Bailey & Warner

    The present partnership was formed in January, 1883, by Frank Bailey and I. W. Warner. They carry silks, carpets, hats, caps, groceries, etc. amounting in value to about $15,000, while their sales will probably average annually about $45,000. Frank Bailey is a native of Ashland County, Ohio, and was born May 27, 1841, being one of ten children, all living, born to Amaziah and Nancy (Van Tilburg) Bailey, natives of Ohio, and of English descent. He received a liberal education and served three months in the late war in Company B, One Hundred and Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He had enlisted in August, 1862, for three years, but owing to protracted ill health was discharge in November of the same year. For a few years he was employed in teaching and going to school. In 1868, he emigrated to Indiana and first settled in Carroll County, afterward removing to White County. In the last mentioned place he was engaged in farming and merchandising, eight months of the time, as a partner of J. F. Warner, at Wolcott. Together they removed their stock of goods to Fowler in February, 1874. Mr. Bailey retired from the firm in 1875 and embarked in the grocery trade alone, at the end of four years adding dry goods and a little later purchasing his former partner's stock and consolidating the two stores. In 1882, he sold this store, but in 1883, with his present partner, repurchased it, an has since been employed in its management. Mr. Bailey is a Republican, has served three years as Town Treasurer, and was married June 25, 1872, to Miss Elizabeth Warner, by whom he is the father of one daughter, Oma.

    I. W. Warner is a brother of J. F. Warner, and was born in Fayette County, Ohio, August 5, 1853. Moving with his parents to Champaign County, Illinois when two years old, he was there reared and educated. At sixteen years of age, he began for himself, and on attaining his majority, left home and went to Wolcott, Indiana, where he was engaged in merchandising in partnership with his brother, afterward with his present partner. In November, 1874, he removed to Fowler, where he has since resided, engaged in mercantile pursuits, part of the time on his own responsibility, and part of the time in the capacity of clerk. He began life a poor boy, and what he now possesses was obtained by his own labor. December 25, 1873, he was married at Wolcott, to Miss Alice J. Lisk, and to their union three children have been born -Charlie, Oda and Freddie. Mr. Warner is a Republican and one of the progressive citizens of Benton County.

Source: Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. F.A. Battey & Co., 1883.