John M. Bayless
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John M. Bayless |
From Glance Back in Time by the Barry County Genealogical and Historical Society John M. Bayless was born 1851 in Washington County Tennessee educatlon at Crane Creek Academy and Hiawassee College in Tennessee, graduating in December 1875, returning to Barry County, where he taught school for two years. John M was united in marrage in 1877 to Frances McCary who was born in 1856 In Barry County, the daughter of Henry and Mary McCary. A year after their marrage she passed away leaving a daughter Frances J. |
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J.M. Bayless County Collector |
In 1878, John was elected Collector of Barry County and served two years. In May 1879 he remarried Mary Stubblefield, the daughter of Elisha. |
Bayless House |
On April 21, 1879, John purchased lots on what is now 9th and Townsend Streets in Cassville to build a new home for his family. In 1880 construction began on a ten room brick two story home and soon the home was occupied by the Bayless family. This home is still standing at that location. |
J.M. Bayless and Co. on Cassville Main Street before fire of 1893 |
In 1880, the firm of John M. Bayless & Co. was formed, engaged in General Merchandise and private banking with John M. Bayless, William Earle and Jacob L. Padgett, stockholders. |
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Hotel Barry built by J.M. Bayless |
| In 1894, after John M. Bayless closed out his stock in the Bayless & Co., making his brother, William K. the senior member, he went on to other business. For 20 months Cassville had not what could be called a first class hotel with all of the modern accessories. With the fire in April 1893, the large hotel of D. Pharis was burned, the one who had often times before put new life and impetus in Cassville. The people appreciating the necessity and advantage of having a hotel as Mr. Bayless would erect responded to the solicitations of Mr. W. L. Marbut, a bonus of $500 was subscribed. The town, realizing the need, a full force of men was at once put to work. Soon the corner where the McConnell Hotel stood was changing from the aspect of a vacant lot to the site of a brick block. By the first of September, in spite of delays, Thanksgiving found it occupied and ready for opening, with Thanksgiving night, there registered 115 names. |
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Cassville & Exeter Railroad (formerly Cassville & Western RR) |
| In the latter part of January 1896, John M. Bayless called a meeting of six or eight citizens of Cassville to consult about connecting Cassville with the Frisco line at Exeter. With soliciting subscriptions for the building of the line, C. C. Manley, Charles Ray, and W. L. Martin were appointed to the soliciting committee, and in a short time the funds were contributed. With surveys made and the right of way secured, work began with laying rails from Exeter into Cassville finishing the work on June 20, 1896. Now Cassville had its' railroad and was named the Cassville and Western Railroad. With the actual length of the track, when completed in July 1896, was five miles and about 400 feet with one spur running to the Cassville Roller Mill and another along the alley to the Bayless addition of the lumber yard. |
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John M. Bayless Family |
| In 1900 John M. Bayless sold his home and property in Cassville and moved to Claremore Oklahoma where he also was building railroads and banking business. In June 1907 John M. Bayless passed away. |
