Notes for William H. Bagley

The Generations of Thomas Pine Petznick

Generations

Thomas Pine Petznick

Notes for William H. Bagley

[janicebagley.ged]
LAND:
# NAME BOOK PAGE
7223 Gilmore 12 80
7224 Welch, Denny 9 51
7225 Gilmore, Wm NS NS
7226 Beatty, George NS NS
Injunction--Wm. H. Bagley--See File#7324
1860 Census-Tipton, IA age 39, Furniture Dealer
1870 Census-Cass, Cedar Co., IA pg 135
Des Moines City of Cemeteries - Woodland
2019 Woodland Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 271-8722
"My house burnt down and in it were my discharge papers." App for Pension#299.890 192.720-Invalid Pension.
served as Chaplain and Wagon Master until end of the war. On the hand-written answers to pension app., #12 is: discharge burnt when my house burnt down.
William Bagley age 39 Furniture Dealer RE$4000, PP$1500 b VT
Nancy age 25 b IN
George age 6 b IA
Sarah A age 2 b IA
Horace Morrow age 18 laborer b OH
Des Moines, Polk Co., IA ED 78 Sheet 11, line 11.
William Bagley Head Sept. 1820 age 79 marr 47 yrs VTNH VT Pensioner OMH
Nancy J Wife June 1834 age 65 3 CH 2 LIV IN KY NC
1870 BAGLEY WILLIAM Cedar County IA 199 Fairfield Township
under SA Baggulay
1851 BAGLEY WILLIAM Cedar County IA 004 No Township Listed
under 5=1; 5-10=3; 30-40=1; 15-20=1; Females=1 bet 20-30
Gospel Herald-
WILLIAM H.BAGLEY 1820-1909
A GOOD MAN GONE
The Herald of Gospel Liberty By Rev. D.M. Helfenstein, D. D., Des Moines, IA
Our dear old Bro. William Bagley is with us no more. I turn to the Herald of February 11, 1909, and see that Bagley, Holmes and Weston are all that are left of that memorable convention at Marlon, N. Y. The trio is broken. It is now Holmes and Weston.
If we drop out the third letter of Bro. Holmes name and cut off the last and to the second letter of Bro. Bagley's name we add the fourth and the one dropped from Bro. Holmes name we have the words, that in a very short time will express the fate concerning all of this trio, and answer the question, "Where is that trio in 1909?". All Home.
My brother, turn to your Herald of February 11 and gaze for a few moments on the picture of this noble trio. These men were "Watchmen" in 1850, and on back of that just how far I cannot tell, but Brother Bagley entered the ministry when he was about twenty two, if I remember rightly what he told me. This would make nearly sixty-nine years a minister of the gospel, for he was born September 9, 1920.
Noble trio, we honor you for what you have done. As young ministers, we feel you have left a heritage to the Christian Church that we must take care of and hand down to those who come after us.
I have stated the date of the beginning of Bro. Bagley's earthly life. June 30th, about 8 p.m., so peacefully did he breathe his last, that Bro. Follansbee, and others that at his bedside hardly realized he was gone.
After our dear brother took down, which was about 8 days before he died, I called to see him, and while the Lord had raised him up a number of times, I had a feeling as soon as I saw him that he was coming close to the end of his earthly pilgrimage. We had often talked about the future and the goodness of God, and I knew that his trust was in the Lord, but I felt I should talk to him now as one who would soon be done with the things of earth. I said, "Bro. Bagley, if indeed the end is drawing near have you anything you want to say"?. He replied, "I wish I had been a better Christian." I asked if he had any wished that he wanted carried out when he should be called home? He replied, "I want Bro. Follllansbee to speak of my army, for he had a father in the war, and I want you to speak of the other part of my life." I said, "Have you any particular lesson you what read?" He replied, "Read from the Psalms -------(illegible)---.
At another time when I visited him, I said "Brother Bagley, I think you will get to see the House of many mansions before the rest of us." He said, "I hope so." I said, "You have no doubt but there is one for you?" Quick came the answer "oh no he said, if it were not so, he would have told me."
He was unconscious before his death, but before he lost all consciousness of his surroundings, his dear companion came to his bed and he looked up at her and she said "Pa, do you know me?" Too weak to speak, but he nodded his head, and no doubt the thought was in his heart: 'I will know you in heaven too, dear wife."
I wish to speak of a testimony that Bro. Bagley's son George, gave while he and Bro. Follansbee were watching at his bedside. He said "Mr. Follansbee, I do not remember one thing that my father ever did that I am ashamed of." What a tribute to a father's life!
The funeral services were held at the church and the large attendance and floral offerings, spoke of the esteem with which our good brother was held.
His wishes were carried out as to the speaker and Bro. Follansbee moved many hearts as he spoke in harmony with Brother Bagley's request.
The G.A.R. had a short but impressive service before we left the church. We laid the remains to rest by the side of a daughter who some years ago, went on before, and whom he said he saw a few days before his death.
Sister Bagley has rented her home and gone to live with her daughter, Mrs. McClelland, at Stanwood, Iowa.
It was marvelous how God sustained this dear sister through all the affliction of the loss of her husband and the breaking up and leaving her home that she had enjoyed so many years.
The son and daughter were both at home when father died, and mother will have a good home with her daughter, but we will miss her so much from the church here, as we will also Bro. Bagley.
A little line of family history may be very interesting to many, especially those of New England. In 1620, there came to America on the Mayflower, Mary Chilton, who became celebrated, being the first female across the waters and stand on New England soil. Her father and mother died the first winter, and she married a brother of Governor Winslow. Five children were born to this union, and their daughter Susannah Winslow married Robert Latham. James Latham, their son married Mill Delevenane. Their son, Joseph married Susan Hayward in 1717. They had Joseph who married Mary Prior and their son James married Esther Baker of Royalton, Vermont. Their son Isaac married Jemima Poor in 1792. Their son married Polly Cole. Almira, their daughter was born in 1801 and became the wife of Simeon Arvin Bagley. To this union was born eight children, the subject of this sketch is the oldest and born in Windsor County, Vermont. D.M. Delfenstein, D.D.
Here continues the article of The Herald of Gospel Liberty, this part written by W.V. Lucas, Santa Cruz, California.
Rev. WILLIAM BAGLEY
When I read the notice of the death of Rev. William Bagley I sat in silence for a time and reflected upon the past half century. I knew and loved him as a gentleman, his Christian meekness and his loyalty to the cause of our Lord.
I recalled the first time I met him at Strawberry Point, Iowa at the fifth meeting of the Northeastern Iowa Christian Conference in 1859.1850? He came in company with his father, the Rev. Stephen (Simeon, not Stephen) A. Bagley, who was the Nestor of the conference. At that meeting were gathered a galazy of prominent that------?-----in their work native eloquence and a greater fire can hardly be matched in the history of the Christian Church. Revs. Patrick ---lory, Moses Polley, Jas. N. Baker, James Killen. Geo. W. Tillett, W.C. Smith. Simeon A. and William Bagley were the Nertors, each a host in himself. I was just stripling in years and a novice in e-----ence, but I was kindly treated and encouraged to improve the talent given me. I held up their practice to encourage and uphold the men who meditated, engaging in the ministry. There was no jealousy or criticism among them. There was no salari-- attempt preachers to crowd each other, there was an immense field ready for men who had messages to deliver.
All these men have passed away, the conference itself lost its visibility years ago. Only a few young men essayed to --- up the mantles laid down by the great ones mentioned above. Today I stand alone on the Pacific coast, as the sole survivor of the membership of that conference at that time.
In the years that followed I often --met Bro. Bagley as the yoke-fellow and the strong one he was. In our younger days, we saw the Ark move majestically and grandly to victory. But declension(?) and breaking away came and the fruits of many successful campaigns were lost because of business-like system to hold and take of what we had.
Poverty drove the preachers our of the gospel field into fields of industry where they could earn a living for themselves and families. They lost interest in the work and ministry and while they maintained their integrity and character as Christian men, they worshipped with others. None so far away as I know, ever forgot the old Christian Church and its spiritual power; but they were not willing to establish isolated churches to dwindle away and die because association and communion with people of like "precious faith" could not be had.
When the civil war came upon the country, Brother Bagley enlisted as a private soldier in the 35th Iowa Infantry, but was soon promoted to the chaplaincy of the regiment, he served well and faithfully as such until the close of the struggle. He was loved and respected by all his comrades. Being in the same division, we often met and when opportunity offered, we visited together like school boys.
On one occasion, Bro. Bagley heard that Rev. Adolphus Bradfield of the 39th Iowa Infantry, which belonged to another division, would preach to his regiment on a Sunday while the army was resting, sent me word and an invitation to join him in going about a mile to the service which I gladly did. When we reached the camp of the 39th, they were singing. Bradfield mounted an old rotten log and preached one of his methodical, logical and powerful sermons to about a thousand men, lying prone, on the ground and drinking in the truths he gave them. Brother Bagley closed the service with a ringing exhortation and a fervent prayer. It was a splendid service in the woods of Tennessee. Bradfield was a captain in the line, a good soldier and as sound and able a preacher as the Christain Church ever had in Iowa. Again, I am left as the last of that trio of Christian soldiers. Before me lies a letter from Brother Bagley, written in April of this year, telling me that he felt that the time of his departure was approaching and not far away. In it he recited many of our mutual experiences and tenderly referred to the departure of our two early co-laborers, Judge W.C. Smith and Nathan Potter, between whom we had a particularly strong bond for years.
I mourn the departure of Brother Bagley and yet know it is far better he should depart and be with the Lord. In my answer to his letter, I told him, "when the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there," which by the grace of God shall be.
Across the street from my home lives a druggist who was in Brother Bagley's Regiment. When I saw the notice of the death, I went over and told him what I had read. He reflected a moment and then looked at me and said, "As good a man as I ever knew, is gone." He is not a Christian man, therefore the tribute is all the more beautiful.
William Bagley was not a great preacher, but he was an efficient one, and but he was an efficient one, and many stars will adorn the crown of his rejoicing. All honor to his memory.
---------------------
WILLIAM H. BAGLEY (1820-1909)
sent by Judy Jackson (second--great-granddaughter)
William was the eldest child of Simeon and Almira Bagley. He was born September 9, 1820, in Sharon, VT. His family moved to Knox Co., Ohio sometime between May 1825 and March, 1828. They left Ohio in 1836 and arrived at Wapsininoc Settlement, Iowa on October 21St. Simeon layed out the town and called it West Liberty, and became its first Postmaster.
It was here that William says "he gave his heart to the Lord" on January 1St 1838, at Buckinghames Church. He delivered his first sermon on January st 1843 in the same church.
Again, the family moved this time to Tipton, IA where they resided a number of years on Meredian Street.
William was married to Nancy Jane Chambers on January st 1853, in her father’s house at the mouth of Pine Creek, near Fairport, Muscatine Co., Iowa. Amusingly, when they registered the marriage in the county records, the clerk made an error and listed him as William Chambers. This mistake was not discovered until many years later, when he applied for his pension. Two of Nancy’s brothers, John and Anderson, had to submit sworn statements attesting that they had been present during the ceremony, and that William and Nancy had always considered themselves married! I’m sure that this small legality may have upset this proper couple.
After their marriage, they resided in Tipton, where their son, George was born on August 11, 1854. Their first daughter, Sarah Almira, was born, July 24, 1858.
tWilliam continued active religious involvement throughout his lifetime. In 1859, William attended the 5th session of the N. E. Iowa Christian Conference, where his father was chosen Rector of the conference.
When the Civil War began, William enlisted as a private, under the command of Col. S.J. Hill, of the Iowa Infantry. Col. Hill, fell ill at the battle of Nashville, and William acquired his horse, "Dixie Bill." (this evidently became a favorite mount, and was rumored to have been buried in the front yard when he died of old age.) The most noteworthy battle William was in was at Vicksburg, where he suffered quite a hearing loss from the "constant barrage of cannon fire." He also suffered from diarrhea and rheumatism. He was discharged as a private on January 30, 1865, so that he could accept a promotion to Chaplain with the same company and regiment.
After the war, Almira delivered their third child, Mary, who was born March 6, 1869. She died at the age of 21 on January 3, 1890 of congenital heart disease. The family had moved to Des Moines, soon after Mary’s birth and resided at 1007 Lafayette Avenue, until William’s death. He was evidently Minister at the First Christian Church on 12th Street.
William died June 30, 1909, after eight days of illness. He was interred next to his daughter Mary, in Woodland Cemetery. After his death, Nancy rented out the house and went to live with her older daughter, Sarah Almira Moreland McClellan in Stanwood, Iowa. She died two years later on March 5, 1911.
Mrs. Nancy J. Bagley 1007 w Lafayette Des Moines IA 1891
William Bagley bakery 1903 w Cottage Grove avenue Des Moines IA 1891

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