Smyrna times., 1895-05-15
Death of John G. Bailey.

John C, Bailey, one of our prominent
citizens, died at his home about noon
on Sunday while sitting in his chair at
the table, the death-stroke being ap-
parently instantaneous, from neuralgia
of the heart. He was in his 60th year.
There was no one in the room Just at
the time, his wife and son being up
stairs, descending in a few minutes to
find him dead in his chair with head
dropped to one side but nothing indie
eating a struggle.
The shock to his family was no
greater than that to the community,
and the news spread throughout the
town. naturally with great rapidity
He had been in i'll health for two or
three years during which he had con-
suited the most eminent physicians in
our large cities without q satisfactory
diagnosis of the trouble that was evil
IDENTIFY weakening his constitution,
though he was about the day before as
usual, sitting up that night until mid
night, reading; and there was nothing
Sunday morning TO indicate anything
out of the usual routine.
Tie deceased was a son of the late
Mason Bailey, Of Kenton, who died
some twenty years ago, leaving large
estate to his seven children. John c.,
the elder of the two sons, Thomas E.,
residing at the old homestead, at Ken
ton) !, came to Smyrna when young
man, engaged in the lumber-yard busi-
ness, and Ia year or two after bepom-
ing citizen, married Miss Margaret
Cummins, only daughter of the late
DIR. VIM, Cummins, who with their two
sons, Daniel G. and Frank, survive
him.
Mr.. Bailey was a man of marked
Observation-Disclosures mind, inde-
pendent in his opinions to the point of
indifference to those who were only
time servers and unthipking followers
of men, dislike of public life in the
sense of position and Office holding,
held his word to be as good as his bond,
and walked in an atmosphere above
criticism. Thus, while manifesting the
usual shrewdness of successful men in
making bargain and exact in having
its obligations complied with, whatever
might be the change In conditions he
sought neither to divert the moral OF
vary from the written conditions. His
business success Is manifest In the large
estate leftover 100000.
Perhaps the most marked change 10
those who knew Mr.. Bailey through
the course of his life, was that of his
religious convictions. He was a great
reader, and. talKer too, as we'll Out.
side Of newspapers TO keep abreast oi
the news Of the day. bis taste was for
strong writers-Shakespeare, Herbert
Spencer, Huxley, Tindale, etc. These
scientists, who devoted their great
abilities in discussing material ism in
creation as against the Orthodox faith
Of the bible, naturally wrought out il
Mr.. Bailey very great latiiudnarian
ism Of thought especially on the line o.
snperpaturalism. He found thai
thoughts followed on this line would
run on into inanity-clear away from
man In his being, and the object of hi.
creation. He found it also, hs be ex
pressed 1t, uusatisfying. In retracinl
his steps las he did by the same slow
process of reasoning, running through
some monlhs), be reached the poin
| that Christ was not only the most per
feet man, as he had all the time ad
mitted, but that He was mans only
hope for redemption; and being hones
with himself, be made up his mind I,
accept Him, and we understand di,
unreservedly. and was baptised a few
weeks ago by Rev. G. w. Dame, pre-
paratory to admission to the church
intending to accept the rite of confir
nation from Bishop Coleman at hi
annual visit, the FIRST Sunday In June
While regretting that be could not liy
few weeks longer to connect himsel
with the church and show, as h
wanted TO, that his mind and purpose
Ia relation to q religious life ha,
changed, his friends are grati1ed /,
know that radical change had oc
CURED aud that he was strong in hi
purpose to lead a religious life.
The remains will be inferred thI
afternoon in the Episcopal Cemetery