James L. Bailey
James L. Bailey served in the 32nd United States Colored Regiment with Company G from February 23, 1864 to August 22, 1865. He was born around 1825 in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.1 During his childhood, he presumably worked for and was owned by Alexander McDowell in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.2 There is no current information detailing James' early life before the civil war. According to James' "U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s to Current for James Bailey", he worked as a laborer and lived in Peters Township, Franklin County.3 At the time, he was five-foot, eight inches with a mulatto complexion.4 On February 23, 1864, he enlisted into the 32nd United States Colored Troops, Company G, located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.5 On May 5, 1864, he was suffering "erysipelas", a bacterial skin infection caused by streptococci that mostly occurs on the legs and face.6 He received treatment at Hilton Head Hospital (Residence of the medical director of the U.S. General Hospital at Hilton Head, S.C. Description: Built to the right of the hospital, facing the Broad River, (Port Royal Bay) /) in South Carolina and did not return for duty until September 4th.7 He was re-hospitalized on May 2, 1865 and was furloughed for thirty days.8 On July of 1865, he was promoted to corporal. A month later, on August 22, 1865, he was discharged.9 It is not known whether he went under the name "James L. Bailey" or "L. James Bailey". From online research and archival documents, articles referred to him as "James Bailey".
He married Elizabeth Keith on August 2, 1849 and had the following ten children: Sarah Jane (1854); James (1852); Margaret (1855); Simon F. (1858); Barbara A. (1860); John (1862); Harriet (1865); George S.W. (1867); James L. (1868); and Irvin Andrew (1873).10 According to the 1870 United States Federal Census for James Bailey, James was 45 years old and lived with his wife, Elizabeth, and all children except Irvin.11 From 1876 and onward, the "Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records", James and his wife were members of the "Presbyterian Church of The Upper West Conogogheaue" and were living in Mercersburg, Franklin, Pennsylvania12. His wife, Elizabeth, was living with nine children in 1880.13 According to the "1910 United States Federal Census for Elizabeth Bailey", Elizabeth was about 70 years old and was living on Carlisle Ward 4, Cumberland Dickinson Avenue.14 She was renting a house with her seven children and was able to read and write. Unfortunately, she passed away on May 11, 1917 at about 88 years old.15 She was living in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on W Dickinson Avenue; she was buried in Union Cemetery on May 14, 1917.16 James passed away on about November 12, 1885 and is buried in Lincoln Cemetery.17 His headstone is marble and located in A-1, number three.18 His registration record in the Report for Veterans' Registration Record states he was a corporal for 1 year, 5 months, and 27 days; he was also a member of the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic).19
1. U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s to Current for James Bailey, 2012.
2. U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s to Current for James Bailey, 2012.
3. U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s to Current for James Bailey, 2012.
4. U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s to Current for James Bailey, 2012.
5. U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s to Current for James Bailey, 2012.
6. Merck Manual Professional Version, s.v. "Erysipelas,"
7. Lape, G. T. Residence of the medical director of the U.S. General Hospital at Hilton Head, S.C. Description: Built to the right of the hospital, facing the Broad River, (Port Royal Bay) /1861-1865.
8. U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s to Current for James Bailey, 2012.
9. U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s to Current for James Bailey, 2012.
10. 1870 United States Federal Census for James Bailey, 470A.
11. 1910 United States Federal Census for Elizabeth Bailey, 2006.
12. Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records, Ancestry.com, n.d.
13. 1880 United States Federal Census for Elizabeth Bailey, 2010.
14. 1910 United States Federal Census for Elizabeth Bailey, 2006.
15. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1967, 2014.
16. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1967, 2014.
17. Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012, 2010.
18. Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012.
19. Donson, M., 29.
Bibliography:
Donson, M. Report for Veterans' Registration Record. Cumberland County Historical Society: Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 1934.
1870 United States Federal Census for James Bailey. Ancestry.com. 470A. NARA: Washington, n.d. ancestrylibrary.com/interactive/7163/4276578.
1880 United States Federal Census for Elizabeth Bailey. Ancestry.com. 223A. NARA: Washington, 2010. ancestrylibrary.com/interactive/6742/4244339.
Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records. Ancestry.com. Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, n.d.
Lape, G. T. Residence of the medical director of the U.S. General Hospital at Hilton Head, S.C. Description: Built to the right of the hospital, facing the Broad River, (Port Royal Bay) /. Photograph. New York: E.D. Doolittle, Army & Navy Printed Stationary & Photographs, No. 83 Grand St., [between 1861 and 1865]. From Library of Congress: Prints and Photographs Division. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.35037.
Merck Manual Professional Version, s.v. "Erysipelas," by Damian Dhar, accessed May 26, 2019. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/dermatologic-disorders/bacteri....
1910 United States Federal Census for Elizabeth Bailey. Ancestry.com. 1A. NARA: Washington, 2006. ancestrylibrary.com/interactive/7884/4450030.
Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission: PA, 2010. ancestrylibrary.com/interactive/1967/31501.
Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1967. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission: PA, 2014. ancestrylibrary.com/interactive/5164/41381.
U.S. Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1863-1865. Ancestry.com. National Archives: Washington, D.C., 2007. ancestrylibrary.com/interactive/1107/miusa1861m.
U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s to Current for James Bailey. Ancestry.com. Find A Grave: USA, 2012. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140507630.