James Bayliss, Member of Hancock Post 579, Sherwood G.A.R.

Born in London, England, on April 5, 1827, to his parents Sarah (French) and Edward Baylis, James moved to Defiance County in 1848 with them.  In the 1850 census, he and his brother lived with their mother, the widowed Sarah, 62, in Washington Township.  James, then 23, farmed with his brother, Joseph, 20, on a farm with a value of $200. Their father, Edward, died in 1849.



On September 17, 1854, James married Mary Ellen Lewis (often called Ellen) in Defiance County. James was enumerated in the 1860 Agricultural Census of Washington Township on July 26.  He reported that he owned 30 improved acres and 91 unimproved acres with a value of $1200.  He had three horses, one milk cow and twelve swine with a value of $245. The previous year, the farm produced 55 bushels of wheat, 15 bushels of Indian corn and 75 bushels of oats.

James reported for the Civil War draft registration in June of 1863 from Delaware Township; he was 36, a farmer and born in England.  He enlisted on September 27, 1864, into the 47th Ohio Regiment.  He served seven months and two days, beginning with a march to Georgia to join forces with the troops already in battle.  His regiment participated in battles at Statesboro in December, 1864, as well as Fort McAllister.  Eventually the regiment marched to North Carolina by February, 1865, where he saw the Battle of Snow Hill, Bentonville, and Goldsboro.  He was discharged on July 5, 1865, and mustered out on August 11, 1865.  

(The pension card names his second wife, Mary A. (Thompson) Baylis as she would have filed for a widow's pension in 1896 after James' death.)

It appeared that James and family were already settled in Delaware Township by the time he left for the war.  In 1870, they were again enumerated in the census there.  James Baylis, 44, farmer, with real estate valued at $2000 and personal wealth at $1000 was with his wife, Ellen, 41, and children: Cornelia, 13; Louisa, 11; Edwin, 9; Emery, 8; Elvia, 6; Dellia, 4; Howard, 3; Ellen, 10 months.  Living with them were Eval. Bridenbaugh, 62, born Maryland, and Catharine Durst, 37.

James continued to farm in Delaware Township, as determined by the 1880 census. At the time of this census, James, 53, was ill with sunstroke.  His wife, Ellen, had died on March 2, 1871.  Many of the children were young adults by this time and able to help him.  The children living with him were: James Lewis, 24, farmer; Cornelia, 22, teacher; Louisa, 21, housework; Edward, 19, farm labor; Emory, 17, farm labor; Elva, 15, housework; Della, 14, housework; Howard, 13, farm labor; Ella, 10, housework and Catharine Lewis, 67, grandmother, housework.  On July 30, 1887, James prepared his will.

James Baylis married a second time to Mary A. Thompson on August 16, 1888, in Defiance County.  Mary was originally from Carthage Landing, New York. 

James reported to the 1890 Veterans Census and reported no disabilities from his war service.  However, he might have been ill at the time, as one obituary mentioned the lasting effects of sunstroke as a cause of death.  James died on October 10, 1894.  His obituary was found in the Defiance Daily Express of October 15, 1894 and in the Defiance Democrat of October 18, 1894:

James' family registered the veteran's death.

James Baylis's will was probated on December 1, 1894 in the court at Defiance, Ohio.  James, of course, wanted his debts paid first and then he gave to his son, George H. Baylis, the farm of 120 acres.  George was to pay the others five years after James' death in increments two years apart the sum of $500 to the following: J. L. Baylis, E. W. Baylis, E. A. Baylis, Cornelia A. Baylis now Balduc, Elva Baylis now Garver, Cora E. Baylis, and to "my grandson, James Slough, son of Louisa Slough, the sum of $400 when he is 21," and if he dies without issue, the sum of $400 will be divided equally among all sons.

All of James' personal property was to be sold and the proceeds to be distributed as follows:  first, to pay debts and secondly, the residue was to be divided equally among all sons and daughters.  Emory Baylis, his son, was appointed executor.  At the time of the writing, James' heirs were listed as: James L. Baylis, Emory A., Baylis, Cornelia Balduc, Elva Garver, Ellen Merchant, Edward W. Baylis, James Slough and one in Ann Arbor, Michigan - George H. Baylis.  George Rock and Albert E. Johnson testified to the validity of the will.