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- CHESTER BAILEY, superintendent of the Janesville Cotton Mills,
- since the establishment of the business in 1874, was born
in Williamstown, Berkshire Co., Mass., on the 30th day of September,
1821, and is the son of Charles and Luenna (TREADWELL) BAILEY.
His father was born in Petersburg, Rensselaer Co., N.Y., and
was descended from an old New England family, while his mother,
who was also descended from New England ancestry was born in
Williamstown, Mass. Her father was a native of Rhode Island,
and her mother of Williamstown.
- The subject of this sketch was reared in his native town,
educated in
- the common schools, and at the age of fourteen years entered
a cotton mill to learn the trade of a cotton weaver and has been
employed in that kind of work continuously since, covering a
period of fifty three years. During this
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- time he has served in nearly all the capacities in connection
with the cotton manufacturing business and has been superintendent
of such industries for over a quarter of a century. For fourteen
years he was superintendent of the Arnold Mills of North Adams,
Mass., and for the past twelve years has been superintendent
of the Janesville Cotton Mills.
- On the 20th day of July, 1841, at Hoosic, N.Y., Mr. BAILEY
was united in marriage with Miss
- Betsy E. BROWN, a daughter of John BROWN, of Pownall, Vt.
Of their union a family of four children were born - Emmett C.,
the eldest, married Miss Jane TOWER, of North Adams, and died
in 1880, leaving a widow and two children: Harriet, Emma and
Alice died in infancy; Arthur Emmett, the second of that name
(grandson of Chester BAILEY), is a resident of Janesville and
has charge of his grandfather's cotton-batting mill. The death
of Mrs. BAILEY occurred in May, 1881, and our subject was again
married on Christmas day in 1882, at Janesville, his second union
being with Mrs. Maria THURBER, widow of Elihu THURBER, and a
daughter of William COUSINS. She is a native of Pittstown, N.Y.
- In the month of January, 1875, Mr. BAILEY came to Janesville,
Wis., to take charge of the
- operating department of the Janesville Cotton Manufacturing
Company, and has been in charge of the works up to the present
time, with the exception of about two years, from March 1, 1884,
to June 1, 1886, when he was absent on private business. In 1880
he established a mill of his own at Janesville, which is known
as the Badger State Warp Mills, in which he manufactures warp,
twine and cotton-batting. The mill employs twenty hands and does
an annual business to the value of $20,000. Mr. BAILEY is sole
proprietor of the establishment which he has carried on successfully.
In politics he is an earnest Republican, but has never had time
or inclination for the honors or emoluments of public office.
He is master of his business, and the prosperity attending the
Janesville Cotton Mills is largely due to his able management
and faithful attention to the duties of his position. As a citizen
he stands deservedly high in the esteem of all with whom he has
business or social relations. See portrait upon another page.
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-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, p. 543; lithograph from same
book.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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