John Asbury Bailey

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Biographical Sketch of one of County's oldest residents who died in 1924.The following sketch of John A.Bailey, one of the pioneer residents of McDowell County, was prepared shortly after his death in 1924, by his oldest son Cloyd A. Bailey.

John A. Bailey was born, July 24th, 1836, on Coal River, in what is now Raleigh County, West Virginia, where his parents Zachariah, and Rachel Glandon Bailey, had settled for a short stay, after having lived in several places in Virginia, originally in Grayson County also in Mercer County, near Princeton.

 They remained on Coal River only a short time, and when John was a small boy they moved to Mud Fork, and on Abb's Valley Ridge in Tazewell County, Virginia.

In August, 1844, when John was eight years of age, they bought land on "Little Creek", on the head waters of Tug, about two miles above the present town of Anawalt, where he made his home, with two or three brief exceptions, till his death on September 5th, 1924.

The first year the family lived on Little Creek, they resided in a camp which had been used by hunters, and cattle rangers, when they built their permanent home, and cleared land and did farming and also did considerable hunting for wild game, which I have been informed was one of the considerations that brought them to "Tug."

The other consideration was cheap land where they might establish their own home, and I suppose have plenty of elbowroom.

There were then only two families living between them and the settlement in Abb's Valley, and two or three families on Tug below them. One family by the name of Runion lived at the forks of the creek below Jenkinjones, and one about where the town of Pageton is now located.

When John was a boy he had many experiences with wild animals which to some of us now would be exciting, and I believe unpleasant.

There were then some panthers, bear, plenty of wolves, and deer and wild turkeys in abundance.

When John was a small boy, if my memory serves me correctly, only about twelve years old, while looking for cattle the family was caring for, he came face to face with a large bear, and on the spur of the moment, he shot it without taking careful aim. Wounding it badly, and the faithful dog kept the animal at bay, or at least preventing it from traveling very far, till he leaded and discharged the old flint lock rifle five times, into its body before finally killing it.

He was fond of telling this experience as long as he lived as well as all sorts of hunting stories, he having killed many deer, turkeys and all the game common to the country.

His live was spent about as above related as I have been informed, till the year 1860, when he was married in October of that year to Sallie V. Brunty of Mercer County, and settled on Laurel Creek, just bellow the present town of Pocahontas, just over the Virginia side, where he operated a saw mill, and "grist mill" propelled by water power.

On March the 18th, 1862, a son was born, Cloyd A. Bailey, the writer of this sketch, and soon after this event, he was called into the army to serve in the Civil War, much against his will. And his home was exposed to danger as he feared a least, his wife was compelled to undergo much hardship an hard work, exposure to cold and hardships common to, most people during this period, and he told me the last time I saw him alive, that it was this hardship and exposure to weather conditions that undermined her health, which resulted in her death on February 19th, 1864.

This event dealt him such a shock, that he never fully overcame it, but he returned to the old home on Tug where he lived with his parents for a considerable time. His father died in this home in February 1884, and his mother died at the home of another son, James Wesley Bailey, in August 1902.

John A. Bailey resided in Tazewell, in the home now owned and occupied by C. Henry Haman, with Doctor Fielden F. Perry in 1865 or 1866 to be treated for a liver trouble, for about a year, and that is the first place the writer of this sketch can remember with any certainly.

In the year 1869 he lived on Mud Fork, just about Falls Mills, and returned to "Tug" in the latter part of that year where he made his home till he was called hence in September, 1924.

In the year 1878, on March the 28th, he again married to Mary E. Terry, and in the spring on 1882 or 1883, he moved to the place where he spent his remainder of his days.

To his second wife, nine children were born all of who are still living. The first child, Elvira, married Ed Smith, and now lives near Leckie, the second, Elma, married C.O. Duke and resides in Kelso, Washington. The third daughter, Martha, married G.W. Saddler, and before the death of his second wife in May 1916, went into his home, where they have lived ever since and are still living there, and caring for his youngest son, Carl, who was afflicted in his infancy with spinal meningitis, from which he never recovered and is still almost a helpless invalid.

All his other children, Delbert, Luther, George, Sarah, and Jenney are married and live on Tug near where they were reared. He had always been very fond of all his children and in his old days, was continually delighted with a fine and ever growing crop of grand children and great grandchildren who were a great pleasure to him in his declining years, all of whom seem to realize they have suffered a loss that cannot be replaced.

John A. Bailey was a citizen of sterling worth, and a neighbor and friend not soon to be forgotten, as shown by the very kind and ever willing and ready attentions shown him during his last days on earth, and the many token of sympathy and regard shown, and the abundant floral tokens of respect at his funeral are incidents we will ever remember with very deep and sincere gratitude and respect for his many friends who participated in these ceremonies.

He was a firm believer in the Christian religion, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The writer is not informed just when he was converted to or adopted the Christian religion, but it was certainly before my memory began. His mother had been a Christian. I have heard her say, since she was twelve years old. And I am of the opinion she led her son John to Christ in his early age for it never occurred to me till since his death that he ever had been anything but a Christian, and I believe this assumption is not far from correct.

 In the year 1880, he led the way, and did most of the work of building a log church, at his last abiding place, which has always been called Boyds Chapel, in honor of the "Circuit Rider", who was in charge of that circuit at that time, and whose name was Isaac N. Boyd.

After many years, and when the congregation grew larger, he again led the way, and did much of the work and provided it with a more modern frame structure, which remains and is in service up to this time.

For several years he had taken a vital interest in everything about him, and seemed to be growing young in spirit at last, had regained his eyesight to some extent, and could read without glasses very well and always was delighted to have company around him.

He had discussed with the writer of this article many times of late years how he wished to dispose of his possessions and about his departure from this earth, and said his only regret at this thought was leaving his invalid son Carl. He has told me many times of later years he was ready and had no fears whatever as to his future.

On August the 19th, 1924, his son Cloyd, and his wife Lucy R. and their son Cloyd, Jr. together with Mrs. Rhonda Taylor, and Mrs. Alice Callen from Trenton, Mo., visited himm the two latter having never seen him before, and on the 20th, Mr. K.W. Sadler and his family and a nephew of his from Texas and his family, and we all took to our cars and went for a visit to Pinnacle Rock in Mercer County.

ON the way, just below Pocahontas he had the cars stopped on the high hill, got out and showed us the place where he first settled in 1860, and where his first son was born, also where his first wife died and is buried on a hill overlooking Pocahontas. He seemed to live it all over again, and told of many things we had not heard before. On their trip to Pinnacle Rock they were accompanied by his brother and sister, James Wesley Bailey and Mrs. C A Hardy, also his nephew, Mr. A H Lambert and family.

On the 21st of August we left him to return to our homes, and he seemed to be in the best of spirits, and I have seldom if ever seen anyone enjoy a visit from friends or relatives, as he did this one.

We left him expecting him to be with us a long time, but on Sunday the 31st of August I was called to his bed-side and found him very low, but on Monday the 1st day of September, he seemed somewhat better, attended to and directed some business matters, and on Tuesday, September 2nd, before I left him, he discussed with me in much detail the early history of his life, and told me many incidents I had not heard before, and said he was so very glad to have seen us on our late visit, and as to the future he said he would feel as much at home on the other side as here, for he had loves ones waiting for him there. I will not soon forget this parting moment, but at the time I fully expected to see him again, but with all the tender care of Martha and George, as well as all the others he passed away at 8 PM Friday, the 5th day of September 1924.

The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Jordan, a Methodist minister from Jenkinjones, on Sunday the 7th, and his talk was comforting indeed to us. But still we feel there is a vacant place which cannot be filled in this life, and we can only hope to exercise the same faith he did, and when the time of our departure comes, we know he will be waiting for us on the other side. His age was 88 years 2 months 11 days. Besides leaving his children he leaves to mourn their loss an only brother and sister, James Wesley Bailey, Leckie, WV and Mrs. C A Hardy, Leckie WV

Thus ended the earthly career of one of the oldest citizens of McDowell County, an done who, it is confidently believed, had not an enemy on earth, and he testified before his death, he was at peach with all mankind, as well as with his God.