Biographical sketch extracted from:

Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. p. 694-695.

PETER BAILEY, deceased, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, May 29, 1818, son of Jacob and Barbara (Rupright) BAILEY, early settlers of that county. He learned the carpenter’s trade when a young man, and worked at that business for some time after coming to this county. He was reared to industrious and economical habits and always saved his money. In 1827 Jacob Meyer, with his wife Catherine, came from Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, and settled near Lordstown. They were the parents of ten children --- Nathan, Daniel, Polly, Catherine, Sarah, Lovina, Eliza and Lydia; two are deceased. Lydia Meyer became the wife of our subject in April, 1842, and they began housekeeping near the village of Lordstown, where Peter had purchased twenty acres of land. Six of their children were born in Ohio—Sarah, wife of William Goldner; Mary, wife of Jacob Loo; Catherine, now Mrs. Calvin Spencer; Elizabeth, wife of Christian Loo; Jacob, who married Mary Rodgers, of Lockport, New York, and residing at Paulding Center, Ohio; George, who married Emma Lamb, and living at Uniondale. The following were born in Union Township--Joseph E., who married Annie Lepper; Eliza, wife of Isaac Christlieb; Matilda, wife of John Burnsides, and Jennie, wife of Levi Shorey. Mr. Bailey removed to this county with his family in 1851, settling upon the farm where his widow now resides. A poor log cabin and one acre cleared were all the improvements that had been made, as the land was situated on the Indian Reserve, which had been open for settlement only a short time. A part of the cabin had no floor, and for several years they lived in a very primitive way. He was able to pay cash for his land, and being the happy possessor of a watch, sold that to his father, who moved the family here, for money enough to buy a cow. While the wife and children were picking brush and rolling up the smaller logs, Peter was working hard at his trade. Their meat was wild game. Wolves howled around the cabin at night, and the babes would nestle closer to their good mother’s side as the mournful notes rose high on the midnight air. They could not then foresee that in a few short years railroads would pass so near to them, and that enterprising towns would spring up, where there was nought but an unbroken forest and not a settler’s cabin could be seen. They came to the township over the plank road leading from Fort Wayne to Bluffton, and the early settler depended on the ax to clear a road to the land owned by each; and had they not carried a compasss, [sic] would frequently have been lost in the woods. Mr. Bailey was one of the first supervisors in the township, and helped to clear up the line and locate the roads running in both directions from his land. During his later years he devoted his time entirely to his farm, and at his death, which occurred May 15, 1873, left a quarter-section of land to his family. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and was one of the first to assist in the establishment of that church in the neighborhood. He was highly respected and his loss was deeply regretted. His wife is now sixty-six years of age, is yet sprightly and cheerful. She resides on the homestead, which is managed by her grandson, Edward L. Goldner.