Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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MAY. 1966 Cassius Mi mm This is the third in a series < the men for whom the Baile were of, M. S. Bailey and W (Biographical sketch reproduce of the South") Cassius Mercer Bailey wa and respected men in the his He made considerable monej he spent it helping just aboi tional, and other worthwhile continually assisting someone be remembered for his kindn< Mr. Bailey was born November 22. 1Jt7fi in r'linlr.K. the fourth son of Mercer Silas and Rosanna Lydia Adams Bailey. His father was a merchant at the time of Cassius' birth, but he was soon to organize the bank and mills in which his sons, including Cassius, were to labor so fruitfully. In 1886, his father founded Bailey's Bank in Clinton, later M. S. Bailey & Son, Bankers; in 1896 he opened the Clinton Cotton Mills, and in 1902 he added Lydia Cotton Mills, in which his son Cassius was to play an important role. In preparation for his business career, Mr. Cassius Bailey was educated at Pantops School for Boys near Charlottesville, Virginia, at Pres oyierian college in Clinton, and at Davidson College in North Carolina. He received the B.A. degree from Davidson in 1896 and became associated with his father and his brother, William J. Bailey, in the newly opened Clinton Cotton Mills. He served as bookkeeper and paymaster; his father was president, and his older brother was treasurer. The success of the Clinton Mills led the Baileys to establish the Lydia Mills, named for Mrs. Mercer Siles Bailey, in 1902. Mr. Cassius Bail e y was named treasurer and his father president of this mill, which like its successor grew rapidly after starting with 4.000 spindles and 150 looms. When his father died in 1926. Mr. Bailey ^rcer Bailey ) Em ./ ? i i . . jt tout Diographical sketches of y Plant is named. The first two f. J. Bailey. 'd by permission "Textile Lenders s probably one of the most loved tory of Clinton, South Carolina. r as a textile manufacturer and ut every civic, religious, educainstitution in the area. He was or some group, and he will long esses and his friendliness. succeeded him as president 1 of Lvdia Mills, and served in ' that post until his own death | in 1935. In addition to his duties at Lydia, Mr. Bailey was active in the development of thn print cloth industry, and he took a leading role in the South Carolina Cotton Manufacturers' Association, serving as a vice-president and member of the executive committee for a number of years. Education was one of Mr. Bailey's chief interests. He was a member of the boards of education in Clinton and in Laurens Countv. and he was instrumental in the construction and progress of many of the area's schools. He helped advance the construction of the Clinton High School and the Bell Street and Florida Street grammar schools. He pushed the improvements made at the Academy Street grammer school. He financed the erection of Providence School at the Lvdia Mills and saw to it that this school kept pace with others in the area. Mr. Bailey recognized the importance of higher education. He worked tirelessly in behalf of Presbvterian College %/ ? ? pin Clinton. As a member of the Board of Trustees for many years, he took a leading role in the construction and improvement programs at the college. He was a chairman of the trustees' finance committee for more than a quarter of a century, during which time THE CLOTHMAKE he provided both money an leadership. Of equal importance to M Bailey was the progress of th First Presbyterian Church, th Thornwell Orphanage and th Masonic Temple in Clintoi He was always active in h church, was chairman of i building and finance commi tees, and in later years serve as an elder. He was on th board of trustees of the o phanage for 25 years, durin which time he was instri mental in the construction < several buildings. He had a important role in the erectio of the Masonic Temple i Clinton, and from its inceptio he was one of the building stockholders. A 1 . /\imost every civic activit in Clinton benefited in som way from Mr. Bailey's assis ance and generosity, althoug he lived outside its corporal limits. Among other thing new and improved roads r< suited from his efforts. H was active in the Democrat party, but personally decline to run for public office. Although one of Clinton busiest men, Mr. Bailey w? devoted to his wife, the fo mer Lucy Eloise Davenpor and their three daughter Corrine Davenport B a i 1 e Dixon, Lucy Eloise Baile Marshall, and Florence Jacol Bailey Lea. He developed tf grounds on his own estate an joined his family in outdoc recreation. At night, he spei many hours reading the mar good books he enjoyed collec ing. Mr. Bailey's many laudab qualities were well summa ized by his long-time frien William P. Jacobs, in a tribui at Mr. Bailey's death. In part the tribute read: "Mr. Bailey's qualities < leadership assure him of position among the all-tim all-star citizens of Clinton history. He was the friendlie: of the friendly. Evervbod loved Mr. Cad Bailey. H probably had more friends j the time of his death than an man or woman in Clintoi High and low, rich and poo educated and illiterate love him for his heart was big an seemed able to select the ver best of each individual an magnify it. The worth of a lil is best measured by the in pression it makes upon huma hearts. When Cad Baile passed on. thousands of hearl w ere touched, but it we neither the first nor the las time that he has or will touc those hearts. He has been ir strumental in influencing hur dreds of lives and giving ther Spotligl ^nrin df i .O time for cleaning dreary days of wii true just as much it is around our h< Good housekeej tied in with our c well-kept work ai interested employ terested employee sistcntlv produces R ld Executive Committee B ij * Wll 16 ? ! f j* is ts -jfl ig >f iwr KM n B IKS ^ IB B Seated: Adair. Holtzclaw, Hue y Pills, Braswell. Clark. ! > ' ; Jr 1 fTf id A a Debbie and Douglas are the cl it and grandchildren of Mrs. Neola 1 4r* 5t Brenda. Randy and Angela i y William Fowler. [e hope and faith. Through the y years to come the spirit of 1- Cad Bailey will continue to r? have its effect upon hundreds d who have come under the inc' lluence of his inspiration in >' the hearts of a grateful comd m u n i t y and thousands of e friends throughout the world." ln v Answers to: can you identify. s 1. Calvin Cooper, Personnel ,s Director ;t ^ 2. D. H. Roberts, Lydia Plant I Manager l- 3. Odell Freeman, Assistant II Superintendent, Clinton Mill. /A ITT it un Lrood Hou< t h e traditional Good hous< I up after the in every phc iter. And this ir. from the w in our plants as raw materials iimes. each and eve plants, and < >ing is directly Usher in juality. A clean, checking you en indicates an housekeeping ee. and an in- good housek is one who con- maintained t quality work. of the year. 5 of City Democrat Club jhes. Standing: Taylor, Cox, Smith, ' M 1 r J hildren of Mr. and Mrs. Joe McCall McCall. irv ire the children of Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie. age 3. and Debbie, age 2, are the son and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Smitherman. >ekeeping ^keeping is important ise of our operations, O ?0/\ *, .U ? tu vimuac wHCif our ; arc received, through rv department in the iven into our offices, the new season by 1 work area for good ; ? and then see that eeping practices are hroughout all seasons