Baileys Settled Near
 Written by Mrs. Pearl Barrett of Orafino  G. W. Bailey and family came to Frontier County, Nebraska in October, 1884. They settled on a claim of 80 acres about 16 miles south of Eustis.
Father and mother were soon active in the neighborhood, a neighborhood then reached many miles. School district No. 26 was organized, but no school house built. A small dugout on a maiden lady's claim being the first and a small house, part dugout, part sod, on another claim was used until 1894, when the building now standing was erected.
The second school house was near the old Morrill ranch house. This home was always open for company and many of the settlers looked forward to meeting their neighbors there. I think about the winter of 1889 and '90 a literary society was organized at the school house. Mr.
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and Mrs. Morrill were visiting in Wisconsin that winter, leaving to manage the ranch, three or four boys, the older ones young men and two nieces, Misses Mary and Della Twist and Miss Dolly Connor, Miss Dolly to do most of the work.
The literary society was a grand success. People came for miles and everyone helped. There were readings, recitation, debates and friendly greetings. The best reading I can remember was given by Miss Dolly Connor and began –
I was mighty good lookin' when I
was young,
Tall, pert, black-eyed and slim.
With fellers a courtin' me Sunday
nights,
'Specially Jim.
Miss Connor is now Mrs. Sadie Brown of Farnam. I was pleased to visit her a short time ago and renew our friendship, also to recall old times.
G. W. Bailey was my father. He has been gone from this sphere of action for 25 years. Mother is still in fairly good health and is returning from Florida to live with me at Cambridge, Nebr.
1886
1936
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Web Publisher: Weldon Hoppe