Joseph Mead Bailey (June 22, 1833 – October 17, 1895) was an American jurist and politician.

Early life

Bailey was born in

Middlebury, New York Middlebury is an incorporated town in Wyoming County, New York. The population was 1,508 at the 2000 census. The town is on the north border of the county. History The Town of Middlebury was formed in 1812 from the Town of Warsaw. Geography ...

, to deacon and farmer Aaron (1801-1876) and Maria (née Braman, 1806–1880) Bailey. Through his mother, Bailey was a descendant of William Bradford, the governor of Plymouth Colony.

Education and Career

Bailey received his bachelor's degree from

University of Rochester The University of Rochester (U of R, UR, or U of Rochester) is a private university, private research university in Rochester, New York. The university grants Undergraduate education, undergraduate and graduate degrees, including Doctorate, do ...

in 1854. Bailey studied law and was admitted to the New York bar in 1856. Bailey moved to

Freeport, Illinois Freeport is the county seat and largest city of Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 23,973 at the 2020 census, and the mayor of Freeport is Jodi Miller, elected in 2017. Freeport is known for hosting the second Linc ...

where he practiced law. From 1867 to 1871, Bailey served in the Illinois House of Representatives and was a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

. In 1877, Bailey was elected Illinois circuit court and, then in 1888, was appointed to the

Illinois Appellate Court The Illinois Appellate Court is the court of first appeal for civil and criminal cases rising in the Illinois Circuit Courts. Three Illinois Appellate Court judges hear each case and the concurrence of two is necessary to render a decision. The ...

. In 1888, Bailey founded the Chicago College of Law with only 18 students and acted as its first dean. From 1888 until his death in 1895, Bailey served on the Illinois Supreme Court and was the chief justice of the court. Bailey died in his home in Freeport, Illinois after a long illness.'Judge Bailey Dead,' Princeton Bureau County Tribune, October 25, 1895 Sculptor

Johannes Gelert Johannes Sophus Gelert (1852-1923) was a Danish-born sculptor, who came to the United States in 1887 and during a span of more than thirty years produced numerous works of civic art in the Midwest and on the East Coast.''New Jersey's First Cit ...

memorialized Bailey with a bronze bust that now is located near the library elevator at the Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Personal life

In 1859, Bailey married Anna Olin (1833-1928), daughter of John Olin and Maria Smith. They had five children, and three survived to adulthood. * Charles Olin Bailey (July 2, 1860 - December 20, 1928) * Wallace Bailey (February 26, 1863 - September 19, 1863) * Joseph Mead "Joe" Bailey (November 7, 1864 - September 12, 1891) * John Aaron Bailey (March 27, 1869 - November 18, 1876) * Anna Maria Bailey (April 30, 1876 - July 6, 1898)

Notes

1833 births 1895 deaths People from Freeport, Illinois People from Wyoming County, New York University of Rochester alumni New York (state) lawyers Illinois state court judges Judges of the Illinois Appellate Court Chief Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court Republican Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives 19th-century American politicians 19th-century American judges 19th-century American lawyers Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court {{Illinois-Ilrepresentative-stub