The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1916-11-14


suited in dislodging the British from
this as the result of the capture of
Fort st. Vincent, now Vincennes,
Indiana.
In the archives of the Indian His
torIcal Society is an extended report
of the seige and surrender of the
village and fort accompanied by a
diagram and across this is written in
a clear legible hand in this note, "The
first to enter the fort were Lieut..
John Bailey and fourteen men. Lieut..
Bailey received the surrender of
Governor General Hamilton" The
post was received as a military prize
and put in charge of Col. Leonard
Helm who too came from Logan's
Fort, and when he was transferred to
Detroit Capt. John Bailey was INSTALL
ed as Commandant.
In that charming bit of historical
romance, Alice of Old Vincennes, the
frequent references to Col. Helm and
Capt. Bailey indicate that our Lin
coin county men of war were beguil-
ing the tedium of frontier fortress
life with dancing, the rude music of
lmprovised instruments, feats of
craftsmanship, wrestling, swimming
the Wabash, and foot racing.
In the Virginia archives is a let
ter from John Bailey to Patrick Hen
nv complaining of neglect of the gar
rison and asking for men, powder,
lead and money, as the money then in
| circulation there was worthless, but
adding most significant postscript,
if you have no money or provision
send us whisky which will answer as
good an end"
Soon after THE close of the war
Congress granted 10000 acres of
land in southern Indiana to the SOL
dlers of this campaign, and Robert
| breckenridge, Buckner Thruston and
John Bailey were selected to appor-
ton this land. John Bailey's appor-
tionment was 5000 and it is a pain
full historical revelation to his de-
scendants that the thriving city of
Jacksonville stands on this land.
The various histories of the early
days of the Baptist church in Ken
lucky mention that fact that he was
always active in the pulpit and it is
fair Inference that while in discharge
of the particular duty or any other
public duty he did not neglect the
pulpit. | believe that | am historical
ly correct that he built the first Rush
| Branch Church on his own land. and
from an anecdote soon to be related
at his own expense, and was its reg
ular pastor; that he established the
church at McCormak's and one at
Middleburg in Casey county and num-
erous other in the county about Rus
sellville, Logan county.
He was a member Of all six of the
Constitutional Conventions that met
in Danville for the purpose of organ
iZing the state of Kentucky. We do
not know what part he took in the
proceedings, but one fact stands out
clear and strong, and that was his
effort to prohibit forever from the
limits of Kentucky the sin of human
slavery
Out of fifty members he had only
six to share his views, all ministers
of the gospel, and had their advice
been needed the greatest civil strife
in history would probably been avert
ed. In the year 1899 that constitu
ton was revised and ne was again g
member and taking leading part in
matters pertaining to religion, educa
ton and morals.
In the late years of his life he went
to New England and there imbibeC
some strange doctrines and he be
came rather active in the propaga
ton, this resulted in a trial of heresy
this investigation taking place in hi
own church. In course of the PRO
ceeding he persisted in interruptine
the speakers when the Moderator
brought him to task with the query
Mr.. Bailey, you do not belong t,
this church" whereupon he quick,
rejoined, ''No sir, but this church be
longs to me-" He was reinstated anC
went about in his own way doin,
good, and | have ever had the opinion
about heresy trials that Sidney Smitl
; had about a dog first in his flowe
garden, that the only thing that wa
settled was his flowers; the onl,
thing in such trial to be damaged i
the church.
He organized Anti-Slavery Socie
ties in various parts of the State, tn
one in Logan county lasting unit
; our civil strife in 1860.
; What manner of man was this i
whose honor we have gathered thi
, evening, was he tell and spare or wa
: he stout and short, was he impetuou
. and frankly honest, was he craft
and insincere, was he blunt and of
; fensive or gentle and refined, wa
he given to self -adulation or was h
gentlemanly and reserved, was h
avaricous and sordid OF generou
: and unsuspecting, was he ambition
, and proved false to friends, was h
genial and given to hospitality, o
5 did the world and its people revolv
: without his narrow orbit, did he hav
? wider view of personal liberty, o
/ did he bother his neighbors abou
such trifles as local option and cour
ty unit bills or did he follow the ira
diticnal Baptist habit of balancin
: his Bible and hymn book in one sid
| of his saddle bags with somethin
: else when he went to his Associa
{ ton?
; About these speculations the rec
{ ords are forever closed and traditio
r has waned long ago, but l would hav
: US look upon him from the know
achievements Of his active publ
\ life.
= From this is disclosed that Will
b. in his teens he chose the ministry a
r his calling while the whole world wa
D afame with the Atheism of Voltairt
d..