William Francis Bailey, Sr., (June 20, 1842April 5, 1915) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

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 The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

, he served as a

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

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.

Career

During the

, he served with the

, enlisting as a corporal with the

38th New York Infantry Regiment The 38th New York Infantry Regiment was a two-year infantry regiment in the U.S. Army during the American Civil War. Service The 38th New York Infantry was organized at New York city by , Colonel J. H. Hobart Ward who was appointed by the State ...

, he was later commissioned as a

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in the 95th New York Infantry Regiment. After serving as district attorney of

Eau Claire County, Wisconsin Eau Claire County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 105,710. Its county seat is Eau Claire. The county took its name from the Eau Claire River. Eau Claire County is included in the ...

, 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 The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...

from

Wisconsin's 8th congressional district Wisconsin's 8th congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in northeastern Wisconsin. It is currently represented by Mike Gallagher, a Republican. Gallagher won the open seat vacated by Re ...

. He lost to incumbent

Nils P. Haugen Nils Pederson Haugen (March 9, 1849April 23, 1931) was a Norwegian American immigrant, lawyer, and politician. He served four terms in the United States House of Representatives, representing western Wisconsin. He was a leading member of the Pr ...

. Bailey later served as a state district court judge from the 17th circuit from 1892 to 1898. He was a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

Personal life

He married twice. His first wife, Mercy, died in 1882. Bailey's second wife, Frances, died in 1943.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Circuit Court (1876)

, colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;", General Election, April 4, 1876

U.S. House of Representatives (1890)

, colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;", General Election, November 4, 1890

Wisconsin Circuit Court (1891, 1897)

, colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;", General Election, April 7, 1891 , colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;", General Election, April 6, 1897

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Bailey, William Francis People from Carmel, New York Mayors of Eau Claire, Wisconsin Wisconsin Democrats Wisconsin lawyers People of New York (state) in the American Civil War People of Wisconsin in the American Civil War Union Army officers Union Army soldiers 1842 births 1915 deaths 19th-century American politicians 19th-century American lawyers