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Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa
W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889

[page 440-441]

   ERASTUS BOWEN BAILEY. — In perusing the history of the early pioneers
   of Iowa, our admiration is ever aroused, and we are impelled to pay
   that homage due to the courage and bravery of those who undertook to
   redeem the wilderness and prairie from the state in which nature had
   left them, and claim the fruits which the earth will yield to those
   who understand the secrets of agriculture. The subject of this sketch
   was an early settler of Cherokee Cunty, and has been prominently
   identified with its history since the beginning of his residence here
   in 1869.  He was born in Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut, June
   16, 1819, and is a son of JESSE and OLIVE (SPENCER) BAILEY, of English
   ancestry.  He was only eight years old when he began the task of
   maintaining himself; he obtained his education in the district school
   which he attended a few months in the winter season.  At the age of
   sixteen years he went to learn the joiner's trade, and served an
   apprenticeship of four years, after which he followed the business
   in his native State until 1859. Mr. BAILEY was united in marriage
   June 28, 1840, to Miss LYDIA ANN WELLS, a native of Middlesex County,
   Connecticut.  She was a daughter of WILLIAM and LYDIA ANN (CLARK)
   WELLS, of Welsh ancestry.  By this union two children were born:
   MARY, the wife of JOHN F. POTTER, and ERASTUS E.  Mrs. BAILEY departed
   this life September 25, 1843.  Mr. BAILEY was again married August 18,
   1844, to Miss MARY JANE WELLS, a sister of his first wife. Three chil-
   dren were born of this marriage: FRANCES LEAH, wife of CHARLES STILES;
   LYDIA IMOGENE, who died January 10, 1874, at the age of eighteen years,
   and LURA ESTELL, who died January 15, 1874, at the age of nine years.
   In 1859 Mr. BAILEY emigrated to Iowa with his family, and arrived at
   McGregor, Clayton County, Iowa, May 1, of that year. There he purchased
   forty acres of land and set about making a home on the frontier; he
   cultivated his land, and bought 160 acres adjoining, which he farmed
   until his removal to Cherokee County, in 1869.  He first entered eighty
   acres of Government land, which he soon afterward sold; he then pur-
   chased 320 acres of umimproved land in Silver Township, on which he
   settled and made many valuable improvements.  In addition to those
   already accomplished, he made another purchase of 120 acres, and still
   another of 160 acres, in the same township; he bought 240 acres in
   Pitcher Township, and also owns eighteen acres of timber land along
   the Little Sioux River. He superintended the cultivation of these
   lands until he removed to Cherokee in 1876; he now rents the farms,
   but still attends to all the business connected with the estate.
   Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party.


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