Daily Herald - NEBO Cynthia Bailey

Thursday, 24 July 2008

NEBO Cynthia Bailey

Cynthia Barbara Bailey

Ludwig

Cynthia Lovesta McClellan Bailey, daughter of William Carroll and Almeda Day McClellan, was born in Payson, Utah, on May 2, 1856. The fourth child in a family of twelve, Cynthia had to assume many responsibilities at a very early age, and as the family grew her main task was taking care of the younger children. As Cynthia grew older she helped with the sewing, washing and cooking. The cooking was done over a fire in the fireplace. She also had to work in the fields, especially at harvest time.. Hers was a hard life, but still there was a certain amount of social activity and a harmonious home life. When the children were small they would go skating with wood chips strapped to their shoes. When she was old enough to participate, Cynthia attended the frequent community dances and enjoyed them very much. In winter sleigh riding was a great sport and as the winters were very severe there was always a great amount of snow which was so deep and frozen so hard they could ride over the fence tops. Cynthia married George Washington Bailey, and the following winter went to Provo, Utah, to work in the woolen mills where George's father was head weaver. Here their first child Sylvia, was born. In spring of 1877 this young family and Cynthia's parents were called by Brigham Young to settle in Arizona. Their home had to be sold and supplies bought to fill the wagon. In September of that year they left Payson, driving a team of oxen with the wagon filled to the bows. A second child, George, was born. Cynthia was not well, having developed a chronic leg ailment. Here they had one room for living quarters. George had taught himself to make shoes. He soon acquired a sewing machine and was in business for himself. Cynthia learned to work with her beloved George. They immediately built a new home consisting of two rooms which leaked like a sieve whenever it rained. As a result, the whole family contracted malaria, high fevers one day, chills the next. At this time Cynthia's fourth child, Barbara, was born, a weak and sickly baby. Because george was so ill, the overworked Cynthia performed many of the home chores, including the milking of several cows. Finally, in the winter of 1885, George was forced to leave his family and travel to Utah to seek medical aid. This was a very difficult time for Cynthia, for by now she was expecting their fifth child who was named James. When this little one was only ten days old she hunted and found their only cow which had gotten out of the corral the previous day. With five little ones to feed she desperately needed the milk. Soon after the birth of James, her husband returned to sell what he could and take his family to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he was receiving treatment for malaria and also for a back injury sustained at the sawmill . In June of 1886 they left Smithville and, upon arriving in Salt Lake, obtained a room near the old Deseret Hospital, so that George could live at home and still receive daily treatments. However, his condition became steadily worse. For many weeks Cynthia cared for him night and day, sleeping just a few moments at a time. In spite of her devotion he died on September 21, 1886, at the age of 36. Now all means of livelihood were gone. Not knowing what else to do she decided to return to Payson where a brother, sister and several other older relatives resided. Living there with an Aunt and Uncle who owned a large home. After a few months in Payson a brother-in-law, Matthew Bailey, came from Gra ss Valley and took Cynthia and the children to his home. For the next two years she went out nursing or took any work she could find. About this time the Co-op store hired her to make denim overalls. It was very hard work and the pay was small. Later on her oldest son George, helped with the riveting. Cynthia did not receive actual cash for this work, only credit, in those days called "due bills." These were applied against the Tithing Office, the Co-op and the butcher shop. Tithes were paid in kind and she was able to purchase some needed supplies. Sylvia, the eldest daughter, was married at the age of sixteen to John P. Bloomfield. This daughter died about a year later, leaving an eleven-day-old son, John. Cynthia raised and loved this child as her own, and although he knew she was his grandmother he always called her "Mother" and was great joy and comfort to her throughout her lifetime.