Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois, Illustrated
1908, and the History of Fulton County, by Newton Bateman, LL.D. and
Paul Selby, A.M., Edited by Jesse Hevlin, page 776
Baily, Evan B. - An instance of the call of the country rising
above the din of the city and the more rapid compensation of one of the
learned professions is found in the return to nature of Dr. Evan Baily,
owner of a 240 acre tract on section 13, Bernadotte Township. Dr. Baily
comes of farming stock, and his first years were spent among
agriculture surroundings in El Dorado Township, McDonough County, Ill.
were he was born March 9, 1865. On the paternal side he is of German
ancestry, a son of Thomas and grandson of Evan Baily, the latter of
whom came from Ohio to Vermont Township, Fulton County, at a very early
day, where his son Thomas was born, reared and finally married Nancy
Battenburg. After his marriage Thomas Baily removed to McDonough
County, Ill., where his wife died in 1892, and whence he removed to
Table Grove, Fulton County, his present home.
The educational advantages of Dr. Baily consisted of the
district schools and the high school at Macomb, and after graduating
from the latter he returned to the home farm, where he remained until
attaining his majority. In 1889 he entered the office of R. W. Baily, a
dental practitioner of Macomb, and the following year took a course at
the Chicago College of Dental Surgery, graduating therefrom in the
class of 1890. In the meantime the elder Dr. Baily had opened an office
in Omaha, Neb., and with him Dr. Evan B. practiced during his vacation,
in the fall locating in Vermont., Ill., where he practiced dentistry
for five years. He next located in Fairfield, Wayne County, Ill., where
he maintained and added to his former success, but in 1903, selling out
his business, removed with his family to Chicago. Two years later
(1905) he came to his present farm, and now is engaged in
stock-raising, having on hand a large number of cattle, horses, hogs
and sheep.
September 17, 1891, Mr. Baily married Lizzie A. Branson, who was
born at Ipava, Fulton County, November 22, 1868, a daughter of William
T. Branson, one of the honored pioneers of Fulton County, of whom
mentioned may be found elsewhere in his work. Dr. and Mrs. Baily have
two children, of whom Anna Maurine was born in Vermont Township, July
25, 1892 and Evan B. in Fairfield, Wayne Co., September 2, 1900. Dr.
Baily is a Republican in politics, and fraternally is connected with
the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal
Neighbors. With his wife he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, of Ipava. The Doctor has made a success of both dentistry and
farming, and in either occupation would be sure of an excellent
livelihood. He is a man of broad outlook, progressive mind and large
capacity for painstaking industry.
submitted by Michael Frizell
