Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/183

BAILEY.BAILEY. indicator," so largely used among scientists, was invented by him. He was chosen president of the American association for the advancement of science in 1856, and his writings relating to his line of work are numerous and valuable. Among the journals to which he contributed are: Transactions of the Association of Geologists and Naturalists, the American Journal of Science and Art, The Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, and Journal of Microscopic Science. His microscopic objects, embracing over three thousand slides and about forty-five hundred specimens of algae, with his books and papers, he bequeathed to the Boston society of natural history. He died at the Military academy, West Point, N. Y., Feb. 26, 1857. BAILEY, James Anthony, showman, was born at Detroit, Mich., in 1847. His parents died when he was ten years old, and at the age of thirteen he left his home, owing to a disagreement with his guardian. He obtained employment with Robinson & Lake's circus, and on the death of Mr. Robinson in 1862, he was engaged by James Cooper, the showman, as advance agent for his traveling circus. In 1863 he was given an interest in the establishment, and at his suggestion the circus made a very successful tour to Australia. From Australia they went to Van Dieman's Land, but there met with heavy losses. Returning to the United States he purchased a bankrupt circus and added it to his own, thus making it "the largest show on earth." In 1881 he entered into partnership with P. T. Barnum, and the firm became "Barnum & Bailey—Equal Owners." Mr. Bailey next bought a controlling interest in the Forepaugh circus, and, on the death of Mr. Barnum in 1891, became sole director of the show. BAILEY, James E., senator, was born in Montgomery county, Tenn., Aug. 15, 1822. He was fitted for college and was graduated from the University of Nashville. After his admission to the bar in 1843, he practised his profession in Clarkesville, and in 1853 was elected to the state legislature as a member of the house of representatives. In 1861 he joined the Confederate army and served bravely throughout the civil war. In 1872 he was appointed by the governor of Tennessee a member of the court of arbitration, and in January, 1877, was elected by the legislature of Tennessee to the United States senate as a Democrat to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Andrew Johnson, serving, 1875-81. He died in Clarksville, Tenn., Dec. 29, 1885. BAILEY, James Montgomery, humorist, was born in Albany, N. Y., Sept. 25, 1841. His boyhood was passed in Albany and New York city, and he received a limited education in public schools. He learned the trade of a carpenter, and followed it until the breaking out of the civil war, when he enlisted in the 17th Connecticut volunteers, and served as private until the close of the war. His letters from the army printed in the Danbury (Conn.) Times gained him a local reputation, and in company with a printer, whose acquaintance he had made in a military prison at Richmond, he went to Danbury, and in 1855 purchased the Times, which was consolidated with the Jeffersonian in 1870, under the name of the Danbury News. Mr. Bailey's bright local paragraphs began to be widely copied, the Danbury News gained a reputation as a humorous paper in a few months, and its editor suddenly sprang into popularity. In 1874 he visited Europe, and on his return to America, he went upon the lecture platform, but soon retired, and subsequently devoted himself entirely to his newspaper. His books comprise: "The Danbury Newsman," being a brief but comprehensive record of the doings of a remarkable people (1872); "Life in Danbury" (1873); "The Danbury News Man's Almanac and other Tales" (1884); "They All Do It; or, Mr. Miggs of Danbury and his Neighbors" (1876); "England from a Back Window: with Views of Scotland and Ireland" (1878); "Mr. Phillips' Goneness" (1879); "The Danbury Boom: with a Full Account of Mrs. Cobleigh's Action Therein" (1880), and in 1896 a "History of Danbury, Conn., 1684—1896" was published from notes and MS, left by him and compiled with additions by Susan Benedict Hill. He died March 4, 1894. BAILEY, Joseph, soldier, was born at Salem, O., April 28, 1827. He joined the army during the first months of the civil war, serving as captain of a Wisconsin regiment in Maryland. His regiment served under Gen. B. F. Butler, in the capture of New Orleans, where he was made acting engineer of the defences of the city. He was promoted major, and a month after lieutenant-colonel, on the succession of Gen. N. P. Banks to the command of the army of the gulf. Colonel Bailey went with General Banks on his Red River expedition. The army with twelve gun-boats and thirty transports were ascending the river under the command of Admiral Porter, and when General Grant issued the order on April 25, 1864, to close the campaign and take the army to augment the forces of General Sherman, who was east of the Mississippi, the commanders were in a quandary. The forces were at Alexandria, whither they had retreated after the defeat at Sabine Cross Roads, and below the rapids the water was not in any place higher than six feet. Engineers were consulted, but their answers were all the same: the fleet could not be moved until the water rose, of which there was no immediate prospect. Admiral Porter could see