Made Delaware Township, Sac County, Iowa, his home since 1880. He was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1851, the son of Joab and Pleasant Jane (Roberts) Bailey, natives of Green County, Pa., where they reared, educated and married. E. R. Bailey was only a few months of age when his parents moved to DeWitt County, Illinois, in the fall of 1851, becoming pioneers of that county. He received his education in the common schools of the county. He can remember having seen deer and wolves in droves on the wild prairies of Illinois in his childhood days. He remained in Illinois until 1880, engaged in farming. He moved to Buena Vista County, Iowa, remained a short time, and then went to Sac County; in 1881, he purchased his farm which was partly improved, consisting of 108 acres, situated 6 1/2 miles from Newell, Iowa. His house was a two-story structure, and he carried on dairying and general farming. He married Eva S. Cushman on December 17, 1885, a daughter of H. A. and Esther M. (Clark) Cushman. Mrs. Bailey had been reared and educated in Fayette County and Buena Vista Counties. She was a teacher in Buena Vista County for 13 years prior to her marriage and taught for one term in Sac County. Eva and E. R. Bailey had two children: Homer E. (born Nov. 30, 1886), and Essie M. (born June 6, 1890). Mr. Bailey served as Justice of the Peace