Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 

JONATHAN BAILEY.

Among the early settlers and enterprising citizens of the town of Whittier none, perhaps, have been 
more thoroughly identified with its best interests than the gentleman whose name stands at the head 
of this article, Jonathan Bailey, President of the Pickering Land and Water Company. He was born 
near Petersburg, Virginia, in 1819, and is a son of David and Sylviah (Peebles) Bailey, both natives 
of Virginia, and descended from Scotch ancestors. David Bailey moved to Clinton County, Ohio, in 
1827, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits till his death, which occurred June 26, 1854. He was 
the father of eight children, four sons and four daughters, only two of whom are living, the subject of 
this sketch and his youngest sister. Mr. Bailey was married in Ohio, in 1842, to Miss Rebecca T. Frazer, 
of Wilmington, Ohio, and daughter of Jonah and Mary (Hadley) Frazer. Her father was born in Tennessee, 
and went to Ohio when he was twelve years old, and her mother, a native of North Carolina, removed with 
her parents to Ohio, at the age of eleven years. They had fifteen children, all dying in infancy except Mrs. 
Bailey. Mr. Bailey was for many years a successful farmer in Ohio, and was also at the same time 
engaged in the real-estate business. In 1875 he came to this sunny land with his son, who was in delicate 
health, and remained six months. In 1885 he returned to California with his wife, that time remaining a year. 
Then, in 1887, with twelve others, he purchased 1,270 acres of land for the purpose of making a Quaker 
settlement. It was called the Quaker Colony, and they named the town

Whittier, in honor of the poet. The place grew with surprising rapidity, and one year after it was laid out the 
church numbered 400, having had only four members to start with. The services. were conducted for three 
months in the dwelling house of Mr. Bailey, his residence being the first one erected there. The Pickering 
Land and Water Company was organized with Jonathan Bailey as President; Hervey Ludley, Secretary 
and Treasurer; John H. Painter and Elbert Newton as the first board. The company has since bought 2,700 
acres more. Whittier is a town most beautifully located, and has a population of about 1,000.

 

An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1889   
Page 714

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler