miles 
further north, where he lived the last 
time I was there.  They have a very nice situation.  A brick dwelling.  A good spring and
milk house.  Everything so nice and clean.  Yes, here we enjoyed ourselves for a season.
 
 
Here I meet with Rebecca Pearson for the first time. 
 
When Josiah was a baby. Here is the family record: 
 
James Edwin Bailey and Rebecca Pearson were married tenth month, 1830. 
He was born 8th month, 9th day, 1810. Rebecca was born 10th month, 
4th day, 1809. Here are their children: 
 
Almedia Bailey Was born 1st month, 28th, 1831. 
Albert Bailey Was born 5th month, 14th, 1832 
Eliza Bailey was born lash month 29th, 1833 
Benjamin Bailey was born 5th month, 7th, 1835 
Esther Bailey was born 12th month, 23, 1836. 
Josiah Bailey was born 10th month, 17t h, 1838. 
Moses Bailey Was born 8th month, 12th, 1840 
James E. Bailey was born 9th month, 7th, 1841. 
Robert Bailey was born '5th month, 11th, I843. 
 
Yes, now I will come back where I meet Rebecca first. 
 
It was in the 10th month, in 1838.  It was cold weather, for I know it was, for I went there 
to work, and their girl had gone and left a tub of clothes which were frozen solid.  I worked 
with them to get them thawed out until I got sick and went home, as it was only a little ways. 
My father's farm joined theirs on the south.  After that I was there off and on.  Rebecca and I 
were quite friends.  I visited them often.  She told me a great deal more than I possibly will 
write.  Still she taught me much as she was a few years older.  Then there was as much difference 
in her and I as day and night.  She was a plain Friend, dressed very plain, but neat.  She 
wore a handkerchief pinned across her breast very smooth and nice, and an old-fashioned silk 
bonnet and a white cambric shawl in warm weather. That was her dress. I was a gay Methodist, 
dressed very different, straw and leghorn bonnets.  Gaily trimmed with ribbons, Yes, flounces 
and ruffles to abound.  Still we were friends together.  I spent much time there.  Not as 
much as they wanted me to.  James told me if I would stay a year he would give me the best 
horse he had.  They had several of them.  I used to spin their wool and weave their cloth 
sometimes.  One time I had forty pounds of rolls to spin.  When I got through, come to the 
last one, Rebecca said: "Oh, thee hast found what thee was hunting so long for. The last roll." 
"Yes" I said, "and I am going home". Just then James came in with a sack of flour and a 
piece of fresh meat. "Yes, thee will go when thee gets something to eat".  Yes, I did go. 
They had 160 acres of land, not much cleared out.  Their land was new.  Very tall timber. 
Not much improvement though a very comfortable double log house.  Smoke house and barn all 
made of logs.  Very good for new beginners.  They started with but little.  Rebecca told 
me after the boys got farms that the Pearson's gave her $5O.OO and James borrowed $100.00 
and bought this home.  It will be nice sometime.  She is not very well.  They keep up courage 
and work on.  They rented this properly and move over the river so that she can go to meeting. 
She weakens and gets worse each month.  So she did not live long.  I cannot tell much about 
her death as I did not live near them at that time.  Rebecca Bailey departed this life 3rd 
month, 26th, 1844, aged 31 years, 15 months, and 21 days old. They had eight children living. 
Six boys and two girls.  Albert Bailey, Eliza Bailey, Benjamin Bailey, Esther Bailey, Josiah 
Bailey, Moses Bailey, James Bailey, Robert Bailey.  Robert Bailey was 10 months old I think, 
when his mother died.  They still stayed over the river for some time….I think Moses Pearson 
lost his wife pretty near the same time.  James got an old lady to keep house for him.  He 
taught school, I think.  The next spring I think William and Joseph both lost their wives. 
James moved back to his farm so we got acquainted with him again.  We would visit him some 
and they us. We got to mingle more and more after a while we finally concluded to live together. 
James E. Bailey and Sarah Prill were married 12th month, 26, 1846.  It was then that I took 
a great task to myself. Still the Lord helped me to bear it. I praise the Lord that he did help. 
 
Thomas Chalkey Bailey was born 12th month, 3rd, 1847 
Alva Bailey was born 4th month, 24th, 1849 
Rebecca Ann Bailey was born 2nd month, 1851 
Mary Elizabeth Bailey was born 11th month, 30th, 1852 
Sarah Jane Bailey was born 4th month, 1855. 
 
This is the number of my children.  Still I claim them all as mine and do as much for all alike 
as I know how.  At the end mine was lacking, had no cow or bureau for them. 
 
Eliza and Stephen Stubbs were married in 1855, in the beginning of the year.  And John and 
Esther in the latter part of the year.  So was Albert and Elizabeth.  So we lost all in one 
year or gained three more.  Still we had not as much claim on them. 
 
The next three would like to have the Bailey connection I cannot tell whether I can give it 
understandingly or not.  I will do what I can.  There were three brothers came from Virginia. 
I cannot tell what year.  James Edwin was only six years old I think.  They settled in Ohio,
Clinton County.  I cannot tell which was oldest.  Their names were David, Daniel, Josiah. 
They had nice farms. David had two boys and two girls are all I know.  Elizabeth lived in Oskaloosa. 
Well she may stay there until I say more of her father, David.  He was a very interesting man. 
I loved him.  He would interest young people very much.  They loved to hear him talk.  I think 
his wife was an O'Brian.  Still I never saw her.  She was not living when we were there. 
Well, now I will go back to Oskaloosa.  Elizabeth married Abijah Johnson.  I cannot just 
tell how many children they have.  I believe I can tell their names:  J. Kelly Johnston, 
the oldest, I think married Lida Grewel.  He was a good temperance man and one among the 
beat of lawyers.  Yes, I think he was Judge, too.  He had a nice family.  His oldest boy 
is a Lawyer, but not up to him I think.  Bess married.  Still, I cannot tell married.  Two 
little boys died with the scarlet fever.  They were put in the same coffin and buried.  I 
cannot tell how many they had left.  They had a pretty property.  Well-to-do people.  Still 
that does not save life.  J. Kelly Johnston sickened and died before we left Iowa.  Here 
is the next oldest, a girl. Her husband's name was John Garrett.  He lived with her about 
a year and then died.  She married Amos McMillan.  She got a good home and several children, 
and piles of money.  Though after a while he died and she married again and so I leave them. 
The next in turn is named Macajah.  He went to California and married.  I cannot tell much 
about them, still he was a red head.  They were in Oskaloosa once while we there.  The next 
Overton.  They went to Indiana, I think, soon after their marriage.  I know nothing of them 
since.  Rebecca lives in Lee County, Iowa.  Her man has a nice farm.  The next is Warren. 
He has a novelty works of iron.  I cannot tell all that he does do, still James and Chalkey 
Bailey used to work for him.  Then comes Henry.  He went to California and married.  He 
thought he had the best woman.  Of course he had a right to think so, I do not blame him. 
Anna is the youngest, I think.  Is single yet.  Lives in California.  Her father, Abijah, 
died there. His wife died in Oskaloosa several years before he did. 
 
Now then comes Macajah Bailey.  He lived and died in Cincinnati.  His daughter came up to our home 
when she went to Earlham college when th (sic) mother attended there.  She and Ester were intimate 
friends.  I think Uncle David's next was Jonathan.  He was a good man as well as his father, David. 
He used to like James as a brother.  He had two boys, I think all he had.  One's name was James, 
the other one was Edwin.  They had two nice farms near West Milton, Ohio.  Still they sold them
and went to California.  I think the next's name was Almedia, this the youngest of Uncle David's 
children.  I know but little about her.  I never saw her but once.  She is a nice looking lady, 
fair, with dark eyes and hair.
 
Now comes Uncle Daniel.  He married a Haworth.  I think they have a pretty home, a large brick 
building.  Live in ease, plenty to do with, I can't tell how many children they have, still 
I can tell some of their names, if not all.  George lived near Wilmington, Ohio.  Susana 
married Thomas Hunycut.  They lived nearby where the old folks did I think.  John Peoples 
married one of them.  I am not certain Josiah lives in his mother's yard.  They have a small 
frame house.  I cannot tell whom he married, still they have some money, I do not know how 
much.  Daniel, Mary and Elizabeth are at home when we are there in 1848.  I cannot tell the 
date only it was in May or June.  The strawberries were getting ripe.  We visited them all 
and had a splendid time and lots of good things to eat.  Uncle Daniel was not living when 
we were there.  I think he died sometime after we were married. 
 
The Uncles and Aunts of James Edwin Bailey, thy Grandfather: 
Susannah Bailey, 9th month, 2nd, 1791
David Bailey, 2nd month, 12, 1776 
Daniel Bailey, 12th month, 31st, 1777 
Rebecca Bailey was born 2nd month, 2nd, 1774 
Michael Bailey was' born 8th month, 20th, 1782
Martha Bailey was born 4th month, 24th, 1784. 
These are the uncles and aunts of James Edwin's. I know, nothing of the aunts, 
I never saw them. 
 
Well now comes the tug of war:  Yes, it will puzzle me some to make it clear to thy 
understanding. Here come Lord Ashley with three children and settled in Virginia. 
They came from England.  He bought quite a lot of land.  His three children were Charles, 
Lucettie and Penelope.  Lucettie married John Johnson, a descendant of William the Conqueror. 
John Johnson was an Englishman.  They had one son, John 2nd.  He married Judith Eleanor. 
They had five sons: John 3d, Jesses, Gerrard, James and William.  John the 3d married a Wadkins. 
They had a daughter who married Barclay Ballard, son of, William Ballard.  Barclay had a Susan 
who married Josiah Bailey.  This Josiah is James Edwin's Father.  James Edwin is Esther Stubbs's 
father and Albert Bailey's father.   Josiah has Almedia, Judith, Robert, James E., Daniel and Mary. 
 
Almedia married Robert Thomas.  They lived in Indiana, Wayne County.   Had a pretty farm. 
Still they sold it and moved, to Minnesota.  They left the Friends and went with the 
Spiritualists.  They thought they were doing just right.  They had three mediums in the 
family and one doctor.  Two preachers.   Clarkson came to New Sharon.  Wanted the boys to 
get up a meeting for him. 
 
I come to brother Robert Bailey and view things awhile.  Robert married Lucy Bangham. 
They have property in Fountain City.  He is a potter by trade.  I have seen him turn crooks 
jars, jugs and many other things.  He would set them to dry before glazing and burning them. 
We had them engaged before hauling off.   They had seven children.  I think can give you their names: 
Hamilton Bailey, Mary Bailey,  Linley Bailey, Martha Bailey, Culie Bailey and Elizabeth Bailey. 
They were all stout well children until they took the measles.  They were told to eat all the ice 
they wanted, it would do them good.  They did it.  I will tell how they were after that.  I think a 
year or more after that Mary was never well after the measles, still she was about.  They were going 
to clean house and sent her to a near neighbors.  She began to break out and turn spotted.  I think 
she died before they got her home.  If not, soon after.  I cannot tell how long after Hamilton took 
sick.  He was sick some weeks and died a glorious death.  He exhorted every young person who came 
to see him to come to Jesus and be saved.  He wanted them to be ready for the final farewell. 
Josiah went the same way, as happy as could be.  So did Linley.  They were three boys that we loved. 
Since then the father, mother and Culie Bailey have gone home over there to meet the other dear ones. 
Two lonely ones left.  Martha married Eben Thornton.  They live in Indiana.  They are both ministers in 
Friends Church.  I love Martha.  She was always such a good girl.  Elizabeth married a wreck. 
I know but little from them.  
 
Now comes James Edwin.  Must I tell, not all.  Thee is acquainted with Albert and 
Eliza as well as I am.  Still it is well to.  Have their names here to not be forgotten. 
Benjamin is almost a stranger to me now, though the last letter I received was a good one. 
(Portland, Jay County, Ind.).  Esther comes next in turn. She was a good little girl always 
ready to run the first call, still she had a spunk. After wash day she would gather up all 
the stockings and darn them.  She knew her work . Aunt Rebecca Haley had given her this 
lesson.  No thanks to me for it.  I had not to teach it to her.  She was already taught. 
She was a sweet girl and always remained so.  Sometimes she would let her temper get the 
upper hand of her.  Who would not, placed in the same situation?  Never any better person. 
She was just the turn of her mother.  Just and true to everybody except herself.  If 
any had to suffer it would be herself.  She was smart and sensible.  She is happy with 
her father and mother, and those dear little ones who have gone before. Yes, they are 
enjoying the sweet river of the waters of life, clear as crystal proceeding out of throne 
of God and the Lamb.  And there shall be no night there.  And they need no candles, neither 
light of the sun, for the Lord, God, giveth them light.  Oh, what a precious thought. 
Let us all try to meet them there when the Lord sees His time to release us here.  Let 
us be ready.  Josiah Bailey's name is in this book, still, I'll puy iy hrtr  [put it here?] 
[sic] do you I know where it belongs.  He lives at Hesper, Kansas.   Poor Moses, 
I wish I knew how he is.  They ought to send me word.  He married Melvina Clark. 
Her mother was sister of John and Stephen Stubbs.   James lived in Emporia, you know. 
His people, they are good people.   Robert has strayed as a lost lamb.  Still I have 
left James E' s Aunt Judith out   She is older than James E.  Her name is Stanley. 
I believe his name is William Stanley.   I cannot tell much about them.  They live in 
Illinois.  We got word of her death.  When she died she was on her knees in prayer. 
 
Brother Daniel Bailey married well.  I cannot tell whether a Normin or a Thomas. 
She was related to both.  Daniel was a carpenter by trade.   He was building a b
arn and a large beam fell and struck him and killed him. 
 
I thought it not necessary to give the marriages of James Edwin Bailey's children. 
I see it is to complete the writing.
 
Albert Bailey and Elizabeth Macey were married 10th Month 11th [????]
Stephen Stubbs and Eliza Bailey were married 10th month 1855
John Stubbs and Esther Bailey were married the same fall, 1855
Benjamin Bailey and Jane Weeks were married
Josiah Bailey and Hannah Willcutts were married
James Bailey and Matilda Martin were married
Robert Bailey and Justina – O well, the name's gone as well as the person. 
I hope the Lord will be near them.
 
I have done this very bungle-some as I never went to school a year in my life. 
My old brains will not keep everything straight.
 
Still here is Aunt Mary Stout, James Edwin's youngest sister.  I do not want 
to pass her by.  She was a dear loving sister.  Married well in the beginning 
yes, a good team, horses and wagon, and quite a store of' goods.  Still h
e did not do the best.   He had a good trade with all.  He was a cooper. 
Barrels those days were in demand.   He fell too much firewater in those days. 
They had four children.   Two died.   The others married.  The oldest girl 
was a good girl.  I think she preaches. The boys have lost track of. 
 
I have not given a good account of James Edwin's mother, Susan Ballard Bailey. 
His father, Josiah Bailey, died when James E was a small boy.  She was left to 
raise the children.   She had the capacity to do so. She was a thorough-going lady. 
Yes, she could be called a lady.  She was as nice and trim as could be not a large woman. 
She married a Caleb Kirk.   He was a good helpmate until he had a spell of sickness. 
The doctors shaved his head and put a plaster on it which hurt his mind.  He never was 
just as he should be after that.   James E got them a home in Fountain City, still it 
was not safe to leave them there.  He soon died and we took Mother Kirk home.  She lived 
with us several years after.  While the Aunt Sarah Ballard and her son came to see her. 
They lived in Richmond, Indiana.
 
Now I want to show what I am, Dutch, English, Irish, Scotch, or any other country around. 
I have told of my father's farm joining James E's on the south.  There is where he found 
me.  My father's people were Germans.  My grandfather came across the water when he was a 
boy.  They had a nice farm, good fruit.  I thought the nicest garden I ever saw my g
randmother had.  There was a boarded up bed clear across the garden and Tulips out 
in full bloom.  The last I was there must seventy-two or three years ago. 
My grandfather Abernathy lived three or four miles from them south.  Still 
grandfather Abernathy owned all the land up to Grandfather Prill's.  Yes, he 
had lots land.  He had two or three hundred further north, three or four miles 
from there which he gave to his girls.  There is where we lived while in Virginia. 
Yes, he owned one whole county, or nearly so, that was Greenbrier County, VA.  He 
had much hauling in the time of the war and took his pay in land.  My mother said 
she saw the deeds many a time.  They were made on parchment which is a kind of hide. 
I have not told who they are yet which I must.   Grandfather Abernathy was a Scotchman, 
just as proud as need be.   Sat around in his old fashioned porch clear along the house 
all latticed up the side and a gate at each end.   I imagine I can see him sitting 
there now, in his big chair, with his cane in his hand, just to tap our heads if 
we misbehaved.   Yes, there he sits with his blue broadcloth on, long dovetailed 
coat, with the brightest silver buttons which have solid gold stars on them. 
His pants are knee pants with nice gold buckles with all.   I did not like him 
a well as I did grandmother. My grandmother Abernathy was an Irish woman. 
Yes, and she was a lady if children can judge.  I loved her.  I stayed with 
her nearly a year and still loved her.  We left her alone, still Uncle and 
Aunt lived in the yard.   We came to Ohio in 1828.  We never saw them anymore. 
Grandfather was gone to his long home before that time.  But who knows what did 
become of all his land?  It is still there with all its great buildings on it. 
Still, where are the clear titles, or where are our deeds which we have a right 
to. Now you know where I come from. 
 
This was copied March 20, 1918, by Leonard Payne, grandson of James Bailey
 
 
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