Baileyi

Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.

     ISAAC J. BAILEY, closely identified with steamboat transportation on the Columbia river, resides at Wenatchee, Chelan county. His native state is New Jersey, and he was born September 15, 1860. His father, James Bailey, is a native of New Jersey, now residing in Wisconsin; his mother, Matilda (Jones) Bailey was born in the Empire state, of Welsh ancestry. She passed away in Wisconsin in 1895.
     At the age of eight years our subject left New Jersey, and with the family, located in Illinois.   Here he attended the district school and assisted his father in the meat business. After leaving school our subject became interested in bridge building, and has had charge of the construction of a great deal of important work in this line, in various parts of the United States. He built the railway trestle across Hangman creek, Spokane, and in 1890, in partnership with J. L. Bailey (no relative), he secured a contract to build fifty-five miles of trestle and bridge work in the Great Northern railroad. This enterprise consumed two years. This firm built all of the high trestle on the Great Northern, in the vicinity if Spokane. The ferry across the Columbia, between Wenatchee and Douglas county, was constructed by our subject, and he and his partner still own and control the same.
     Mr. Bailey, in company with John J. O'Connor, built the steamboat Wenatchee, which they ran two and one-half years. In July, 1901, she was burned to the water's edge. Later they built the North Star, and at present our subject devotes most of his time to transportation by river methods.
     Mr. Bailey has two sisters, Alice Banks and Georgia. In June, 1894, at Wenatchee, he was married to Helen M. Parrish, born near Ellensburg, and the daughter of George and Louise Parrish. They have one child, Ruth M. The home is beautifully located, and aside from this property he owns twelve acres of land across the Columbia river, ten acres of orchard on Wenatchee avenue, several lots on Mission avenue, and his interest in the ferry property.
     He is a member of the M. W. A., and politically is independent.