Being the 10th of 11 children of Ebenezer and Sarah (Benjamin) Bailey, Eben was born in Berlin, Washington County, Vermont, on August 23, 1837. At the age of 19, he moved to Mt. Holly, and two years later, on October 17, 1859, in Williamstown, he married Mary Jane Jackson, daughter of William and Elizabeth Bruce Jackson. Their union was blessed with the births of son Burton "Bertie" R., son Percy M., and daughter Vinnie D.
On November 7, 1860, Bertie was born in Vermont. On September 10, 1862, Eben enlisted in the Union Army in the War of the Rebellion (Civil War) and mustered in as a Private in Company H, 14th Vermont Infantry on October 21, 1862. Tragically, on February 10, 1863, while Eben was still away in the war, Bertie died at the age of 2 years, 3 months.
Despite this family tragedy, Eben was lucky to have survived the war; two comrades in Company H were mortally wounded at Gettysburg, one was captured and sent to Andersonville where he died 10 months later, and seven were wounded. In addition, five had died of disease, and four had been discharged for disability before Gettysburg. Eben was discharged at Brattleboro, Vermont, on July 13, 1863, along with the remainder of his regiment.
On April 23, 1866, their second son, Percy M., was born. In the fall of 1869, Eben went to Ft. Dodge, Iowa, by train, then walked the 90-100 miles to Clay County for the purpose of selecting and filing for an 80 acre tract of land under the Homestead Act of 1862. In the following spring he and his brother William brought their families from Vermont to Iowa by wagons and yokes of oxen.
On Feb 7, 1873, Percy died at 6 years, 9 months. Their 3rd child, daughter Vinnie D., was born April 3, 1874. On March 10, 1875, Eben received a patent for his land which was signed by President U. S. Grant.
Eben's wife died April 9, 1888, and less than a month later, May 5, 1888, Eben's only surviving child, daughter Vinnie died, leaving him with no family.
In the winter of 1888, Eben became severely ill with pneumonia. Since he was alone, neighbors cared for him and nursed him back to health, one of which was friend and neighbor Hattie Marie Nicholson.
On June 28, 1890, Eben, then nearly 53, and Hattie, age 27, were married in Royal, Clay County, Iowa. They proceeded to have a family of eight children, the last when Eben was 69 years old.
At the time of the 1910 census, taken on April 15, Eben, Hattie, and their children Nina (age 18), Marshall (17), Lloyd (16), Grace (14), Esther (12), Dwight (10), Morris (8) and Maynard W."Winfield" (3), were living on their farm in Clay Township, Clay County, Iowa.
Eben died of chronic bronchitis on February 20, 1921, at age 83 years, 6 months.
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"U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles about Eben Bailey Jr
Name: Eben Bailey Jr
Residence: Mount Holly, Vermont
Age at enlistment: 25
Enlistment Date: 9 Oct 1862
Rank at enlistment: Private
Enlistment Place: Mount Holly, VT
State Served: Vermont
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company H, Vermont 14th Infantry Regiment on 21 Oct 1862.
Mustered out on 30 Jul 1863 at Brattleboro, VT.
Birth Date: 23 Aug 1837
Death Date: 20 Feb 1921
Death Place: Clay County, IA
Sources: Roster of Vermont Volunteers During the War of the Rebellion 1861-66
Research by The Northeast Washington Genealogical Society"
Source: http://vermontcivilwar.org/units/14/bailey-eben.php
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Masonic information:
At age 27, Eben became a Freemason in Chipman Lodge No. 52, F. & A.M. located in Wallingford, Vermont. He was initiated an Entered Apprentice on August 16, 1864, passed to the degree of a Fellowcraft on September 10, 1864, and raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason on September 14, 1864. Upon his move to northwest Iowa, he requested and was issued a demit from Chipman Lodge on June 24, 1874.
Thereafter, he became a member of Sunset Masonic Lodge No. 604 in Royal, Iowa, receiving his 50-year certificate therefrom on November 10, 1920.
In the process he became a Royal Arch Mason in Clay Chapter No. 112 in Spencer. He held the office of Master of the First Veil in 1891 and Scribe in 1900.
He and Hattie were initiated as charter members of Bluebird Chapter No. 475, Order of the Eastern Star, on August 11, 1916.