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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Hot Spring County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Capt. J. W. Bailey came to this county in 1844, where he early worked on a farm and attended the subscription school on Brush Creek. He was born in Wilson County, Tenn., in 1827, and was the son of William and Frances (Phillips) Bailey, both natives of Virginia. Mr. William Bailey died when Capt. J. W. was a small boy, in the year 1839. He was a farmer and was in the War of 1812. His wife survived him until 1866. J. W. Bailey remained here one year, when he went to Cass County, Tex., and from there to Shreveport, La. In 1852 he returned to Hot Spring County, Ark., and bought a quarter section of land in Big Creek Township, where he has since made his home, investing in more land from time to time until he now owns 1,266 acres in this county. In 1877 Mr. Bailey established a mill in the southeastern part of the county, which he still operates as a custom country mill and cotton-gin, and also owns a steam saw-mill with a capacity of 10,000 feet per day, employing thirteen men. Mr. Bailey was married in 1847 to Angeline F. Loving, a native of Alabama, by which marriage he became the father of nine children, six of whom are still living: Ann C. (now Mrs. Cunningham), James (a farmer of this county), Lucy (wife of G. W. Kannedy), Virginia (now Mrs. Phillips, of this county), Saphronia and Mollie (now Mrs. Williams). Mr. Bailey was married the second time to Mrs. Reid, a widow, having by this marriage two boys: Albert C. and Elbert W. In February, 1862, he enlisted in King’s regiment, which he helped to raise, and was made first lieutenant of Company B. in the Twentieth Arkansas Infantry. He served till the close of the war, after having participated in Price’s famous raid and many engagements, the principal of which were: Pilot Knob, Boonville, Lexington and Jefferson City. Mr. Bailey had his horse shot from under him on one occasion, his hat cut by a ball and his beard clipped by a gunshot, and yet was never wounded. After the war he returned to his home, which he found in a state of desolation, everything having been taken. He has made all he now has, a handsome fortune, since the war—an enduring monument to energy and application. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey are members of the Methodist Church. The former also belongs to the A. F. & A. M. He has held the office of county internal improvement commissioner two terms, and is a highly respected citizen. After the war society and communities were badly broken up, and political parties were wholly disorganized and the Masonic fraternity disjointed. Mr. Bailey assisted in reorganizing the latter. He was also largely instrumental as a member of the committee appointed by the State central committee to reorganize the Democratic party throughout the State in 1868, in gathering together the scattered members of the party in his county. He has always taken an active interest in the political welfare of his county and State, aiding in other respects also to the material prosperity and advancement of the community.

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This family biography is one of 52 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Hot Spring County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Hot Spring County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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