The Washington times., 1937-10-27
81 Work for Uncle Sam" By s a%s sip"1
Civil Service Aide
Gums JeffersOn's
Watch

timepiece so precious to its
owner that he is reticent about
it. It Is insured for $25, 900, has
never been exhibited, nor has
a picture ever been published
heretofore.
Robert Livingston Bailey, for
20 years in the Government
service, owns this antique. 1t
was once the property Of
Thomas jefferson.
Around the Civil Service Com
mission offices Robert Bailey Is
called the "man who knows
everybody" His particular tai
emit is making friends In all
walks of life. A social register
lite. he mixes with the lowheSt
and the "best Of them" with
equal grace and pleasure. It
viii surprise most Of his friends
to hear he possesses Thomas
Jefferson's watch.
STORY DRAGGED OUT
This is the tale as dragged"
from Mr.. Bailey after much
cajoling:
His father; James Nicholas
Bailey, was named for q secre'
tary to jefferson. Joel Wheeler,
caretaker Of Monticello, Jeffer-
sons home in Virginia, was
James Bailey's foster father.
Bailey, senior, kept his family
name, however, and was reared
at Monticello.
It was there he took his BRIDE
Katherine Chewing, OF Flu
wanna county, Va. Robert
Bailey's brother, Ernest L., VINO
is now IS, was born in the room
where General Lafayette slept at
Monticello. It did not feu TO
the lot of Robert, however, to be
born under this famous roof. He
first saw the light Of day at KeS
wick, Va, q mile and Q hall
from "Shadwell," where JefTer
son was born.
MOTHER OBTAINED WATCH
The watch came into posses
sion Of Robert Bailey's mother
about the time Of her marriage.
It was given to her by Mrs.
Wheeler, her husbands foster
mother. She gave it to Robert
tn wear when he was IA, but
took it away from him after ne
had dropped it and broken 1t
several times.
Mr.. Bailey smiles ruefully
when he remembers how that
priceless antique was kicked
around before people awakened
to the fact that relics should
be cherished, or that their value
was beyond reckoning in dollars
and cents. After his mother
passed away it was found among
her effects.
MADE BY OUDIN
The maker Of the timepiece,
Charles Oudin, Of Paris. was q
pupil Of Brequet. Abraham:
Louis Brequet was the last OF
the great artiSt-craftSmen watch
makers. Oudin was a watch
maker from 1807-1825. Jefter.
son was President Of the United
States during part Of this time.
It is believed an admirer gave
the President the watch, in
scribed with his name. or that
he might have ordered 1t himself
from Oudin.
To appreciate the true beauty
Of the timepiece, it should be
seen. Engraved with the tleur
de lis, it is q rare example OF
the art Of bygone days when
craftsmen handed their secrets
from father to son.
Museums and antique expoA-
tons have begged Robert Bailey
for Jefferson's watch and he
has refused a fortune for it.
It's sentimental value keeps
him firm in the determination
that as long as he lives it shall
be his and his alone, and must
never be commercialized.
Mr.. Bailey spent most Of his
. life in Charlottesville, Va, be-
fore going to work for Uncle
Sam. He was educated in pri-
vate schools and at the Univer.
Sity Of Virginia.
And he has a passion for
autographed books, horse shows,
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