My Genealogy Hound

William J. Bayliss, one of the best known of the pioneer citizens of Jefferson County, was born near his present residence January 6, 1844, and is a son of William J. and Annie E. (Waters) Bayliss, of Tennessee, the father dying in that county in the same year of his son’s birth, at the age of thirty-five years. The parents were married in Tennessee and moved to Arkansas when the latter State was still a Territory, and inhabited by the Indians and a few French settlers. The elder Bayliss was a farmer and cultivated the land until his death in 1844. His widow was afterward married to Mr. Robert Alcoin, a farmer, who died in 1861. The lady is still living, and is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bayliss, of whom five are now alive: Sallie (wife of Capt. Sam. Lindsay, a prominent merchant of Jefferson County), Anna (widow of Moses Emery), Louisa (wife of Mr. Hawkins, an enterprising merchant at Dardanelle), James E. (a well-known farmer and merchant in Lonoke County), and William J. (the latter the youngest of the family). William was educated in the schools of his native county, and had scarcely finished his studies when he shouldered a gun and marched in the Confederate ranks to war. He enlisted in Capt. Davis’ company of cavalry, in Col. Monroe’s regiment, serving until his discharge in 1863 on account of disability. On his return home he found that it would be unsafe to remain, and he again joined the Confederate service, becoming a member of Capt. Greenfield’s company, and served with distinction until Lee’s surrender. Mr. Bayliss was never wounded in battle, but has had some narrow escapes from death. At one time a bullet passed through his canteen, and on another occasion his horse was shot from under him. After the war was over he found that he had been stripped of everything he possessed and was without a dollar in the world. However, he went to work with a vim and energy that have since been crowned with success, and he is now a prosperous and leading farmer of Jefferson County. On October 6, 1869, he was married to Miss Eliza A. Lindsey, a native of this county and a daughter of John R. Lindsey, but this lady died on June 22, 1875, at the age of twenty-five years. Four children were born to this union, all of whom are yet living: Emma (wife of Joseph Foster, a farmer of Jefferson County), and Willie T., Minnie L. and Lindsey E. (who are at home). Mrs. Bayliss was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a devout Christian lady. A great deal of her husband’s success during her life was due to her sound advice and clear-sightedness, and her death was sincerely regretted by all. In 1875 Mr. Bayliss was married to Miss Ellen S. Cooper, a daughter of L. C. Cooper, of North Carolina, by whom he had two children: Walter J. and Clyde A. Mrs. Bayliss was born in Mississippi on the 12th of July, 1852. Both husband and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and take a deep interest in the religious and educational welfare of their county. Mr. Bayliss is a Democrat and has proven to be a valuable man to that party in his section.