William Francis Bailey

19th century American politician and judge

William F. Bailey

Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 17th circuit
In office January 4, 1892 – January 3, 1898
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	James O'Neill
6th & 10th Mayor of Eau Claire, Wisconsin
In office April 1882 – April 1884
Preceded by	E. T. Farr
Succeeded by	Henry D. Davis
In office April 1877 – April 1878
Preceded by	Levi M. Vilas
Succeeded by	George W. Chapman
District Attorney of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
In office January 5, 1874 – January 4, 1876
Preceded by	Texas Angel
Succeeded by	Loren Edwards

Personal details
Born	(1842-06-20)June 20, 1842 Carmel, New York, U.S.
Died	April 5, 1915(1915-04-05) (aged 72) Eau Claire, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Oakwood Cemetery, Fremont, Ohio
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Mercy S. Cole (m. 1864; died 1882) Frances J. Gillett (m. 1883⁠–⁠1915)
Children	William Francis Bailey Jr. (b. 1884; died 1938)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Volunteers Union Army
Rank	Captain, USV
Unit	38th Reg. N.Y. Vol. Infantry 95th Reg. N.Y. Vol. Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

William Francis Bailey Sr. (June 20, 1842 – April 5, 1915) was an American lawyer, jurist, and Democratic politician. He was the 6th and 10th mayor of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and served six years as a Wisconsin circuit court judge. During the American Civil War, he served as a Union Army officer in the New York volunteer infantry.

Early life

Bailey was born on June 20, 1842, in Carmel, New York, son of Benamin Bailey, a lawyer. Bailey came to Eau Claire in 1867 at the age of 25.^[1]

Career

During the American Civil War, he served with the Union Army, enlisting as a corporal with the 38th New York Infantry Regiment, he was later commissioned as a captain in the 95th New York Infantry Regiment.

After serving as district attorney of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, Bailey served as the sixth and tenth mayor of Eau Claire, elected in 1877, 1882, and 1883. In 1890, he was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 8th congressional district. He lost to incumbent Nils P. Haugen.^[2] Bailey later served as a state district court judge from the 17th circuit from 1892 to 1898. He was a Democrat.

Personal life

He married twice. His first wife, Mercy, died in 1882.^{[citation needed]} Bailey's second wife, Frances, died in 1943.^{[citation needed]}

Electoral history

Wisconsin Circuit Court (1876)

Wisconsin Circuit Court, 11th Circuit Election, 1876^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
General Election, April 4, 1876
	Nonpartisan	Henry D. Barron	2,673	53.50%
	Nonpartisan	William F. Bailey	1,363	27.28%
	Nonpartisan	Solon H. Clough	960	19.22%
Plurality			1,310	26.22%
Total votes			4,996	100.0%

U.S. House of Representatives (1890)

Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District Election, 1890^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
General Election, November 4, 1890
	Republican	Nils P. Haugen (incumbent)	17,609	49.21%	-7.81%
	Democratic	William F. Bailey	15,261	42.65%	+7.74%
	Prohibition	W. C. Jones	2,911	8.14%	+0.32%
Plurality			2,348	6.56%	-15.55%
Total votes			35,781	100.0%	-24.18%
	Republican hold

Wisconsin Circuit Court (1891, 1897)

Wisconsin Circuit Court, 17th Circuit Election, 1891^[5]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
General Election, April 7, 1891
	Nonpartisan	William F. Bailey	4,687	52.94%
	Nonpartisan	James O'Neill	4,166	47.06%
Plurality			521	5.89%
Total votes			8,853	100.0%

Wisconsin Circuit Court, 17th Circuit Election, 1897^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
General Election, April 6, 1897
	Nonpartisan	James O'Neill	7,726	67.71%	+20.66%
	Nonpartisan	William F. Bailey (incumbent)	2,314	20.28%	-32.66%
	Nonpartisan	F. M. Miner	1,370	12.01%
Plurality			5,412	47.43%	+41.55%
Total votes			11,410	100.0%	+28.88%

References

^ "Bailey, William Francis 1842 - 1915". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
^ "Wisconsin U.S. House Elections 1848-2008" (PDF). University of Minnesota. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
^ "Official Canvass". Wisconsin State Journal. May 2, 1876. p. 4. Retrieved November 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Cunningham, Thomas J., ed. (1891). "Election Statistics" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 289–295. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
^ Cunningham, Thomas J., ed. (1893). "Election Statistics" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 313. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
^ Froehlich, William H., ed. (1899). "Election Statistics" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 380. Retrieved November 24, 2021.

Political offices
Preceded by Levi M. Vilas	Mayor of Eau Claire, Wisconsin April 1877 – April 1878	Succeeded by George W. Chapman
Preceded by E. T. Farr	Mayor of Eau Claire, Wisconsin April 1882 – April 1884	Succeeded by Henry D. Davis
Legal offices
Preceded by Texas Angel	District Attorney of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin January 5, 1874 – January 4, 1876	Succeeded by Loren Edwards
New circuit established	Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 17th circuit January 4, 1892 – January 3, 1898	Succeeded by James O'Neill