Leslie Bailey was one of Bemidji’s most prominent and progressive citizens. Bailey was born at Wilton, Iowa, Feb. 25, 1860, the son of Harrison and Catherine (Thayer) Bailey. His boyhood and early manhood were spent at Tipton, Iowa, later attending the Iowa State Normal School at Cedar Falls. He spent several years teaching school after his training at the normal school, after which he entered the law office of Judge Yates of Cedar Falls, where he studied law for some time but was subsequently compelled to give up his studies on account of poor health. He went to Faulkner, S.D., where he took up a claim and lived upon the land for two years, during which time he formed the Farmer’s Mutual Insurance Company, of which he was secretary and treasurer.
Mr. Bailey entered politics in 1890 and was appointed register of the U. S. land office at Pierre by President Harrison. He was admitted to the bar at Pierre in 1892. At the election of President Cleveland, he gave up his position as register of the land office and accepted the clerkship of the invalid pension committee at Washington where he also acted as private secretary to Congressman Pickler of South Dakota. He resigned his position at Washington and came to Bemidji in 1898 to form a law partnership with J. L. Reynolds. This partnership was dissolved and Mr. Bailey formed another with F. S. Arnold under the firm name of Bailey & Arnold. Mr. Arnold entered the Beltrami county abstract office and Mr. Bailey formed another partnership with H. J. Loud and later with M. A. Spooner, who is now district judge. This partnership was also dissolved and E. E. McDonald, his present partner, became associated with Mr. Bailey.
Ida Ridenour was married to Leslie H. Bailey on April 5, 1883 at Marian, Iowa, where she was a teacher in the public schools. When they came to Bemidji, Mrs. Bailey taught in the public schools for two years, being the first teacher in the red brick school building known later as Central school. She was a charter member of the Women’s Study Club and a member of the Macabee lodge as well as the Presbyterian Ladies Aid and other organizations.
Leslie Bailey died at St. Anthony’s Hospital on March 15, 1905 and was buried at Greenwood Cemetery. He and his wife had two daughters, Maude and Nellie Bailey.
Mrs. Bailey resided in Bemidji about 12 years after her husband’s death, then left to make her home alternately with her two daughters, Mrs. Scharf and Mrs. Maude Southworth of Evanston, Ill.