Atchison Globe Sept 24, 1912, page 1
"Jack Bailey" Dead
First White Settler?
Was W.J. Bailey, familiarly known as "Jack Bailey", who died yesterday afternoon at St. Francis hospital the first white settler in Atchison Co?
Many intend he was. Anyway "Jack" Bailey was among the very first settlers and probably the first white man to settle in this country. It was way back in 1854-58 years ago- when Mr. Bailey came to Atchison Co and took up a claim of 100 acres a few miles south of Atchison, in Walnut township. On this little claim Mr. Bailey built a log cabin 12x12 feet. He began breaking sod with a rude plow drawn by 6 head of oxen.
One of "Jack" Baileys favorite stories that was always fresh in his mind was about the first sight that met his gaze when he struck Atchison.
It was a dead Indian setting upright on the ground and enclosed in a pen built where Ed Lakes new store is located.
That was one of the Indian methods of treating their dead. They would not bury them, but would sit them on the ground and build pens around them. The bodies were not touched after that unless by birds or animals.
"Jack" Baileys claim was that he reached Platte Co, MO four years before the white man had settled upon Atchison County soil. In those days the Indians roamed the praires, and that's what the city of Atchison was then, and the redskins pastime was to burn and kill. But "Jack" Bailey, like many early settlers, braved the dangers and faced privations when there was not a vestige civilization.
Born in KY in 1833, Mr. Bailey was in his seventy-ninth year at the time of his death, and although desease and infirmity over took him many years ago, he carried with him a remarkable memory, and a likeable disposition. When a young man became palsied. The disease was manifest before his marriage to Harriett Morris in 1858.
The wife died in 1906, and two children, Mrs. Louise Ellen Cooley now of Gypsum City Colo, and Willaim Parker Bailey, whose whereabout unknown, were left. A few years before the death of Mr. Bailey, Mr. and Mrs Bailey went to Colorado with the daughter, but "Jack" longed for is old home town, and they returned in a short time. For the past 2 years, Mr. Bailey lived at the Howard Boarding House, 1001 Kansas Ave, and it was there he became ill with Bladder trouble 3 weeks ago. An operation seemed to be the only choice of relief. Complication set in, and the end came at four o'clock yesterday afternoon to the man who bore the distinction of probably bring the first white settler in Atchison County.
For more than forty years "Jack" Bailey was a master Mason. It is believed that he made a Mason in the Round Mound Prairie lodge, a well known point in early days on the Leavenworth road, a few miles south of town. At the time of his death Mr. Bailey was a member of the Washington lodge, number 5, and that lodge will conduct the burial service tomorrow. Services will be held from the Howard Boarding House at 10 o'clock and burial in Mt. Vernon cemetery. He was a member of the Christian Church, Rev Jesse Bader will officiate.