Edward Alfred Bailey

E.A. “Gink” Bailey was a Newspaper Man with no equal. I don't think there has been anyone that started more Newspapers, than this man. Especially in the Canadian West. Edward Alfred Bailey died at the age of 84. He was Baptized Feb 17, 1839 in Broughton, near Preston, Lancashire, England.

He was married twice- 1st wife: Elizabeth “Eliza” Bailey, nee (Scone?), b- ca 1839 in England, d- ca Sept 19, 1890, Rapid City, MB. Edward and Eliza had 2 sons: John William Bailey, b- June 10, 1870 in ON, (He was 10 mo old in 1871 census) 1921 he is shown married with a son and daughter. Shown living in Yellowgrass SK, as a Printer in his own shop. Wife Margarete Bailey, b- age 35 (1921) in ON, son John Bailey, b- 1917 in SK, and daughter Margarete Bailey, b- 1920 in SK.

2nd son- and Charles Henry Bailey, b- Nov 13, 1877 in ON,

Charles Henry Bailey shown as a Printer, in 1901, in North Norfolk Municipality, MacDonald, MB.

Then in 1901 census we have more children, so we know he married for the 2nd time.
His 2nd wife was Annie Alice Diell, b- 1869 in Ottawa, ON, d- June 28, 1900, at the Bailey Family residence, at MacGregor MB, she was buried in MacGregor Cemetery. He must have married her shortly after Eliza died.
Her father was Samuel Diell, b- Aug 29, 1851 in Masham, Quebec, Canada, d- May 29, 1880 in Winnipeg MB, son of Samuel Diell and Elizabeth Black.
Annie's mother- Maria Farley, b- Feb 27, 1852, New York City, NY, USA, d- Nov 18, 1937 in Winnipeg, MB, Maria married Thomas Finn First, and had 2 children with him, before marrying Samuel Diell, and having 6 more. \
Edward A. Bailey, had 5 children with Annie: son- Samuel John Bailey, b- Dec 28, 1891 in Winnipeg, MB, d- July 22, 1972 in Vancouver, BC, Samuel married Lillian Harding (1885-1979) and had a child- Frances Amy Bailey ; son- James Diell Bailey, b- Oct 12, 1893 (1897 on headstone) in Winnipeg, MB, d- June 5, 1934 in Winnipeg MB, age 39, buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Winnipeg MB ; then a daughter, Ruth Margaret Bailey, b- Jan 28, 1897 in MB., d- 1948 in Weyburn, SK., (vital stats says she was born Jan 30, 1897 and her name was Margaret Ruth Louise and interesting part the 2 sons are not shown?) Ruth married Thomas McLeod (1887-1966) Ruth had one child;- son John Jack Bailey, born Dec 27, 1892 in Winnipeg MB, and he married a Mollie ? ; daughter Marie Edna Bailey, b-July 17, 1895 in Winnipeg, MB, d- 1996, buried in Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg MB ; daughter- Maria Kate Bailey, b- 1899, d- Tribune SK., she married twice, David Fergusin Petri, had one child with him, and George Waterhouse, who she had 2 more children with.

James Diell Bailey enlisted in WWI, Jan 30, 1918, in Winnipeg, Reg #2380309. He went overseas with the Fort Garry Horse. Occupation Sash Maker in Winnipeg when he enlisted. His father was next of kin. James married Pearl Kathleen Gilboy, (1899-1972, buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Winnipeg MB.), They had 3 sons: Ted “Teddy” Bailey, (1922-1946, buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Winnipeg MB.); Raymond Bailey; and a son John “Johnnie” Bailey; and a daughter, June Bailey (1927-1974, buried in Elmwood Cemetery, in Winnipeg, MB.).
Samuel J. Bailey also enlisted in WWI- Oct 10, 1918 in Regina, he was Single, a Short / Rein Driver, living in Tribune SK. His next of kin was his brother Charles Henry Bailey who lived in Ogema SK.


Edward A. Bailey came to Canada at the age of 16, in 1854. Edward Bailey learned his trade at Simcoe and Guelph ON. June 1858, he joined the newly formed 100th Prince of Wales, Royal Canadian Regiment. It was formed to stop the Indian Rebellion in India, at that time. The mutiny was over before they arrived, so the Regiment served in London, Gibraltar, and Malta. He served in all those places for 3 years, and achieved the Rank of Sergeant. He served on the Garrison and Regimental Staffs. While in Gibraltar he was Mechanical Superintendent of the Gibraltar Chronicle, a small Daily Newspaper published by the Officers of the Garrison. He bought his way out of the military, in Malta, ca 1861, in one source, but the Regiment was not sent to Malta until 1863 in another?. Hundreds of the soldiers died of cholera there. No wonder he left!
He spent 3 years in England. He joined the 1st Manchester Royal Volunteers, and served on their staff, and was Drillmaster at the Swinton Moral and Industrial School, in Manchester, set up by the Manchester Poor Union, as a School for Pauper Children, built in 1840. Swinton Town Hall stands on the site today.

He then returned to Canada, married now, in the Fall of 1869. Became foreman of the St. Mary's Argus“ and “Kincardine Review”. He then became proof reader for the Job Department of the Toronto Globe. He contributed articles to Toronto papers for 4 years. He then acquired the Oakville Express, established in 1875, which he published for 7 years. Shown in 1876, 1877, and 1878 Newspaper Directories as Publisher and Editor. Selling that newspaper, he became General Manager of the Woodstock Times. Then he became Mechanical Manager of the Sarnia Observer. From there he went to Kalamazoo Michigan. Returning in 1884 to Canada. He was Editor of the Nelson (Nelsonville), Selkirk Municipality, MB, Manitoba Mountaineer a Weekly in 1884. This Paper was established in 1880 by “Jeff Gee” who was actually, J.F. Galbraith (Julius Frazelle Glabraith,1854-1934) the Publisher. “Manitoba Mountaineer” was published from 1880-1885, the town of Nelson died when the CPR bypassed it's location. When Publisher Galbraith returned from an illness, Edward left the paper, and went to Winnipeg, and took over The CPR Register there. From Mar-June 1886 he was the CPR Emigration Commissioner in Ontario, and traveled with their Special Exhibition Car for nearly 4 months. He was accompanied by Mr. S.A. Bedford, (Spencer Argyle Bedford, 1851-1933) who in 1888 became Superintendent of the Brandon Experimental Farm. When they returned, they both donated a Cavalry Carbine, Sword, and Pistol, taken in the Windmill Fight in 1838, in Prescott ON. They obtained the items from someone in Prescott on their travels. Jan 21, 1886 E.A. Bailey was in Winnipeg at a Farmer's Union Meeting. He then moved to Brandon, still working on the “CPR Register”, changing it's name to Northwest Vindicator. June 1886 he was living in Brandon MB. “The Vindicator” moved again to Rapid City MB. Dec. 1887 he was in Rapid City. Here Edward A. Bailey was appointed County Clerk and JP. He sold the newspaper to H.C. Clay (Henry C. Clay-b-Oct 7, 1847 in New Jersey USA, d- ?, who lived in Mason, Washington in 1910), who changed the name to “Rapid City Reporter”. Mar 1891 he traveled from Rapid City MB. to Brandon MB on a visit. July 1891 he attended the Minnedosa Liberal Association meeting. May 1891 he was owner and operator of “Saskatchewan Nurseries” at Rapid City MB. Besides a newspaper man he was an outstanding gardener.

In 1892 he resigned as County Clerk, and moved to Morden, MB. Here he started The Herald. June 1892 E. A. Bailey is shown as Editor of the “Morden Herald”. First Issue of the “Morden Herald”, was ca Mar 1, 1892. He was moving his plant and household goods on Feb 8, 1892 to Morden MB. He sold that newspaper, and started the Wawanesa Enterprise. This newspaper was one of the few that failed. He was in Wawanesa in Jan 1894, representing their Board of Trade as their Secretary Treasurer. Aug 1894 he still had the “Wawanesa Enterprise”. One source says he left the “Enterprise” in charge of his son, John W. Bailey, while he went to Emerson in mid May 1895 to set up a newspaper there. Another source, said he then moved the plant to Emerson MB and started The Emerson Journal July 1895. This newspaper he also sold, In 1897 he was on his way to starting a new weekly at West Selkirk, moving to MacGregor, MB. No. 1, Vol 1, of The MacGregor Herald newspaper in MacGregor MB, was printed Feb 12, 1897 by E. A. Bailey, off a hand press. In 1900 it was called The Herald and North Norfolk Advertiser, Publisher, E. A. Bailey & Son.

Just before Jan 16, 1903, the “MacGregor Herald” was sold to Rev. Andrew Chisholm. Days before June 30, 1903 the First Issue of The Estevan Mercury was printed by Bailey and Sons, and Charles Henry Bailey was one of sons. He sold the Mercury in 1905, to Donald C. Dunbar. July 26, 1905 his son, John W. Bailey was shown as Editor of the Mercury in Estevan.

In Dec 1905 E. A. Bailey was in Winnipeg MB again, attending a Council meeting complaining of the plumbing work done in the city. After he left Estevan, he wasn't finished in the newspaper business. In 1908 he took over as Editor of the the North Side Tribune, in Tribune SK, from Joe Kidder. Besides his newspaper exploits, he was actively involved in the formation of the Farmer's Union Movement. His father was a farmer in Lancashire, England.

I believe his parents were: William Bailey, b- 1804 in England, a farmer in 1841, at Broughton, Lancashire, England. In 1835 he occupied a house and 30 acres of land, called Dobson's Farm, at Woodplumpton, Amoundresss Hundred, Northern Lancashire.
His mother- Mary Bailey, nee Parker, b- 1807 in Broughton, Lancashire, England. They were married Jan 12, 1829 in Plumpton-Wood, Lancashire, England

Siblings: Mary Bailey, b- 1830 in England; Thomas Bailey, b- 1832 in Woodplumpton, England; William Bailey, b- 1834 in Woodplumpton, England; Jane Bailey, b- 1836 in Woodplumpton, England, Jane Bailey, age 18, married John Allanson, Aug 16, 1852, St. Anne, Woodplumpton, Lancashire; then Edward Alfred Bailey ; Richard Bailey, b- 1841 (July 4, 1845 in one source) in Woodplumpton, England; John Bailey, b-1843 in Woodplumpton, England; Martin Bailey, b-June 1, 1847 in Woodplumpton, England; daughter- Elizabeth Bailey, b- May 12, 1849 in Woodplumpton, England. Elizabeth married William Houghton July 9, 1944, St. Anne, Woodplumpton, Lancashire.

Source of some of the Newspaper Bio Information above, was from an article printed in many Western Newspapers, in 1905, called “Western Canadian Editors”, “No 15”, no authors name, so they must have wrote bios on 14 other ones before him. And maybe some after him. rest is from various Census records, and Newspaper articles I was able to find.

Note the Estevan Mercury building and equipment burnt to the ground Early wed. Morning, Feb 25, 1925, while D. C. Dunbar was the owner. Some old issues of the Mercury were destroyed, and no copies available to to read. there was $10,000 in damage, and only partly covered by Insurance.