F. Jeanette (White) Bailey
(1855-1889)
Frances Jeannette (White) Bailey was born on March 8, 1855 near Cardington, Morrow County, OH, the daughter of Luther and Mahala (Minor) White. A pioneer of Missouri and Kansas, her life was tragically cut short when she was killed by lighting during a Kansas harvest. Her husband also met a tragic, grisly end.
As a 14-year-old, she traveled with her parents as pioneers to Haseville, Linn County, MO. She met her future husband, Richard D. Bailey (1861-1908), a cooper, when he boarded at the home of her parents in Missouri. Richard was born on Oct. 8, 1861.
On Feb. 10, 1884, she married Richard D. Bailey , and shortly afterward moved with her parents and siblings to Isabel, Barber County, KS.
While in Isabel, Richard was treasurer of the 1st school board when it organized in 1886. He also served as president of the local literary society. They had 2 children -- Mabel Philp and Ethel Blanche Peterie.
'Nettie' loved to write letters. A family history says the letters were "almost like a diary … [and] tell of a gay spirit and of her love of life and her family." The location of these letters is unknown today, but hopefully might be found someday to add a significant look at prairie life in Kansas in the 1880s.
Tragedy struck without warning during the summer harvest of 1889. On July 8th, while at the home of neighbors Billy and Anna Sellers, Nettie was "struck by lightning…. Work to revive her failed, and a sorrowing family and neighborhood buried her near the grave of her mother on Isabel's Cemetery Hill…."
At the age of 7, daughter Mabel was taken into the home of an aunt, Helen (White) Clark of near Laredo, Grundy County, MO.
Richard later married a woman who shared the same name as his 1st wife -- 'Nettie.' Richard is said, however, to have called her 'Kate.' He and Kate had 2 more children -- John Bailey and Frank Bailey.
Richard
and his new family moved to Iola, Allen County, KS. Iola's Washington Avenue,
looking north from Madison Avenue, is seen here in a rare old postcard
view. Note the prominent 'New York Store,' trolley track and dirt paving.
On Aug. 24, 1908, while living near Iola, tragedy struck again. While working at an industrial site, Richard was killed in an accident. The specifics are not known.
The fates of Richard's 2nd wife and 2nd set of children are unknown.
Copyright © 2000, 2004 Mark A. Miner