St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-01-14
Horace w. Bailey.

Horace w. Bailey, United States
marshal for Vermont and one or the
best known men in the state died
on Jan. 9Th in the hospital at
Rutland. The second son and third
child OF William ", and Abigail
(Eaton) Bailey, he was born in New
bury, Jan. is, 1852, educated in the
district school and Newbury semin-
airy, and began a remarkably busy
and useful life as a teacher and
merchant in his own town. Mean
while he was clerk at the Fabyan
House, the Old Orchard House, and
at a hotel in the South. He was also
town clerk, 1861; superintendent
Of schools, 18S5-90; town representa-
tive, 1902; state senator, 1894 and
1896; state fish and game commits
sioner, 1S94-1900; member of the
railroad commission, 10000; of the
Champlain Tercentenary commission
1906-0S; and appointed United States
marshal in 1908, holding that posi-
ton till death, having his office at
Rutland, but retaining his residence
at Newbury. He was also a trustee
of Bradford Savings bank, Tor 10
years, and for some 20 years previous
to his death of the Citizens Savings
Bank and Trust company of St.
Johnsbury, and the Orange Co.
member of the state Republican COM
mittee. He was also intrusted with
the settlement of several large es-
tates. notable the DIR. Cutting estate
at Lunenburg, the l.. Lindsey
estate at Lancaster, and many others.
These esponsibilities required large
business ability, extensive and minute
knowledge of statute and mercantile
law, prompt decision, great tact and
knowledge of the art of managing
men. He also found time for the
cultivation of a wide acquaintance
and for much literary work, mainly
the communication upon historical
subjects to the papers of the state
and elsewhere. Yet with all these
and many other cares he never SEEM
ed in a hurry, but found time for
those personal kindnesses which
busy men often neglect. The most
genial man, generous to fault, con-
siderate Of others, cordial of manner
he made friends everywhere and his
large frame and personal appearance
made him remembered by all who
ever saw him. He was a ready and
effective speaker and an excellent
presiding officer of a public assembly
He possessed a clear and forcible
style, and could write readily upon
any subject; his memory seldom fail
ed him, but singularly, he had a
distrust of his own literary ability
and never published anything which
he considered important without first
submitting it to the criticism of some
one whose judgment he was more
sure of than of his own. l think it
Al L.
in a man of his versatility and self
reliance which restrained him from
giving to the world, as he had Of
ten been urged to do. something
more permanent than he had ever
done. Mr.. Bailey was a member of
both the New York and Vermont his
torical societies, and one of the ex-
cutive committee of the latter. He
was deeply interested in the history
of his native town, and presided at
the various exercises of its 150th
anniversary in August, 1912. He
had been a trustee from it's organiza-
ton in 1895, of the Tenney Mem
orial Library, giving to it much time
and work. and rejoiced in it's growth
from a few hundred to above seven
thousand volumes. He was intensely
fond of books. and had accumulated
a large and valuable library, especial
ly rich in works pertaining to the
early history of the state, and only
surpassed in this respect by the state
and historical library at Montpelier.
Some years ago he purchased the
brick school house at Newbury Will
age in which he kept his Office and
his library. This he had caused to
be remodelled the past reason in
tending to return and spend the rest
or his life among his books, and in
some literary work.