The Hughes Family History

Austin's mother Sarah was listed in his Household on the 1870 Gibson Co. census.


The following article from: "Gibson County Illustrated," written in 1901 by W. P. Greene.

Austin Bailey and George W. Bailey.

Austin Bailey was born in Wake County, near Raleigh, N. C., on February 14, 1822.
He ran away from his father in North Carolina at the age of fourteen, making his way
on foot, and in such other ways as he could travel, to Gibson County, Tenn. This was about
1826. He went to work on a farm at fifteen cents per day and board, for Gray Barker, near
Old Gibson Church, in the Twentieth District. He worked for some time for Barker and
other farmers, and then hired to work at McDowell's mill on middle fork of Forked Deer River.

At about the age of eighteen he married Miss Martha Motley and began housekeeping near
the mill; he continued his connection with the mill until after the war, running it during the
war. He owned one-fourth interest in the mill during this time but sold out in anticipation of
water power'' being superseded be steam. Up to the close of the war, or when the slaves were
freed, Mr. Bailey had, by industry, economy, and good management, a sum aggregating $10,000.
This he had principally invested in slaves. When the slaves were freed his property and savings
were swept away, leaving him about 150 acres of land. He then devoted himself to farming and
had a most excellent helper in his son George, who was born April 11, 1849; and at the close
of the war, about the time that Mr. bailey was passing through the crisis of its disaster, he was
able to take a very active part in his father's business. He gradually developed such talent for
business and work that a great many of the transactions in which his father engaged were
entrusted to his hands. He finally became a full partner in all the business. The firm of
Bailey & Son is at this time one of the leading firms of the county in farming and real estate
operations. Mr. Bailey's rule in life has been to pay as he goes. He never contracts a debt, even
in the smallest matters; never goes security for anyone or goes on bond, and of course never
asks anyone to go security for him.

Mr. Austin Bailey is now seventy-nine years old, and for many years past has relied on his
son George for the active part of his business affairs, and for carrying on correspondence
and attending to the details of the firm's varied interests.

The firm of Bailey & Son is interested in both the Merchants' State Bank and the Bank of
Humboldt, Mr. George W. Bailey being vice president of the Bank of Humboldt.

The firm owns a large amount of farm lands in Gibson and Crockett Counties, amounting to 3,000
acres or more, and business property in Trenton and Humboldt. Mr. George W. Bailey has never
married-not on account of any aversion to the female sex, but he says that he has been too busy
all his life to look around for a wife, but will have a little leisure from this on, and will give the
subject some attention.

Mr. Austin Bailey, though advanced in age, is still active and zealous in business affairs. He is
well preserved both in body and mind, and is socially inclined, being fond of the society of young people.

His religious views correspond to those of the Missionary Baptists. He has always been a very
temperate man, has never used tobacco in any form, and eschews liquors of all kinds.

The tax schedule of Gibson County shows the holdings of Bailey & Son to be among the largest in the
county, and municipal-foot up over $700 per annum. Mr. Bailey has a very comfortable home on one
of his farms about eight miles west of Humboldt, ten miles southwest of Trenton, and two miles east
of Gibson Wells on the Humboldt and Gibson Wells road.

• Married: 2 DEC 1844 in Gibson Co, Tn ²

1. George W. Bailey b: 11 APR 1849 in Gibson Co, Tn
2. Thomas B. Bailey b: 15 JUL 1852 in Gibson Co, Tn
3. Sis Bailey b: ABT 1853 in Tn
4. Lucinda (Lucy) S. Bailey b: ABT 1856 in Gibson Co, Tn
5. Emily Martha Bailey b: ABT 1857 in Gibson Co, Tn

1. Note:
   "Gibson County Illustrated," written in 1901 by W. P. Greene.
2. Note:
   Bailey, Larry loblob@ @ctcweb.net, Council, ID. , contributor with research assistance from Genealogist Cindy J. (Thompson) Mize.