Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-09-04
For Congressman.

Hon. F. d. Bayless, of Elkader, the
democratic nominee for congress in
this district, was born in Pendleton,
Madison county, Indiana, October 8,
1910, and came to Iowa in 1853 with
his widowed mother and family, set
Ting near Postville. AT the early
age of IA years he commenced the ac-
tive business of life by clerking in the
general stores at Postville and Mon
ona. In 1866 he went with the family
to Dodge county, Mimi, and assisted
in opening and operating farm He
returned to Indiana in 1856, AND at
tended high school nearly two years,
and then returned to Minnesota in
1868. Here he worked on the farm,
taught school and studied medicine.
Patriotic in spirit he promptly enlist
ed in 1861, in Co. q, I'd Minnesota In
fantry, and served with credit in the
Kentucky and Tennessee campaigns.
His health being impaired he was
honorably discharged for disability,
and returned home. His health be-
ing re-established, in 1864,
although happily married, he could
not resist the appeals of his country,
and again enlisted in Co. B, of the Sd
Minnesota Infantry, with which he
served faithfully until mustered out
in September 1865. In May 1866, MIR.
Bayless with his family. moved to FL
kader where he had bought an estab-
lished drug store, and here he has
since resided. With his we'll known
nergy and push he soon enjoyed a
1arge and lucrative business. In time
he was the head of three different
firms, his partners being youths who
had servedas apprentices in the home
store, and who are to-day prominent
business men in their respect
i've towns. For the past few
years Mr.. Bayless has been gradually
retiring from the drug business, and
now retains only an interest in the
firm of @. H. Blan chine q Co., at Os-
siau, the Elkader store after the dis
solution of the firm of Bayless &
Hagensick, passing to a firm consist
ing of John R. Bayless. Ct. DIS sony
and Charles Ochring. Mr.. Bayless
besides being a stockholder in the
First National Bank, is director of
the Elkader State Bank, and is the
owner of several store buildings and
houses in town.
In politics Mr.. Bayless was a Re-
publican until 1872, when becoming
dissatisfied with the arbitrary sway
Of the party leaders he broke away
and allied himself with the democrat
ic party. For twelve years he served
the party as chairman of the county
committee, and was known as sue
cessful organizer and tireless worker.
Being business man he refused to
accept Office himself until in 1888,
when he was nominated and elected
state senator and reelected four
years later. His legislative record is
clear and honorable. He occupied
prominent positions upon commit
tees, and was known as an anti-mo-
nopoly leader and friend of the
people.
At home Mr.. Bayless is in the fore
front of every movement to advance
the building up and improvement of
the town. He served "a years con-
tinuously on our school board, and
has served in the town council since
its organization. Charitable to a
large degree, he is known as the
friend of the poor. The court house
tower clock and the new Congrcga-
tional church will be monuments of
his energy and generosity.
Mr.. Bayless is the Commander of
E. Boardman Post, No. 1874, of Eliza
der, and is enthusiastic in matter per-
tanning to the Grand Army. at the
st. Paul encampment this week he is
serving as aid-de-camp on the staff of
the Commander-in-chi
In the issues of the present cam-
paign Mr.. Bayless, having been a
delegate to the Chicago convention,
is in accord with its platform and
nominee. He is man well known
as friend Of the masses, of the pro.
ducers, and against the classes with
their gold trust and other trusts
that Cypress the people. He believes
that policy of Bimetalism with the
free coinage of silver and gold will
bring prosperity to the country, and
that when the producer prospers the
merchant, laborer and others will
prosper. He believes that this
country is much more able to stanc
on its own legs and dictate it's own
financial policy than it was in l776
In short, he stands squarely on the
National Democratic platform.
patriot during the war and patrio
of 1S96.-Elkader Register, Sept. 4.
July "a, 1895 the Chicago Inter
Ocean in diScussinp tho Hnrr uorya,