Jasper N. Bailey was born in Carter county, Kentucky, June 8, 1838; a son of Jesse and Margaret Bailey, nee Webb. His father, by profession, was a teacher, and died in the year 1848; and his mother died December 16, 1876. When he was two years of age his parents left Kentucky and came to Lawrence county, Ohio. After being there six years they came to Daviess county, Missouri. When about seventeen years of age he left home to see the world for him-self and went to New Mexico and remained one year, then returned to Missouri and remained till 1857 when he took his mother to California. They started to drive through with ox-teams, but after getting into Kansas his mother was taken sick and the trip abandoned. He next staked a claim in Brown county, Kansas, and remained two years, then, 1859, spent one year in Colorado, after which he returned to Missouri, and October 10, 1863, enlisted as a member of Company G, First Missouri State Cavalry Militia and served till the close of the war.
On February 12th, 1863, he was married to Miss Martha Miller, a native of Breckinridge county, Kentucky, and born July 3, 1847. Her parents, Michael and Martha Miller came to Missouri and located in DeKalb county; her father died in 1869, and her mother in 1879. They have had seven children five of whom are living; namely, Elmer, born June 21, 1866; Ida, born June 27, 1868; Tipton, born September 26, 1870; Nellie, born July 24, 1875; Lucy, born January 8, 1879; Frankie, born August 17, 1873, died January 31, 1877; and Virgil, born April 16, 1877, died July 13, 1879.
In 1874 Mr. Bailey and family went to California, located at Chico and engaged in farming during one summer; thence removed across the mountains to Oregon, and located in Coos county for about two years; thence to Umpqua Valley one year and then by the way of California to Daviess county, Missouri, where he has ever since resided. He is now serving the township as justice of the peace and has filled many minor offices. He owns a fine home of forty acres in Benton township, but is mainly engaged in stock dealing.
Mr. and Mrs; Bailey are active members of the Christian Church and take a. great interest in Sabbath-school work.
