Sacramento County
Biographies
Joshua James Bailey was born in Adams County, Ohio, March 27, 1828, his parents being Isaac E. and Polly (McNeil) Bailey. He was reared on his father’s farm, and was educated in the district schools. The family removed to Wisconsin in 1840, and in 1849 he began to work for himself, but still on his father’s farm. In 1850, with his father and brother, he came to California and went to mining, chiefly in the foot-hills of the Nevada, where he remained until 1855, with little actual net results. He then came down into the valley of the Sacramento, where he went to work on ranches and at teaming. In 1861 he rented about 160 acres from H. C. Ross, remaining on the place fourteen years. In 1875 he bought 627 acres of Mr. Wolcott, which he still holds. Only twelve acres are bottom land, on which he raises corn, alfalfa and fruit. On the uplands he raises wheat, barley, oats and grapes, besides cattle, of which he sells a few hundred dollars’ worth every year. The Bailey family to which he belongs are of old Virginia stock. J. J.’s grandfather, Joel, whose wife, a Perkins, was of English descent, moved into Ohio. In 1878 he was married to Mrs. Louisa D. (Joiner) Benton. They are the parents of five living children: Mary Lauretta, born February 24, 1879; Isaac Newton, May 13, 1880; James William, May 22, 1884; Alice Josephine and Alfred Willis (twins), May 29, 1886. Mr. Bailey is a worthy and respected citizen, and has been twice elected a school trustee. He was reared a Baptist, while his wife is a Methodist, but church opportunities of any kind are few on the Cosumnes.
Transcribed by Karen Pratt.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 492-493. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2005 Karen Pratt.