The Enterprise 21 May 1915

J.B. “BRAD” BAILEY (Joshua Bradford Bailey)

Elsewhere in this issue of The Enterprise is reproduced an obituary, from last week’s Herman Record, of J. B. Bailey, one of the pioneers of Washington County, whose remains were brought to that place and buried, with appropriate services, on last Friday.

The announcement of his death was personal bereavement and sorrow to many of his friends of former days, who remember him as one of the best of nature's creations of humanity.

For many years he was a prominent character in this community and had a large share in making political and social history in this and Burt counties.

In his early eighties he represented this county in the legislature and was the first of any member of that body, recognized by his fellow members as one of the ablest amongst them, one of the leaders in all progressive movements.

Loyalty to his friends and his duty were distinguishing characteristics of his nature, but no ties of friendship, or party domination, were strong enough to swerve him from the life of, official rectitude and duty to his constituents. No man ever served a Washington County constituency in the legislature with more ability or faithfulness or had a higher appreciation of the obligation which his constituents had conferred upon him than J. B. Bailey.

In private life he was a prince amongst his fellows, generous to the point of profligacy, truthful, loyal to his friendships and always cheerful, with a good word for all deserving persons.

21 May 1915

JOSHUA BRADFORD BAILEY

Aged Former Resident of this County Dies in Arizona

Funeral at Herman on Friday

Was a Settler Here In 1859, Succumbs to Pneumonia, Masonic, Funeral

[Herman Record]

Joshua Bradford Bailey, one of the old settlers of this community and one of those sturdy pioneers who blazed the trail for the resident of today in this county, died at Phoenix, Arizona, last Saturday, following an attack of pneumonia. The funeral services will be held at The Baptist Church Friday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Smith.

At the cemetery the beautiful ritualistic services of the Masonic lodge will be carried out, the deceased having been a member of that order for many years. He was 75 years, 5 months and 14 days old.

Born in Pittston, Maine, November 24, 1839: Bradford Bailey came to Nebraska during the fall of 1859, with his parents, from Wisconsin, in a prairie schooner hitched to oxen, the manner of travel in those days. They settled on what is now the Burkett farm.

In the early days the place was known for many miles, especially in Omaha, as the “Bailey Road House.”

Here it was that Brad Bailey spent the first years of his life in the wild and then undeveloped west; here it was from whence he went in to the civil war an enlisted man for three years in 2nd Kansas Cavalry, and here it was he returned after finishing 9 months of scout duty, and the same period of time as chief of scouts under Connor.

Here it was he lived and endured the hardships common to the pioneer and here it was he lived until 1865, when he married Miss Catherine Hall, Nov. 23, at Florence, and with his young bride and made his own home in this vicinity.

The union was blessed with eight children, six of whom, Edward B, of Sioux City, Iowa, Roy of Yankton Agency, South Dakota, Ralph, Mrs. Weldon and Mrs. J. Kellog, of Phoenix, Arizona, and Mrs. Hicks, of New York City, along with their aged mother, a brother, John C. Bailey, of Herman, and Mrs. John Bradford, a sister, of Tremble, Mo., are living and mourn the death of their loving husband, father and brother.

Mr. Bailey remained in this vicinity an honored and respected citizen at home and abroad, and numbered among his intimates such early notables as Tom Redmond, General Manderson and many others prominent in the early history of the state. In 1881 he served as float representative from Washington and Burt counties, in the state legislature.

In 1883 Mr. Bailey received the appointment as post trader at the Yankton Agency, moved there with his family and has since held the position and made that home his place.

Because of failing health, about three years ago, Mr. Bailey has since been spending his winters in Phoenix, Arizona, and it was during his stay there and shortly before going to New York, that he contracted the sickness which was his last.

The bereaved family has the sympathy of an entire community.

The Tribune 19 May 1915

J. Bradford Bailey

J. Bradford Bailey, one of the oldest pioneers of this section of the country, died at Phoenix, Arizona Saturday at the age of 76.

He was born in Maine and moved to Cuming City, a small village up the river from Omaha, in 1859.

He afterwards operated a bull wagon train between Omaha and Denver. He went to the Civil War from Omaha and then returned here, and in 1866 went as a government scout for General Conners.

Mr. Bailey moved to Herman and. served as a delegate to the first territorial convention and was a member of the legislature after the state was admitted, representing Washington County. In 1883, he moved to South Dakota, where he took a great interest in politics and became quite prominent, being a republican.

Mr. Bailey has been spending the last three or four winters in Arizona for his health, a son and two daughters residing there.

The funeral was at Herman, Nebraska Friday afternoon where a brother resides.

In the early days Mr. Bailey was quite instrumental in keeping down Indian uprisings because of his friendship to the Indian chiefs.

He is survived, by his wife, sons and three daughters, Edward Bailey Sioux City; Mrs. E. L.Hicks, New York City; Ralph R. Bailey, Mrs. J. M. Kellog and Mrs. II Weldon, of Phoenix Arizona, and R. D.Bailey of Yankton Agency, South Dakota. Per the Omaha Bee.

Note: Since the actual death date was not given, the news article date was used.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~