Monday, April 23, 2007

Henry H. Bailey

Henry H. Bailey was born February 3, 1839, in Marshall, Calhoun County, Michigan, the son of Alvin W. (1813-1887) and Ellen L. (1825-1875).

Alvin, who was born in New York, met and married Ellen, who was born in Vermont, and eventually settled in Michigan sometime before 1839. By 1850 they were living in Hastings, Barry County where Alvin was employed in “gold-digging”, and Henry attended school along with his younger brother Charles. By 1860 Henry was working as a clerk, probably for his father who was a merchant, and living with his family in Hastings.

Henry stood 5’5’. With light complexion, blue eyes and light hair and was 22 years old and probably living in Hastings when he enlisted in the Hastings Rifle Company in April of 1861. Although the company was disbanded shortly after it arrived in Grand Rapids to become part of the Third Michigan infantry then forming at Cantonment Anderson just south of the city, Henry eventually enlisted in Company K on May 13, 1861. He was reported as sick in the regimental hospital in late December of 1861, and in February of 1862 was listed as detached as a nurse in the regimental hospital. In July of 1862 he was a nurse in the hospital, in August a hospital attendant, in September a provost guard and in October back in the hospital.

In December he was a clerk in the Brigade Quartermaster department, in January of 1863 he was employed as a clerk in Division headquarters where he remained through the summer and by August he was working in the Adjutant’s office. By September he was a clerk at Third Brigade headquarters, a post he occupied until he was mustered out of service on June 10, 1864.

After his discharge from the army Henry returned to Barry County where he spent much of the rest of his life and for many years worked as a mechanic.

He was married to Michigan native Evaline or Eva A. Wing (1842-1904), on May 23, 1867, in Otsego, Allegan County, and they had at least one child: Anna (b. 1877). (In 1898 Henry reported that he had no children living.)

In 1870 Henry was running a grist mill and living with his wife in Orangeville, Barry County; his parents were living in Hastings that same year. By 1880 Henry was working as a foundryman and living with his wife and child in Nashville, Barry County; also living with them were several boarders. By 1890 he was living in Hastings near to Samuel Garrison who had also served in the Third Michigan during the war.

By the winter of 1907 he was living at 530 Broadway in Hastings.

He was living in Michigan in 1890 (?) when he applied for and received a pension (no. 816055), drawing $12 per month by the fall of 1907.

Henry was probably a widower when he died at his home on Broadway Street in Hastings’ First Ward, on October 15, 1907, and was buried as an indigent soldier on October 17 in Riverside cemetery, Hastings: block F south, lot no. 4, grave southeast 1/4-2.

No comments: