Whiting Bailey
Compiler: Adolphus H. Sage
Compiler: Adolphus H. Sage
South New Berlin Bee, June 25, 1904
Whiting Bailey, eighth and youngest son of Samuel Bailey was born in 1782 at Whitehall in Washington county [NY]....Whitehall is in the northern part of Washington county and about 60 miles north of Stephentown. How the family of Samuel Bailey came to be living there is not told. It will be noted that this was about twelve years before the exodus westward into Oneida county [NY].
In the prime of life, Whiting was a strong, muscular man. He stood about five feet seven inches in height and was well built. He possessed a genial temperament and a very sociable disposition. His wants were few and his whole life seems to have been pervaded with the spirit of simplicity and contentment. He was a hard working man, but generous to a fault; so much so, indeed that he was never able to deny himself and his family those increments which many another man saves and lays by for the proverbial rainy day. He lived and died a poor man. His death occurred at Rome, N.Y., in Nov. or Dec. 1859....
Whiting Bailey had his faults; who does not? He knew the flavor of the genial glass and was sometimes upbraided by his more provident brothers for what they looked upon as his failure to "get on in the world." But when the Great Trumpet shall be sounded and the hosts of those who have inhabited the earth shall respond to the call, Whiting Bailey will stand among those who look with joyful eyes down an endless and ever broadening stream of those who will gladly call him father.
Whiting married Olive Holman probably about 1808. According to the census records, she was born in 1784, but little is known of her family connections. Her father was an original settler at "Holman City," Oneida county [NY]. His name was probably David. Her sister married a Mr. Babbitt and became the mother of the famous soap manufacturer by that name. Her parents were undoubtedly pioneers, for we are told that one of her uncles was killed by the Indians. Three young men were going through the woods when they came upon a band of hostile Indians. They turned and ran for the river with the red men in close pursuit. One of them stumbled and fell and so was captured. The other two swam to the opposite shore from which they saw the Indians drive pine knots into their unfortunate brother's head until he was dead.
Children of Whiting and Olive Bailey
1. Alfred Bailey born about 1809, married Angeline Gates and lived and died at Oswego, N.Y.
2. Harriet Bailey born about 1811, married James Packer, and lived and died at Cassville, N.Y.
3. Hiram Bailey born about Jan. 4, 1814, married first Cornelia Howard Nov. 12, 1834. She was born March 27, 1820 and died 1850. He married second Sept. 20, 1850 Lucy daughter of Benjamin Ludden of Herkimer county. She was born March 18, 1820. Hiram died Nov. 1896.
4. William Bailey born about 1817, married Ann M. Holdridge and lived at or near Cooperstown, NY.
5. Cynthia Bailey born about 1820, married Henry Wilcox.
6. Nancy Teresa Bailey born about 1823, married first William H. Bently, second ---, third Mr. Finney of South New Berlin, NY.
Whiting and his family lived in a number of different places in Central New York during his life. Not long after his marriage, he was living in the Butternut valley in Otsego county. He continued to live in this section till after his son Hiram was born in 1814. How much longer is not known, but it was probably not long for he was living at South New Berlin while my grandmother Sage and her sisters were girls at home. Grandmother married and left home in 1818, so it is presumed that Whiting Bailey left the Butternut valley about 1813 or '16. Grandmother Sage said Whiting lived about one mile below South New Berlin on the eastside of the river on the property now owned [in 1904] by Jay Camp. The old house stood on the east side of the road and just south of the brook. I was born in the old farm house just north of the brook and can well remember the remains south of the brook of an old cellar or excavation full of stones where my father said a house had once stood in the early day.
It was while the family were living in the Butternut valley that Whiting went to the War of 1812. In 1813, we find him at the death bed of his brother Charles to whose Will he was a witness and signer. This was in May 1813. That Whiting was in the War of 1812, there is practically no doubt, because we have ample assurance from several sources that he endeavored to get a pension during the last years of his life. Also it is commonly stated by his grandchildren, many of whom were well acquainted with him personally, that he was in that war. From these facts and circumstances, I am of the opinion that he did not enlist in the service till after May 1813. It may be recalled that during the autumn of 1813 our American General McClure was stationed with his army on the Canadian side at Fort George. The British, after collecting a superior force, attacked the Americans and drove them back to the American shore. Before retiring, however, General McClure made the mistake of burning the town of Newark. The enemy after reaching this side retaliated by burning several towns in Northern New York among which were Youngstown, Lewiston, and Manchester and threatened to invade the State further south. At this time, December 1813, the people of the State were greatly aroused and many volunteers flocked to the ranks of the forces in the field. It was probably at this time that Whiting Bailey entered the service. A short but vigorous campaign the following spring closed the war. It is asserted by members of the family that others of the Bailey brothers were in this war and this may very likely have been the case since New York state was called on for heavy work in defending her Canadian borders against invasion as well as to supply a large contingent for the regular army in various quarters both north and south.
In 1850, Whiting and Olive Bailey were living in the town of Paris, Oneida county and owned real estate there valued at $100. These facts are gleaned form the census records.
Henry A. Bailey of Clayville, N.Y., a grandson of Whiting lived near him for many years in his later life which was spent in Oneida county. He relates some interesting anecdotes which he heard from his grandfather. We here set them down:
"Whiting was on his way home near South New Berlin from a general training at New Berlin, N.Y. It was night when he started and was dark and rainy. He had his gun with the bayonet attached, and an old punctured tin lantern such as was used in those days. The road led through a piece of woods. As he was plodding along, he heard the scream of a panther. A rod or two away in the road ahead of him was the panther, apparently ready to attack him. He was so frightened as he declared that the hair stood on end. He could not fire his old flint lock on account of the rain, so he placed the lantern between his knees and with the fixed bayonet gave three jumps directly toward the panther, at the same time yelling with all the power of his lungs. At that, the animal turned into the bushes and was seen no more."
"In 1818, Whiting was running a saw mill. One day his little son, Hiram, strayed down to the mill and lay down between the stationary parts of the saw carriage and fell asleep. The family was living in another part of the mill at the time and the child's absence was not noticed. A log was on the carriage ready to saw. Grandfather raised the gate and the carriage started. The cross bar on which Hiram was sleeping was so situated that the carriage could not pass over him without killing him. Grandfather happened to go to the end of the log just as the carriage was about to crush the boy. There was no time to shut down the gate, so he seized a bar and lifted the carriage log and all, and with one hand pulled the boy out. He declared that at no other time in his life could he have lifted such a load. Fright had doubled his strength."
"When Whiting was a boy, the Indians used to come to his father's home for buttermilk as they were very fond of it. He always spoke of them as the Whitestown Indians. On some of these occasions, the Indians would get Whiting to wrestle with the Indian boys. Whiting said he could usually down them and that always delighted the Indians, but the Indian boys gave up in disgust and refused to wrestle." This anecdote seems to indicate that Whiting's boyhood was spent at Whitestown.
"Whiting Bailey not long before he died tried to get a pension and engaged the services of Henry Smith of Cassville, N.Y. His case was progressing satisfactorily when Mr. Smith moved to Michigan and the matter was dropped." Henry A. Bailey says he has seen and read some of the correspondence in the case and that it referred to his service in the War of 1812.
In another letter, Mr. Bailey says in regard to his grandmother--"Whiting Bailey's wife was Olive Holman. She must have been a handsome woman in her younger days. She was of gentle disposition and pleasant manners. She was much given to conversation and seemed to be well versed in the Bible. Her sister was the mother of B.T. Babbitt the great soap manufacturer." Olive Bailey was considered an expert tailoress. Grandmother Sage said she and her sisters used to go to her for work when they were girls at home.
It was while the family were living in the Butternut valley that Whiting went to the War of 1812. In 1813, we find him at the death bed of his brother Charles to whose Will he was a witness and signer. This was in May 1813. That Whiting was in the War of 1812, there is practically no doubt, because we have ample assurance from several sources that he endeavored to get a pension during the last years of his life. Also it is commonly stated by his grandchildren, many of whom were well acquainted with him personally, that he was in that war. From these facts and circumstances, I am of the opinion that he did not enlist in the service till after May 1813. It may be recalled that during the autumn of 1813 our American General McClure was stationed with his army on the Canadian side at Fort George. The British, after collecting a superior force, attacked the Americans and drove them back to the American shore. Before retiring, however, General McClure made the mistake of burning the town of Newark. The enemy after reaching this side retaliated by burning several towns in Northern New York among which were Youngstown, Lewiston, and Manchester and threatened to invade the State further south. At this time, December 1813, the people of the State were greatly aroused and many volunteers flocked to the ranks of the forces in the field. It was probably at this time that Whiting Bailey entered the service. A short but vigorous campaign the following spring closed the war. It is asserted by members of the family that others of the Bailey brothers were in this war and this may very likely have been the case since New York state was called on for heavy work in defending her Canadian borders against invasion as well as to supply a large contingent for the regular army in various quarters both north and south.
In 1850, Whiting and Olive Bailey were living in the town of Paris, Oneida county and owned real estate there valued at $100. These facts are gleaned form the census records.
Henry A. Bailey of Clayville, N.Y., a grandson of Whiting lived near him for many years in his later life which was spent in Oneida county. He relates some interesting anecdotes which he heard from his grandfather. We here set them down:
"Whiting was on his way home near South New Berlin from a general training at New Berlin, N.Y. It was night when he started and was dark and rainy. He had his gun with the bayonet attached, and an old punctured tin lantern such as was used in those days. The road led through a piece of woods. As he was plodding along, he heard the scream of a panther. A rod or two away in the road ahead of him was the panther, apparently ready to attack him. He was so frightened as he declared that the hair stood on end. He could not fire his old flint lock on account of the rain, so he placed the lantern between his knees and with the fixed bayonet gave three jumps directly toward the panther, at the same time yelling with all the power of his lungs. At that, the animal turned into the bushes and was seen no more."
"In 1818, Whiting was running a saw mill. One day his little son, Hiram, strayed down to the mill and lay down between the stationary parts of the saw carriage and fell asleep. The family was living in another part of the mill at the time and the child's absence was not noticed. A log was on the carriage ready to saw. Grandfather raised the gate and the carriage started. The cross bar on which Hiram was sleeping was so situated that the carriage could not pass over him without killing him. Grandfather happened to go to the end of the log just as the carriage was about to crush the boy. There was no time to shut down the gate, so he seized a bar and lifted the carriage log and all, and with one hand pulled the boy out. He declared that at no other time in his life could he have lifted such a load. Fright had doubled his strength."
"When Whiting was a boy, the Indians used to come to his father's home for buttermilk as they were very fond of it. He always spoke of them as the Whitestown Indians. On some of these occasions, the Indians would get Whiting to wrestle with the Indian boys. Whiting said he could usually down them and that always delighted the Indians, but the Indian boys gave up in disgust and refused to wrestle." This anecdote seems to indicate that Whiting's boyhood was spent at Whitestown.
"Whiting Bailey not long before he died tried to get a pension and engaged the services of Henry Smith of Cassville, N.Y. His case was progressing satisfactorily when Mr. Smith moved to Michigan and the matter was dropped." Henry A. Bailey says he has seen and read some of the correspondence in the case and that it referred to his service in the War of 1812.
In another letter, Mr. Bailey says in regard to his grandmother--"Whiting Bailey's wife was Olive Holman. She must have been a handsome woman in her younger days. She was of gentle disposition and pleasant manners. She was much given to conversation and seemed to be well versed in the Bible. Her sister was the mother of B.T. Babbitt the great soap manufacturer." Olive Bailey was considered an expert tailoress. Grandmother Sage said she and her sisters used to go to her for work when they were girls at home.
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