SYLVESTER M. BALEY GRAVESTONE PHOTO
LABETTE COUNTY, Part 5
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES (ABBOTT-BYRNES).
S. M. BALEY, real estate loan and insurance agent, was born near Winchester, Fairfield Co., Ohio, October 6, 1834. One year there, then lived in the central part of Wood County in the same State until he was fourteen years of age, afterward residing in his native county two years, and then removed to Sangamon County, Ill., living twelve miles northwest of Springfield, until August 7, 1862, when he enlisted in Company K., One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was commissioned First Lieutenant, September 13, 1862, and Captain August 13, 1863. September 20, 1863, he was severely wounded, being permanently disabled thereby. He resigned in February, 1864, returning to Sangamon County, Ill., where he remained until he came to Kansas in February, 1874. He purchased a farm in Osage Township, Labette Co. It being situated on the southwest quarter of Section 4; February 22, 1875, he removed to the farm and resided there until January 1, 1882, when he came to Parsons and engaged in his present business, still owning his farm, however. He was one of the School Directors of his district in Osage Township during the entire period of his residence there, and for two years was President of the Osage Township Sunday School Association. Living near the "Bender" place, which had been the scene of many atrocious murders, mysterious disappearances and suspicious circumstances attending the movements of any one in the neighborhood were likely to be attended with summary if not merited punishment of anyone connected therewith. Allusion to one particular can illustrate the feeling which existed in that section. One Hank Forrest had a difficulty with Charley Buckles, at the house of the father-in-law of Forrest. Immediately after the trouble between the young men Buckles disappeared, and Forrest was arrested for his murder, and narrowly escaped conviction, only three members of the jury being opposed thereto. Although the body of Buckles had not been discovered, Mr. Bayley became satisfied from the statements of the various parties who were present when the quarrel between the parties occurred, that Buckles was alive, and he was fearless enough to stand alone and declare his opinions when public sentiment was universally against him. And not until Buckles appeared alive and well did people conclude that Mr. B. was entirely sane and sincere in his declarations that injustice would be done if Forrest and his father-in-law were severely dealt with as indicated by the prevailing sentiment. Mr. B. is a member of the A. F. and A. M., K. of H., K. and L. of Honor, and Antietam Post No. 64, G. A. R. and of the Labette County Historical Society. He was married at Salisbury, Sangamon Co., Ill., November 19, 1856, to Elizabeth J. Harvey, a native of Sangamon County, Ill., and reared in Illinois. They have seven children living, Walter H., Theresa, Almeda, William A., Luella F., Maud E., Franklin E. and Paulus E. Lost two children. Erastus M. died at the age of seventeen months, Eva May, aged nine years at the time of her death.