Orange

BAILEY, John

Men of Vermont: an Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro, VT: Transcript Pub. Co., 1894, part II, p 12

John BAILEY, of Wells River [Orange County, Vermont], born 30 January 1822 at 
Newbury [Orange County, Vermont], was the son of John and Martha BAILEY. 
Martha was the granddaughter of Rev. Peter POWERS, the first settled minister 
in Newbury. Peter POWERS, until his death in his eighty-ninth year, lived 
with John BAILEY. Gen. Jacob BAILEY, the great grandfather of the subject of 
this sketch, was an officer in the old French and Indian war and was captured 
at Fort William Henry, where his courage and promptness of action along saved 
him from destruction in the treacherous and bloody massacre which followed 
the surrender of this important post. He lived to become prominent among the 
Green Mountain boys, who took such an active part in the dispute concerning 
the New Hampshire grants, and was a member of the Council of Safety. Col. 
Joshua BAILEY, son of Gen. Jacob BAILEY, was a daring scout in the 
Revolutionary War, while his son, John BAILEY, Sr., was a hardy pioneer and 
farmer.

Descended from such stock, John early showed his lineage, and from earliest 
youth lent a helping hand upon the farm, on which he resided for nearly fifty 
years. Though his educational advantages were limited, being restricted 
mostly to the district school, he has borne a very prominent part in public 
affairs of the town and state. Though he has filled many important town 
offices, he is perhaps best known as sheriff and deputy sheriff of Orange 
County, and is considered as one of the best executive officers that has ever 
served the county and the state. Among his best known exploits, the pursuit 
and capture of the notorious Barre bank robbers may be regarded as 
singularly proving his shrewdness, intelligence and daring, showing that he 
fully inherited the courage of his ancestors. Mr. BAILEY was appointed 
postmaster in 1889 and still holds that position. He was representative in 
1869-1870, 1884, and elected senator in 1886.

On 21 October 1847 John BAILEY married Isabel, daughter of George and 
Margaret (GARDNER) NELSON. They have six children: (1) Ellen M., Mrs. 
Newton N. FIELD; (2) Albert H.; (3) Margaret J., Mrs. Eugene D. CARPENTER; 
(4) Lizzie, Mrs. Oscar WARDEN, of McIndoe Falls [Caledonia County, Vermont]; 
(5) Nelson H.; and (6) Clara, Mrs. Simeon CLARK.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly