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William F. Bailey
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 17th circuit
In office
January 4, 1892 – January 3, 1898
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by James O'Neill
6th & 10th Mayor of Eau Claire, Wisconsin
In office
April 1882 – April 1884
Preceded by E. T. Farr
Succeeded by Henry D. Davis
In office
April 1877 – April 1878
Preceded by Levi M. Vilas
Succeeded by George W. Chapman
District Attorney of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
In office
January 5, 1874 – January 4, 1876
Preceded by Texas Angel
Succeeded by Loren Edwards
Personal details
Born (1842-06-20)June 20, 1842
Carmel, New York, U.S.
Died April 5, 1915(1915-04-05) (aged 72)
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place Oakwood Cemetery, Fremont, Ohio
Political party Democratic
Spouses
  • Mercy S. Cole
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1864; died 1882)​
  • Frances J. Gillett
    ​
    (m. 1883⁠–⁠1915)​
Children
  • William Francis Bailey Jr.
  • (b. 1884; died 1938)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Volunteers
Union Army
Rank Captain, USV
Unit
  • 38th Reg. N.Y. Vol. Infantry
  • 95th Reg. N.Y. Vol. Infantry
Battles/wars American Civil War

William Francis Bailey, Sr., (June 20, 1842 – April 5, 1915) was an American 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, he served as a Union Army 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 American Civil War, he served with the Union Army, enlisting as a corporal with the 38th New York Infantry Regiment, he was later commissioned as a captain in the 95th New York Infantry Regiment.

After serving as district attorney of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, 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 from Wisconsin's 8th congressional district. He lost to incumbent Nils P. Haugen. Bailey later served as a state district court judge from the 17th circuit from 1892 to 1898. He was a Democrat.

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)

Wisconsin Circuit Court, 11th Circuit Election, 1876
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 4, 1876
Nonpartisan Henry D. Barron 2,673 53.50%
Nonpartisan William F. Bailey 1,363 27.28%
Nonpartisan Solon H. Clough 960 19.22%
Plurality 1,310 26.22%
Total votes 4,996 100.0%

U.S. House of Representatives (1890)

Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District Election, 1890
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 4, 1890
Republican Nils P. Haugen (incumbent) 17,609 49.21% -7.81%
Democratic William F. Bailey 15,261 42.65% +7.74%
Prohibition W. C. Jones 2,911 8.14% +0.32%
Plurality 2,348 6.56% -15.55%
Total votes 35,781 100.0% -24.18%
Republican hold

Wisconsin Circuit Court (1891, 1897)

Wisconsin Circuit Court, 17th Circuit Election, 1891
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 7, 1891
Nonpartisan William F. Bailey 4,687 52.94%
Nonpartisan James O'Neill 4,166 47.06%
Plurality 521 5.89%
Total votes 8,853 100.0%
Wisconsin Circuit Court, 17th Circuit Election, 1897
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 6, 1897
Nonpartisan James O'Neill 7,726 67.71% +20.66%
Nonpartisan William F. Bailey (incumbent) 2,314 20.28% -32.66%
Nonpartisan F. M. Miner 1,370 12.01%
Plurality 5,412 47.43% +41.55%
Total votes 11,410 100.0% +28.88%
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