JOHN G. BAILEY was born July 28, 1833, in Hopkins County, Ky., and is a son of John and Martha (Sisk) Bailey. Both his parents were born in Granville County, N. C., and came to Hopkins County when young. The father died in 1833. The mother died August 8, 1872, aged eighty years. Our subject, at the age of seventeen years, entered the circuit clerk's office at Madisonville as deputy, and held that position six years. During this time he also studied law and was engaged in merchandising about two and one-half years. In 1856 he obtained a license to practice at the bar, and since January 1, 1859, has been actively engaged in the practice of law. He has held the office of county clerk of Hopkins County, also county attorney and county judge of Webster County. June 10, 1868, he came to Dixon, where he has since resided. He was married, September 18, 1860, to Miss Adeline McElroy of Union County. This union has been blessed with two sons and two daughters. Mr. Bailey has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for the past thirty years, and has taken ten degrees, including the order of High Priesthood.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 1023.