My Genealogy Hound

STEPHEN P. BAILEY, a leading citizen of Greenwich, who for over seventy years has been a resident of this beautiful valley town, and up to within a few years was actively identified with its farming and lumbering interests, was born in Worcester, Mass., February 13, 1818. He is the son of Eber W. and Elizabeth (Powers) Bailey and grandson of John and Bethiah (Blackmer) Bailey, all natives of Massachusetts. His grandfather, John Bailey, settled in the northern part of Greenwich over one hundred years ago, and lived to be eighty-six years of age. A sturdy farmer, accustomed to hard labor, he was a public-spirited man, endowed with the courage of his convictions, and joined the patriot ranks at the time of the Revolution. He filled for some time the office of Sheriff. His wife, Bethiah Blackmer, who was a native of Belchertown, was an esteemed member of the Congregational church, to which he also belonged. They had but three children: Eber W.; Esther, who never married; and one child who died in infancy.

Eber W. Bailey was born in Holden, Mass., and in early manhood was a coachman in the service of the Waldorf family in Worcester, but subsequently settled on a farm in Greenwich, devoting the rest of his life to agriculture. He was a progressive and successful man, and attained a fair degree of prosperity. In political matters he took an active interest, and was first a Whig, then an ardent Free Soiler, and later a Republican. He was a church member also, belonging to the Congregational Society of the town. He died in 1865, at the age of seventy-five. His wife, who was a native of Prescott, Mass., died in her seventieth year, in December, 1856. They had five children, all of whom grew to maturity, and two of whom are now living: Stephen P., the subject of this sketch; and Sophronia R., wife of T. P. Root, of Barre, Mass. Those who died were named respectively: Eber O., Adaline E., and Mary A.

Stephen P. Bailey was six years of age when his parents removed to Greenwich. He received a good common-school education, and on starting to earn a livelihood gave his attention to farming, buying his first land in Greenwich many years ago. He subsequently was engaged in the lumber business, manufacturing all kinds of building material and also box lumber, and for thirty years was a leader in that industry. Within a few years he retired from active business pursuits, and is now engaged in looking after his extensive real estate interests, owning to-day more land than any other man in the town, and being the largest tax-payer.

The town of Greenwich, of which Mr. Bailey is so prominent a citizen, and whose prosperity he has done much to promote, is one of the most beautiful parts of the county. It contains two villages, Greenwich and Greenwich Plains. Among the most prominent and picturesque features of the landscape are the twin peaks. Mount Lizzie and Mount Pomeroy, both rising abruptly from a level plain, imperishable monuments of the mighty forces of nature. Both have their Indian traditions, as romantic and poetical as those which envelop the ruined castles and ancient battle-grounds of the Old World. Miniature lakes of great beauty, whose banks are dotted with cosey summer cottages, reflect from their placid waters the ever-changing glories of flying cloud and deep ethereal blue. Such scenes of rural quiet could not remain long hidden from weary toilers in search of rest and recreation, and accordingly ample accommodations for the temporal and spiritual comfort of summer visitors may be found in the well-kept and commodious hotels — one in each village — and in the different denominational places of worship; and good schools, also, are not lacking for the benefit of the younger generation of the native inhabitants. The fact that the town is out of debt and has a surplus in the treasury is convincing proof of good financial management on the part of its leading citizens; and the good roads and bridges and other useful and necessary public works show that they are men of enterprise and action, and are worthily representative of the best New England traditions.

June 24, 1852, Mr. Bailey was united in marriage with Lydia A. Haskell, a native of New Salem, who died October 4, 1857; and on April 23, 1863, he was married to his second wife, Mrs. Abbie L. (Snow) Wetherell, a native of West Brookfield. After a wedded life of thirty-one years Mrs. Abbie L. Bailey was called to her long rest, August 14, 1894. Mr. Bailey has no children. He is a stanch Republican, and takes an active interest in the public welfare. In the legislature of 1880 he represented the Fifth Hampshire District, which includes Enfield, Belchertown, Ware, Greenwich, and Granby; and he has served for some years as Selectman of Greenwich. He aided financially in the building of the Athol & Enfield Railroad. Mr. Bailey is very active for a man of his age, and is still a leader in the public affairs of Greenwich Village, where he has resided since 1852. On the subject of religion his views are liberal.