My Genealogy Hound

EMERY C. BAILEY, the popular Assistant Chief of the Fire Department of Sedalia, is a man who has risen through his own inherent good qualities and by his faithfulness to every duty. For many years he was engaged in the railroad business, and is acquainted with every detail of machinery and engines. He is therefore well fitted for his present position, where the utmost attention must be given to every detail. Since 1884 he has been a member of the Fire Department, having risen from an humble capacity to his present responsible position.

Our subject’s father, Elias Bailey, was born in Walworth County, Wis., and by trade was a blacksmith. He died in early manhood, and thus his wife and children were thrown upon their own resources, for he had not yet accumulated a competency for their support. His wife, whose girlhood name was Dorcas Beckwith, was born in the Empire State, and when a mere child was taken to Wisconsin. After her first husband’s death she became the wife of a Mr. Whitney, and is now living in Lawrence County, Mich. Emery C. is a native of East Troy, Walworth County, Wis., his birth having occurred April 10, 1851. He is the youngest of his father’s three surviving children, and was reared in Waterford, Hebron and Ft. Atkinson, in which various places his mother dwelt.

When he was twenty years of age Mr. Bailey left home and went to Kansas, settling near Humboldt, Allen County, where he was engaged in farming for a year. Then, going to Denison, Tex., he entered the employ of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad as brakeman, running between Muscogee and Denison. In time he was promoted to be fireman on an engine, his run being the same as formerly, and still later he was made engineer. Then he was offered the position of yardmaster for the same railroad at Denison, and subsequently entered the employ of the Houston & Texas Central Railroad. Then for a short time he was employed on the Iron Mountain Road as brakeman, but on account of sickness was forced to resign. It was in 1877 that he first came to Sedalia, and for about two years thereafter he was a switchman in the yards of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. In 1879 he was made brakeman between this point and Chamois, Mo., and was thus steadily engaged up to 1883. Then for a year he was employed in business on his own account, at the end of which time he was given a place as engineer in the Fire Department. In 1887 he was appointed Assistant Chief of the Fire Department, having under his special charge engine house No. 1, at the corner of East Fourth and Montgomery Streets. He is interested financially in the Sedalia Horse Collar Manufacturing Company, and has money invested in other enterprises here.

December 25, 1878, Mr. Bailey wedded Nellie Collins, who was born in England, and who was a daughter of Patrick Collins, formerly a resident of this city, but now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey are members of St. Vincent’s Catholic Church, and have hosts of warm friends in all circles. Mr. Bailey is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and is a past officer of Sedalia Lodge No. 170, A. O. U. W.