BAILEY-John - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

JOHN BAILEY, County Sheriff, Covington, is a native of Fleming county Kentucky, where he was born February 19 1836. He came to Fountain county in 1838, with his parents who settled on the edge Scott’s Prairie. His father was a saddler and harness maker by trade. He had for some time taught school in Kentucky, and after he came to Fountain county he spent some time in this business. He was a man of good education, and gave his children many advantages in this respect not to be had at the subscription schools of that date. John M. received a good education and began life on his own as a farmer. He purchased land in Mill Creek which at that time was in a wild state, and by his own labor and management made of it a finely improved farm. In 1862 he enlisted in the army, having already three brothers in the service of their country. He enlisted in the 1st Ind. Cav. 28th Reg. and at the first election of officers he was made duty sergeant. His term of enlistment was for nine months, but he remained in the service for eleven. He saw some hard fighting, the battle of Helena being among those in which he participated. Returning from the war he again resumed farming. Shortly after he was elected Constable for a two year term and at its close was reelected for another term. He was then elected township Trustee for two years and again reelected. He then by the same party (republican) received the nomination for Sheriff of Fountain County, and when elected received a majority of 160 republican votes in his home township that usually gave a majority of but sixty. He is now engaged in the discharge of his duties as sheriff and though he has been importuned to become their candidate for a second term he has refused very decidedly. In 1858 Mr. Bailey was married to Miss Charity Furr, whose people were formerly of Kentucky. They have but one child a girl and an adopted boy who is the child of a brother of Mr. Bailey.