Bailey, John bio

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 775-776
Bailey, John (deceased). - Canton counts among her role of departed benefactors none who left behind more numerous and substantial evidences of association with its affairs than John Bailey. As a builder, politician , musician, fraternalist and public-spirited citizen he came and went among the people of his town from the time he arrival in 1844 until the close of his life, November 10, 1903, and there remains in his wake an impression of practical usefulness of genuine dependable character, due in part to his English ancestry, but more directly traceable to his untiring zeal and ready recognition of opportunity.
The first nine years of Mr. Bailey s life were spent in Leicestershire, England, where he was born August 17, 1821. His father William Bailey, then brought the family to America in a sailing vessel, Locating in Orange Co., N. J. , were he plied his trade of carpenter and joiner for the balance of his life. His death occurred at an advanced age. Young John lost his mother at an early age, and he was set to work in his father s shop, where he became an expert in the use of carpenter s tools. When not working his trade he attended the public schools of New York and New Jersey, and when he arrived in Canton in 1844 he was equipped with the essentials of success in his chosen occupation. From an humble beginning he advanced until he became the town s chief builder and contractor, and, with the exception of three buildings on the west side of the square, the solid stretch of structures was erected by him.
On December 29, 1844, Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to Elizabeth Wells King, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, daughter of William and Mary (Brown) King, the former of whom was born in Massachusetts. To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey were born six children, three of whom are deceased, namely: William, who died at the age of eight years ; Eliza Ann, wife of A. d. Troxell, and Clarissa L. Those living are: Mary, wife of Lewis Thompson, of Canton, who has two children, Fred B. and Clara E.; Lizzie J., wife of Thomas T. Lyons, of Alameda, Cal., who has two children and Marie, and John G. Bailey, who married Emma Weinold, lives in Canton and has a daughter, Emma.
Mr. Bailey was a natural and enthusiastic musician, and in his younger days did much to promote an appreciation of good music in Canton. He was one of the organizers of the Canton Silver Cornet Band, the original of the present P. and O. Fifth Regiment Band, and it was as a trombone player in the organization that he cheered the hearts of the charging soldiers in the Civil War. He also had a sweet and sympathetic singing voice, and was wont to contribute to the success of many local entertainments in this capacity. After the war he engaged in the grocery business in Canton for about three years, but, failing to realize anticipated satisfaction, returned to his former occupation of contracting and building. In all parts of the city and surrounding country are buildings due to his skill and ingenuity, more especially the better class of public and private structures, and many of them, after the changes of than half a century, are still in a perfect state of preservation. Mr. Bailey was in the contracting business for twenty-three years, and retired from active life at about sixty years of age. He lived in the same house for forty years, and among it s surroundings of comfort and good cheer his last days were spent.
Eminently social in his tendencies, Mr. Bailey was a member of many organizations, and was among the oldest of Canton lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows. From his earliest youth he was a zealous supporter of Republican principles, and did much to further the local interest of his party. At one time he was President of the City Board of Health, was an Alderman several terms and Chief of the Canton Fire Department two years. He was a man of liberal and practical ideas, a promoter of education, good government, religion and high living, and devout and helpful member of the Baptist Church. To know him was to have one s confidence in human nature strengthened, and one s faith in the homely, straightforward virtues which tend to public confidence fortified.
submitted by Michael Frizell