Margaret
(Minerd) Bailey
(1902-1927)
Margaret Alice (Minerd) Bailey was born on Sept. 24, 1902 at Smithfield, Fayette County, PA, the daughter of Charles A. and Sarah Jane (Kincell) Minerd Sr. Her early death left a young son and daughter motherless.
When Margaret was a year old, the family moved to Uniontown, Fayette County, where she grew up.
Margaret married Chauncey Alston Bailey Sr.
(1898-1950),
a native of Thornton, Taylor County, WV, who was born on a Friday the 13th. Chauncey had served in World War I, and received
two Purple Heart medals. He went to college to be a preacher but never practiced
in ministry. His portrait is seen at right.
The Baileys resided in Clarksburg, Harrison County, WV, and had two children -- Chauncey Alston Bailey Jr. (born in 1921) and June Bailey (born in 1924).
In the 1920s, the Baileys moved to Detroit, Wayne County, MI.
As an adult, Margaret suffered from gall
stones. In the summer of 1927, she underwent surgery in a Detroit hospital to
correct the problem. Tragically, during the operation, she had an attack of
peritonitis. Word was sent to her father that she was gravely ill. Margaret
died the first week of August, 1927, before her father could arrive. She was but
the tender age of 25.
Margaret's remains were sent by rail back to Connellsville, Fayette County, PA for her funeral and then her burial at Hill Grove Cemetery. The Connellsville Daily Courier published a lengthy obituary.
Their five-year-old son, and three-year-old daughter, were taken into the household of Chauncey's mother, Sally Bailey, who raised them.
Chauncey worked during the Depression as a part-time minister, and "during the Depression collected scrap metal from abandoned cars to support his family," said the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The family later "moved to the Christy Park neighborhood of McKeesport."
Chauncey passed away at age 50 in 1948 in Detroit. He was laid to rest in the National Cemetery in Grafton, Taylor County, WV.
Son
Chauncey Jr. (seen at right) served during World War II in the Pacific Theatre. After the war, Chauncey Jr. "worked for the former
Columbia Radiator Co. in Christy Park, operated a tavern in McKeesport and was
appointed street commissioner for Eden Park Borough before it was merged with
the City of McKeesport," said the Tribune-Review. "Eventually
Mr. Bailey became a member of the City of McKeesport Fire Department, where he
remained until he retired in 1973." He was married twice, and had six
children in total. He served as president of the McKeesport Optimist Club. He also started and
excavating and hauling company now operated by a son. At his death in 2005,
Chauncey was survived by five children, four stepchildren, 24 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and a
great-great granddaughter.
Daughter June ( ? -1996) married Baxter Wilt of Grafton, Taylor County, WV. They resided in Fairmont, Marion County, WV and had two daughters. Her photographic portrait is seen at left. More will be added here about her life when learned.
Copyright © 2001-2002, 2005-2006 Mark A. Miner