My Genealogy Hound

W. W. Bailey, M. D., physician and surgeon at Fort Smith, Ark., was born in Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation, November 28, 1839, being the son of Joseph H. and Mary A. Bailey. The father was a native of the State of New York, and was a surgeon in the United States Army. The Bailey family were relatives of John Quincy Adams, and on the father’s side one of his aunts was an associate and friend of George Washington. Joseph Bailey was a physician, as was also his father, grandfather, and as are also his four sons. Reading, Conn., was owned and named after the Doctor’s maternal great-grandfather. The female line on his mother’s side were French Huguenots. Dr. W. W. Bailey took his degree of M. D. from Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1861, and during the late civil war he was surgeon of the First Missouri Cavalry, and was also on Gen. Steel’s staff, and surgeon of Gen. John M. Schofield’s body guard (Gen. Schofield now commands the United States Army), serving in the capacity of surgeon until mustered out in September, 1865. It was during this time that he gained such proficiency in surgery, which distinguishes him at the present day. He located at Fort Smith after the war, and has been here ever since. He is one of the leading business men of the city, as well as the leading surgeon. He owns some of the best property in the city, and has in course of erection of the finest business houses on Garrison Avenue. He is a Republican in politics, and has been Master of Belle Point Masonic Lodge, Fort Smith. They have four children: Belle, William, Kate and John Main. Dr. J. H. Main, father of Mrs. Bailey, was born in Frederick County, Md., November 13, 1813, was graduated from Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, in 1836, and from the University Medical College, New York, in 1858. He settled in Fort Smith between 1836 and 1840, and except during short intervals, has been here ever since. He erected Hotel Main, which bears his name, and many other of the chief buildings of Fort Smith. Dr. Main was married in Fort Smith, to Miss Isabella Armour, who was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., March 26, 1826. [For further particulars of Dr. Main, read history of Fort Smith.]