Santa
Clara County
Biographies
GEORGE
NOEL BAILEY
George
Noel Bailey, who for the past thirty years has been a resident of Santa Clara county, Cal., was born in the vicinity of Hillsborough, N.
H., March 12, 1832, and is the eldest of four children born to Nathan and Jane
(Bracket) Bailey, the latter also a native of New Hampshire. The father, who
was also born in New Hampshire, was by occupation a brick mason, and in
connection with this useful trade followed farm pursuits during the active
years of his life, principally at Peterboro, N. H.,
and it was at the latter place that he died. The mother died in Ohio.
George Noel Bailey received a meager
education in the public schools of his native state, and at the age of fourteen
years he became apprentice to learn the brick mason’s trade in Lowell, Mass.
After completely mastering this useful trade he spent the subsequent years up
to 1860 pursuing the double occupation of a brick mason and a farmer, working
at the former trade during the winter and at the latter occupation during the
summer months. Responding to our country’s call for men, he enlisted in the
Union army in 1860, as a private in Company L, First Regiment New Hampshire
Cavalry, and served one year, being honorably discharged from service in July,
1861.
After the war Mr. Bailey returned home
and besides working at his trade followed other occupations for a number of
years. It was not until 1873 that he decided to come to California. Upon his
arrival he came at once to Santa Clara county and for
nine years thereafter rented land in this county and followed farm pursuits.
About 1882 he turned his attention to mining, and was so engaged for three
years in the Red Cloud mines in Mariposa county.
Discontinuing this occupation in 1885 he accepted the position of foreman on
the E. L. Bradley ranch, a position he filled in an able manner for a period of
ten years.
Returning to San Jose in 1895, he
invested in land near by, purchasing the place upon
which he still lives. This ranch, which contains six acres of fine, productive
land, is well located three miles west of San Jose on the Stevens Creek road,
and the entire place is set out to orchard, principally prunes. Mr. Bailey was
united in marriage with Cynthia M. Carter, who was born in New Hampshire, and
two children have blessed this union, George H. and Charles M. The former is
foreman of the Matt Hall ranch, near Los Angeles and the latter resides with
the father and assists in taking care of the home ranch. The beloved mother
passed to her final rest at the age of sixty-eight years. A stanch
Republican in his political convictions, Mr. Bailey has ever labored in the
interests of this party, and he is a member of but one secret order, the
Ancient Order of United Workman.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 339-340. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Cecelia M. Setty.