A buckeye by birth, Harrison Bailey came west in 1851, settling in Cedar County, Iowa, where he remained until 1886, then he went to Faulk county, South Dakota, where he was clerk of the circuit court for a period of eight years. From there he came to Bemidji. He was a resident of Bemidji since 1898. He was village recorder of Bemidji for three years.
Catherine E. Bailey purchased Lots 9-10 of Block 4, Original Plat for $150 on Nov 1, 1899 from Bemidji Townsite Co. They built their home at 605 Minnesota Avenue. It was the family home for several decades and after the death of Judge and Mrs. Bailey, it passed to Thayer and Gertrude (Stone) Bailey who lived there in the 1940’s.
Judge Bailey was a member of the famous Second Iowa Infantry and was with General Sherman during his march to the Sea. He participated in all the other bloody engagements in which that fighting regiment was involved, and in recognition of his services as a soldier he was unanimously elected as commander of the R. H. Carr Post, No. 174, at Bemidji.
Harrison Bailey was appointed by Governor Johnson as municipal judge of Bemidji upon the creation of this office, even though he was an acknowledged republican and the governor was a democrat. Judge Bailey suffered a stroke on March 20, 1910 and died on September 24, 1911.
He was married to Miss Catherine E. Thayer from Rochester, New York on Nov. 28, 1857. They had eight children – William F., Leslie H., Anne E., Sherman C., Omar E., Ida H., Delia A., and Thayer Bailey.
Mrs. Catherine Bailey was installed as president of the ladies of the G. A. R. on Jan 9, 1911. She served as president ever since the organization of the post in 1900, and under her able leadership, the circle has been declared second to none in the state. The circle carried on much relief work, particularly among the old soldiers and those dependent upon them. She died on June 8, 1919.
Golden Wedding Anniversary, Nov 29, 1907
Mr. and Mrs. H. V. Bailey of this city celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary by having a golden wedding Friday, Nov. 29, 1907. The guests assembled at the residence of Mrs. L. H. Bailey at 8 p. m. As the strains of Mendelssohn’s beautiful wedding march floated out upon the air, the bride and groom entered, preceeded by their son, Sherman C. Bailey, and their daughter, Mrs. Hansell, and followed by the remainder of the immediate members of the family. E. E. McDonald, on behalf of the guests, extended to them a cordial greeting and called upon the guests to bear witness to the renewal of the unbroken wedding vows given fifty years ago.
After the vows were renewed, Mr. McDonald, by virtue of his office of notary public, declared them newly wed. The bride and groom then received the best wishes and congratulations of all present. A brief but beautiful program followed. Mrs. Maud Smyth, accompanied by Mrs. W. B. Stewart, rendered, in a delightful and effective manner, “I’ve Grown so Used to You”, and responded to an encore by singing “Coming Through the Rye.” Mrs. W. R. Morrison recited, in her gifted and excellent way, the beautiful poem An Old Sweetheart of Mine.” Partners for the march to the banquet were selected in a novel way, and the bride and groom, escorted by the guests, proceeded to the Bailey home, next door, where the spacious parlors and dining hall were set with the banquet tables. Place cards, in the appropriate form of wedding bells, seated the party. Suspended from the arch, over the largest table, was a large golden wedding bell, beneath which sat the bride and groom. The rooms were beautifully decorated with festoons of yellow and white, emblematic of the occasion. The tables presented a charming appearance, with their white damask cloths, cut glass candlesticks and artistic color arrangement. The center pieces consisted of magnificent bunches of yellow and white crysanthymums. The doorways, windows and open staircase were gracefully draped and decorated with streamers of the selected colors, while everywhere cupids, hearts and bells added to the effectness of the scene. Potted plants and cut flowers were in evidence in all parts of the brilliantly-lighted rooms. The color scheme was carried out in every detail, even to the sumptuous repast, which reflected great credit to the genial hostess.
The following menu was served in courses: Oyster Patties Saratoga Chips Lemon Sherbet Orange Jelly Pickles Sandwiches Salad Cheese Wafers Ice Cream, Assorted Cake Mint Coffee
After the good things provided for the inner man had been partaken of, the wedding guests were made merry by toasts and responses and a unique program followed. Omer E. Bailey, as toastmaster, was a striking success. Impromptu responses were made. Professor Stewart, in a most charming way, responded to the toast of “Weddings.” Were all weddings of the character he described, the golden wedding would be an ordinary instead of such an extraordinary occurrence. The toastmaster announced that while wedded life was really a one-sided affair, yet a wedding without a groom would be rather too much of a one-sided affair, and called upon the Hon. P. J. Russell to respond to the toast; and he did so, to the amusement of the guests and the golden groom. The bride was next, and Judge Pendergast told, in his response, in his characteristic way, how, during the war, he acquired the habit of taking turkeys, chickens and anything he saw that he wanted; and when the war was over, how he still had the same habit of taking things, and he just took his bride from the other fellows. He had her with him and invited all to his golden wedding which is soon to be. “A delightful honeymoon” was given the bride and groom by Mr. Winter. His late contemplated experience enabled him to handle the subject in a master’s way. After the honeymoon they found their ideal home in a home described by Professor Ritchie, in his response, and it was made clear by him that the true ideal home life made this golden wedding possible, and insured many pleasant future years of life to this vigorous bride and groom. In the response of F. E. Rathman to the toast, “Mother-in-law,” that much-abused and very useful individual, he stated she should ever stand high in the esteem and regard of the world; but there is a suspicion abroad that his ideas of mother-in-law were formed solely from his acquaintance with the best mother-in-law that ever lived. ‘The Dear Children and How to Raise Them” was the theme assigned to Mr. McDonald, and he demonstrated the truth of the old saying that those who have no children know best how to raise them. He closed with a fitting tribute to the home and family life of the host and hostess. A poem, written by a niece, Mrs. Nellie Grewell of West Branch, Iowa was rendered by Mrs. Hansell, daughter of the bride and groom, her poetic tribute closing the festivities. The idea of a golden wedding was carried out in the presents. Many beautiful and appropriate gifts were received, and the guests viewed them until a late hour, when they sought their homes, each fully resolving to have a golden wedding.
LIST OF PRESENTS: Mr. and Mrs. E. E McDonald, gold rimmed spectacles and brooch, set with pearls; Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Carter, gold berry spoon; Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Russell, gold vase; Dr. and Mrs. W. G. Morrison, syterol vase and yellow chrysanthemums; Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Pendergast, gold-lined napkin rings; Mr, and Mrs. J. M. Phillippi, gold inkstand and jewel case; Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Stewart, gold salad fork; Mr. and Mrs. J. T.Tuomy, gold meatfork; Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Cameron, gold-lined napkin rings; Mr. and Mrs. F. S. Arnold, gold-trimmed comb and fountain pen; Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Smyth, gold-decorated vase; H. B. Southworth, E. H. Winter, H. A. Sharf and A. K. Southworth, gold thimble and cuff-links; Mrs. E. S. Walker, two hand-embroidered handkerchiefs; Miss Marie Walsmith, gold match holder; Fred Smyth, gold bowl berry spoon; Misses Cora and Martha Huntosh, gold jewel case; Friends from Faulkton, S. D., ten dollar gold piece; C. S. Neiman, Tipton, Iowa, gold bowl spoon; Mrs. Isabel McCoy, Minneapolis, gold-trimmed shell comb set with brilliants; Dr. J. I. Bailey and family, West Branch, Iowa, gold-handled cane and umbrella; Mr. and Mrs. Gideon Bailey, Tipton, Iowa, gold salad fork; Mrs. M. Bailey, Chanute, Kansas,, gold paper cutter; Mrs. Delia A. Doud, Portland, Ore., gold spoon; Mr. and Mrs. Bert Tracht and Mr. and Mrs. E. Bailey, Tipton, Iowa, solid gold spoon; Members of the family, gold-headed cane and two diamond rings.
Mr. Harrison W. Bailey was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, November, 27, 1836, and Mrs. Bailey was born in Pittsford, N. Y. in 1839. Her maiden name was Catherine Elizabeth Thayer. They were married in Rochester, Iowa, November, 29, 1857. Mr. Bailey entered the Union army in 1863 and served with Company C, 2nd Regiment, Iowa Infantry. He marched to the sea with Sherman, and served to the end of the war. There is only one other member of his company and three of his regiment now living. After the war closed Mr. Bailey lived on a farm in Cedar county, Iowa, and then moved to Tipton, Iowa, where he conducted a general store. He lived there until 1886, when he moved to Faulkton, S. D., where he took a homestead and held the office of clerk of the district court for eight years. He came to Bemidji in 1898, and held the office of city recorder for several years. Mr. Bailey has been commander of the Bemidji R. H. Carr Post G. A. R., during the last six years. He has also been deputy-commander of the Park Region Encampment. Mr. Bailey has never partaken of tobacco or liquor of any kind, played a game of cards. But few of those who served the army have been permitted to enjoy a golden wedding. Mrs. Bailey has been president of the Ladies’ Circle of the G. A. R. since its organization. , This happy union has been blessed with eight children: W. F. Bailey, Tacoma; Leslie H. Bailey, now deceased; Anna M. Hansell, Peiley, “Minn.; Sherman C. Bailey, Bemidji; Homer E. Bailer, Spokane; Ida H. Bailey, Bemidji; Delia A. Rathman, Jamestown; Thayer C. Bailey, Bemidji; and they have fourteen grandchildren. The honest, fearless, simple lives of Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have earned for them the love, affection, esteem and regard of all who had the privilege of knowing them. (Bemidji Daily Pioneer, Dec 2, 1907)