BAILEY FAMILY HISTORY
Our earliest known Bailey ancestor was Morgan Bailey, also sometimes listed in records as Richard M. Bailey. Morgan Bailey was born on 4 April 1817 in Kentucky and died 29 March 1905 outside of Eminence, Shannon Co., Missouri, where he had been living with his son George Washington ("Wash") Bailey. He married Catherine Adams on 12 February 1840, probably in Marion Co., Kentucky, where unfortunately the courthouse burned during the Civil War and many records, including marriages, were destroyed. The Bailey's left Kentucky about 1849 or 1850 for Crawford Co., Missouri. Where they lived in Crawford Co. was later divided out to help form Phelps County in 1857.
Phelps County court records in 1859 make mention of an indictment of Morgan Bailey for felonious assault; the case kept being put over to the next term until in May of 1860 he was discharged to "...go home without delay and that he have and recover of said plaintiff all his costs and charges in this behalf paid out and expended."
Morgan and his wife Catherine had at least fourteen children: J. B., Keziah Jane, L. E., Lucinda (Lucy) Laura , William C., C. S., Mary Ellen, Adaline Catherine, Naomi Caroline, Catherine Clara, George Washington, Louisa Eliza, David M., and Rachel.
Keziah Jane Bailey, who went by "Jane," was born in December 1843 in Marion Co., Kentucky. She was married first to Samuel Willard Seaton. Seaton was born about 1837 in Pennsylvania and died in the early 1860's while serving in Union forces in the Civil War. He is said to be buried in Salina, Kansas, while other sources say he died in Helena, Arkansas. Jane then married the Rev. Annis Osgood Merrill on 30 September 1864 in Crawford Co., Missouri. After the Rev. Merrill's death in 1882 Jane lived in Phelps Co., St. Louis, and Shannon Co., Missouri. She died near Birch Tree, Shannon Co., Missouri, in 1908, where she is buried (unmarked) in the Oak Forest Cemetery.
Keziah Jane (Bailey) (Seaton) Merrill
