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Note: Asa Hunter: b. 12 Dec 1858, near the town of Tionesta, Forest Co. PA (Family Rec) or b. 1865, Kane, Crawford Co. PA (Family Rec) but Kane is in McKean Co. where the Bailey family did live in 1880. (info: son's marriage book) or b. 12 Dec. 1859, Forestburgh, Sullivan Co. NY., (Wrigley & Clements now Powers Funeral Rec, Puyallup, Pierce Co. WA and WA. Depart. of Health) or born 18 May 1870 (father's military pension) Asa H. Bailey, white, male, divorced, Name of husband or wife- Maud, birthdate of deceased: 24 Dec. 1859, Forest Co. PA. died 20 Aug 1946, ae 86, 7mos, 26 dys, Puyallup, Pierce Co. WA. at 1025 4th Ave. S.E. he had lived in the community for 36 yrs, occupation: Railroad employee, Milwaukee Ry. , Father; Charles Bailey of PA, Mother: Josephine Griffith, of PA, (Incorrect data should be King) Name of husband or wife: Maud, Informant was Howard Bailey of Puyallup, WA. buried 08 Aug. 1946, Woodbine Cem. Puyallup, WA. Funeral Director: Wrigley & Clements, Puyallup, WA.
Medical Certification: Date of Death: 20 Aug. 1946, 8:20 A.M., cause of death: probably coronary acclelsion, (heart attack), His religion was Spiritualist. The funeral expenses were charged to his son, Howard Bailey. There were estate records in the Co. Clerk's Office in Tacoma, WA, dated several months after his death, but the terms were never carried out.
He had married 04 July 1892, Jamestown, Chauttaugua Co. NY., Maude Lena Heald, b.c. 17 Oct 1878, Warren, Warren Co. PA, d. 18 Sept. 1949, Richland, Benton Co. WA., buried Tacoma Cem. Yakima, WA, as Mrs. John Sills, dau of Charles Wesley and Georgia Lucinda (Lamb) Heald. After 35 years of marriage Asa divorced Maude and she m 2) Steve Friend, m3)John Sills.
The earliest record pertaining to Asa Hunter is the census of June 1880, Wetmore Twp. McKean Co. PA, He was the son of Charles and Josephine (King) Bailey, white male, age 10, single, b. NY., He married Maude Lena Heald on 04 July 1892, Jamestown, NY, she was b. 17 Oct. 1878, Warren, Warren Co. PA, d. 18 Sept. 1949, Richland, Benton, WA. dau of Charles Wesley and Georgiann (Lamb) Heald.
In 1900 the couple lived at 219 Bank St., Titusville, Oil Creek Twp., Crawford Co. PA. #15115.50105
A.H. Baylie, head, wm,, b. Dec. 1871, 28 years old in 1900, m. 4 yrs in 1900, read, write, speak English, rented his home, b. NY, parents b. NY
Maude Baylie, wife, wf., b. Oct. 1877, could read, write English, age 22 years in 1900, married 4 yrs, b. PA, parents b. NY
The Bailey's three oldest children were born in Titusville: Harold and Howard in 1901, and Naomi I. in 1903. Information : The Records of Crawford Co. PA, City of Titusville, PA, 1882-1917, 22 Feb. 1901, Bailey, twins, male, Bailey, No. of children of mother, 2, Place Birth: 219 Bank Place, Mother: Maude Heald, born in Petroleum Center, PA, age 22, Father: A.H. Bayley, occupation: Parafine works, Father born : Sullivan Co. NY., age 28, Mother was attended by: U.G. Johnson, recorded 25 Feb.1901 (Correction: Maude was born in Warren, Warren, PA)
By 1904 Asa and his family had moved to Warren, Warren, PA. the home town of Maude's parents and grandparents. The Warren Co. Directory listed a Asa H. Bailey (Maude L) Eng. Keystone Glue Ftg. Co. and he lived at 2041 Penna Ave. E, R.R.
Asa Hunter moved to Washington State, and is listed in the 1907 Tacoma City Directory. He lived at Fernhill, Pierce Co. WA, across the street from his father, Charles Alex. Occupation: Helper at the Griffin Wheel Co. Tacoma, WA. In 1907 Charles Alexander and his wife, Mary J., removed to Los Angeles, CA.
In 1908, Asa Hunter was still living at Fernhill. Circa 1909, the Bailey family had moved down into the Puyallup Valley and acquired a home. According to Asa Hunter's divorce records, he also owned large blackberry fields, and worked for the Milwaukee Railroad. But it was his wife, Maude who ran the berry fields and worked for the Puyallup Cannery.
The 1910, City Puyallup, Pierce Co. WA, Census, listed the family living on Carrie Street, #121/126, Asa Bailey, head of family, white male, age 40 yrs, married 4 or 14 yrs, born in PA, Parents b. PA,, his background was English, War remarks were m/151519181?,
Maude Lena Bailey, wife, wf, age 30 years, m. 4 or 14 yrs, b. NY, parents b. IREL., ENGL, MASS., (Note: information is reversed on the census, Asa Hunter's family is from NY, Maude's family has been traced back for generations in Warren, and Clarendon, PA)
The 1920 Washington Soundex Census, Vol.36/226 20/14
Asa H. Bailey, white, 48, b. NY, res: Pierce Co. WA, 7th Ave. S.W. & 15th Street, Maude Bailey, wife, 40, PA, Howard Bailey, son, 18, PA, Elsie Bailey, dau. 13, WA,
Not all marriages were made in heaven. If there was ever a mismatched family, Asa Hunter and Maude Lena (Heald) Bailey had to rank in the top five. To the neighbors in Puyallup, WA. they became known as the "Battling Baileys." When someone wanted to hear the Saturday night fights all had to do was open the windows and listen to the bellowing of Asa Hunter and Maude Lena. Both of them had a bad temper. It is a miracle that they did not kill each other.
Elsie (Bailey) Snow told that her father had been in a car accident that injured his head. A tumor had grown, when pain became unbearable Asa Hunter would get up and swear at the top of lungs, and pound the walls with his fists. Other members of the family also related that even before the accident Asa Hunter always had a bad temper and it did not take much to set it off. On the other hand equal time and words should be given to Maude's temper. Her yelling was not exactly an "Angel's Voice." She could swear with the best of them. The foul language could make a "dock worker" blush.
One time Asa Hunter gave Maude a critical view of her cooking. She picked up the hot skillet filled with fried potatoes and threw it at him. Luckily he ducked at the right time. Ironically Maude's parents, and grandparents were gentle people, and Christian ministers of the church. She was known as the odd person in the family.
Maude also managed to stir up "hate and discontent" between her brothers and sisters who lived back in Warren Co. PA. They all hated to see her coming for a visit. She liked to "put on the dog" and always had to buy new clothes for her children just to show up their cousins. Maude expected to be treated like a queen, and to be waited on hand and foot. She would not a lift a finger to help anyone, or offer to paid for the extra food and things. The Healds were hard working people raising their families and working in oil processing factories in Warren Co. PA.
Although the Baileys had four children, Maude still did not like to have them around her. She had the idea that children should be seen but not heard, and they were to sit still at all times. She would not allow the grandchildren to call her grandmother, always Nanna. Until one day the family was driving along in the car and and saw a goat farm. Jack, son of the Ethel and Harold asked his grandmother, is that what you want us to call you, "Nanna" after the goats."
Harold Bailey married Thora Ethel Pearl Edwards, dau. of the Lydia (Clark) and Henry Edwards, 1919 in Lewistown, Fergus Co. Montana. From the beginning Maude had tried to break up her son's marriage. She wanted her sons to stay single and live all their life with her. Both of them had different ideas.
Ethel and Harold attended school together in Puyallup. WA. and even graduated from the same eighth grade class. At one time Ethel was engaged to Harold, and received an engagement ring. Ethel finally decided she was too young for marriage, and she did not want anything to do with the Baileys. She gave back the ring and moved to Winfred, Montana where her sisters had homesteaded with their families. (Maude later stole the ring from her son)
Harold was an Irishman in love and followed Ethel. He must have done some talking. Ethel was sixteen years and 30 days old when she and Harold were married. The couple lived on a ranch for awhile before returning to Washington.
When news of the marriage reached Maude, she just knew that the Edwards had planned it. As usual, Maude was wrong. Ethel's parents were very happy when she left for Montana without the engagement ring.
Family members reported that Maude always thought she was a little better then her neighbors. She had always looked down on the Edwards and spread the rumor that the family was nothing but trash. The two families were as different as night and day. One was snobbish, the other was down to earth country folk.
It the Edwards' bad luck to live across the alley from the Baileys in Puyallup. They were appalled at the Bailey's actions. Profanity and gossip were not allowed in the Edwards' household. Lydia taught her children "If you can't say anything nice about anyone, say nothing. You treated your fellow man with respect and you would not have problems." The Edwards also disapproved of the Bailey's so-called Spiritualist religion.
Henry and Lydia (Clark) Edwards had been born into close-knit families in Farmers Creek Twp., Jackson Co. IA. Lydia had been raised by her grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Sade who was a county doctor and a Nazarene Minister for sixty years. Through his teachings she became his nurse and a midwife.
Henry owned a farm in Farmers Creek Twp. and also worked for the Rock Island Railroad out of Wichita, KS. While her husband was away, Lydia was left in charge of the farm. She thought nothing of pulling a pair of trousers and boots to go outside to help plow the fields or do the chores.
In 1895 the Edwards' family left Jackson Co. IA. and homesteaded at Cedar Springs, (Fairview) OK. After seven backbreaking years of work Henry received the patent. While he still owned the Cedar Springs farm the family moved to Hutchinson, KS. Here, Henry worked in the salt mines and for the Kansas City and Missouri Railroad.
Lydia's mother, Mary L. (Sade) Clark had died on 30 June 1899 the day after giving birth to a baby girl called Verna Lucretia. Lydia took her new baby sister, Verna, and her other sisters into her own family. The family consisted at times from twelve to fifteen persons. Lydia never turned anyone away from her table, she said she could always add another cup of water to the soup pot.
One Sunday morning while the family was attending a church picnic, a fire wiped out the Edwards home at Cedar Springs. They arrived home to find the house in steaming ashes. The brooder house had caught fire killing all the baby chickens, ducks and turkeys. The flames then moved across the trees and spread to the main house destroying everything. The Edwards had only the clothes on their backs and the blankets in the wagons. The relatives and neighbors were generous with donations of food and clothing and bolts of calico material. Lydia was able to borrow a treadle sewing machine. Lydia's grandmother, Mrs. Phoebe (Conklin) Sade, drove a wagon load of supplies from Ava, Douglas Co. MO.
A house was rented in Fairview while the Cedar Springs home was rebuilt. When the economy around Fairview started to fail some of the farmers lost their lands to the bankers. In 1910 the Edwards sold their home. The whole family boarded a train for a week's trip to WA. Here, lived George and Ida (Sisson) Clark, the father and stepmother of Lydia.
Henry and his wife, Lydia were upstanding people of the community and Puyallup's Christian Church. Henry was a deacon of the Christian Church and taught Sunday School. Henry also worked for the Milwaukee Railroad in Tacoma. Lydia carried on her work as midwife. She and her stepmother Ida, also worked for the Puyallup Cannery.
When the adults tried to avoid Maude, she took her meanness out on the grandchildren. Maude was not happy unless she was causing problems for everyone else and stirring up trouble. When her own grandchildren came to visit, she tried to made them sit in a rocking chair and not move. Bettie and Jack finally told their parents, they would not go back again.
The Bailey family were members of Puyallup's Spiritualism Church that held psychic seances and baptized believers with rose petals. The Edwards did not believe in the Spiritualist Church, and did not want their children or grandchildren around the so-called church's members. At a meeting of the Ladies Spiritualists everyone brought cakes and set them in a back room. Also in this room Maude shoved her four year granddaughter, Bettie L. Bailey to keep her out of the road while she spent time with the ladies. Maude knew full well that leaving a four year old child in any room with a bunch of cakes would lead to trouble. Bettie did the normal thing, her little fingers sampled the frosting. True to form Maude raised the rafters with her wailing and she spanked Bettie. After Maude's antic were over, there was another meeting between Ethel (Edwards) Bailey, Bettie's mother, and Maude. Ethel did some threatening of her own . She had enough of her mother-in-law. From that day forward Maude would never be alone with her grandchildren, and was not welcome in their home. Grandfather, Asa Bailey was another story. Although Asa was not around much of the time, he was good to his grandchildren and always showed up at Christmas time with candy and black stockings for the children.
One afternoon family membership in the Spiritualist church was abruptly cancelled. The adults were seated around a table in the dim light awaiting for the "medium" to call the voice from the beyond. In the middle of the seance Harold stood up and turned on the lights. The long lost spirit ghost turned out to be a man wearing a white sheet and white face makeup. He was speaking through a long tube as he walked around the room. Harry Houdini, the great magician had been on a lecture tour in the area exposing spirit frauds. Harold Bailey had been a good listener.
On 21 August 1934, in the Superior Court of the State of Washington, A.H. Bailey, Plaintiff, v.s. Maude Bailey, Defendant- No.73588, Complaint, was entered for divorce.
Asa Hunter had been a resident of Pierce Co. WA for more one year prior to filing the complaint. He and the defendant were married in Jamestown, NY., 04 July 1892. Three children have been born as the issue of said marriage; to-wit: Harold and Howard, and Mrs. Elsie Snow, and all of said children are now of legal age.
Some of the community property belonging to the parties, both real and personal, had been entered into separation agreement as to the division of that property prior to 21 Aug.1934.
Reasons: for more an year the parties hereto have had frequent and continual quarrels; arisen by reason by of the fact that the Maude was for some time dissatisfied with her home arrangements and living conditions to such extend that she frequently and without provocation became angry and uses bitter and abusive language toward Asa Hunter and accused him of doing different things in connection with their business affairs of which he was not guilty, and that from time to time Maude was under the influence of some of the grown children and at various times they lived at home, and at least one of them was living there now. Maude had been influenced by said children to separate from Asa Hunter, and influenced Maude to be dissatisfied by home and her surroundings to the extend that Asa Hunter could no longer live with her as his wife. (Howard lived with his mother. Everyone else in the family tried to put as much distance as possible between themselves and Maude. )
An order of default was served on Maude on 20 Nov 1934 because she would not appear in court to answer charges. A copy of the summons was served on her by the Sheriff of Pierce Co. WA. A divorce was finally granted, the community property was split, their home on 16th Avenue, in Puyallup, WA. was sold and the profits were be divided.
When the time came to divide the money, Asa still had the last laugh. He had emptied the bank account. When Maude and her lawyer came to get the money Asa Hunter said the money had been left in the back room and he went to get it. Instead he crawled out the bathroom window and took off for California to visit his sister, Kate. Months later he came back with the money to be divided.
Towards the end of his life Asa Hunter was renting a small house in Puyallup and receiving a railroad pension. He always managed to save his money and was reported to carry a large amount of cash in a money belt around his waist.
On 20 Aug. 1946, Hazel Bailey went to visit her father-law, Asa, and found him dead. She ran back to her house and phoned her husband. Howard told her not to tell anybody and took a cab home from Tacoma to Puyallup. He entered his father's home and stole the money belt off his body. Howard finally notified his twin, Harold, and the police. When Harold asked Howard about the money belt, Howard lied and said he did not find one. Harold knew otherwise and did speak to his brother for several years.
Later Howard and his wife, Hazel had brought a six thousand dollar car for cash. They also "tossed" a expensive wedding for his stepdaughter, Louise, who was married in a white dress and veil and was six months pregnant. There was no other way, Howard could ever obtain that much money.
Harold's suspicions were also confirmed when Howard went up to Bremerton, WA. to visit his nephew Jack Bailey . (Howard's second wife, Hazel was also the aunt of Jack's wife, Iva) At Jack's house Harold and Howard finally got back together. Howard's guilty conscious got the best of him and he broke down and bawled like a baby and confessed that he had stolen the money belt.
Asa's will was filed 19 Nov 1946, in Pierce Co. WA. He directed his executor pay all of his just debts and funeral expenses. His sister, Mrs. Catherine Brenan, of 4250 Lockwood Ave. Los Angeles, CA. was to received all of the remainder of his property and estate, both real, personal, and mixed, and every name and nature and wheresoever situated. If Catherine did not survive, everything was turned over to her daughter, Carrie Brennan. Asa Hunter wrote the following:"In making the foregoing disposition, my property and estate, I'm mindful of my former wife, Maude Bailey, and of my children, Howard Bailey, Harold Bailey, and Elsie Snow, but I do not desire to bequeath either of them, any portion of my estate." Executor was H.F. Porter, of Puyallup, WA. (As far as the rest of the family believed Kate did not received a thing. Howard had already stolen the money and there was no property to divide)
Maude brought a home at 1014 E. Pioneer Ave in Puyallup, WA, and lived with her son, Howard. Across the street were the tracks of the Milwaukee Railroad. As a child it was exciting to sit on the front porch and watch the old steam engines and the red cabooses rumbling by with supplies. The engineers always blew the steam whistles and waved. Later the house was turned over to Howard and his wife, Hazel. Howard ran his Bailey's Pumping Service from the place for years . When the Puyallup freeway was built the old house had to be demolished.
Maude's life did not go smoothly either after the divorce. Her temperament did not change, in fact she grew worst. Maude met her second husband, Steve Friend while waiting for a bus. They were married 28th April 1942, Puyallup, WA by Joseph Chester, First Methodist Church. Witnesses were Howard Bailey and Mrs. Joseph Chest. Marriage license #75231, listed both Steve and Maude as being divorced.
Maude lied to her new husband about her early life, and said she was a nurse and worked in the Meeker Nursing Home located in Puyallup, WA. She did work in the home, but not as a nurse. She tried to disowned anyone connected with the Bailey marriage. She told everyone she had never been married, even though the marriage license stated that her son, Howard Bailey was a witness to her marriage to Steven Friend. Maude's plan backfired. Imagine the surprise when her new husband answered the door one day to find her children and grandchildren. Several of her descendants reported that Maude destroyed the family Bible, and other important records to erase relationship. She had forgotten about vital records that are on file for the public viewing.
Steve Friend failed to live up to his name, in fact he tried to kill Maude by strangulation. If not for Elsie (Bailey) Snow walking in on him in the process, Maude may have lost her life. Steve Friend filed for divorce in 1945. According to the divorce records the couple was married on or about the 27th of March, 1942. There were no children of said marriage. On the 8th of Jan. 1945, at Yakima, WA, the couple met and entered into agreement, subject to the approval of the court, there was no community property. That for some months prior the defendant (Maude) had been guilty of personal indignities towards the plaintiff, (Steven) rendering his life burdensome, and such incompatibility of temperament existed between the two that made it impossible to live together as husband and wife.
On 19 Feb. 1945 the Sheriff of Yakima Co. WA. received a summons from Puyallup, WA. and delivered and served it on Maude M. Friend.
Steven Friend quit-claimed a deed to Lots 1,2,3, and 4, in Block 62, Frank R. Spinning's first Add'l in Puyallup, WA. He also gave a quit-claim deed to Lot 14, Block 1, Rhines Fairview Add'l in North Yakima, now Yakima, WA., Maude also received a bill of sale from Steven for all the household goods and furnishing located in their resident at 501 Southeast 14th Street, Puyallup, WA. and all personal property & all personal effects in the resident at Lot 14, Block 1 Rhines Fairview Add'l in North Yakima, WA.
Maudia M. Friend, executed a quit-claim deed to Steven M. Friend, of Tract 34, Block 2 Fairmount No. 4776, Snohomish Co. WA. He also received the 1939 Plymouth Coupe, a car heater, two quilts and pillows, two gray blankets, one radio, two skillets and one trunk. Also Maudie had to pay Steven $500.00, which he turn relinquished all his rights, title, interest all claims of every kind and nature that he has received by Maudie. Maudie in turn promised the same.
On 23 March 1945, Maudia M. Friend, was found and declared to be in default in the settlement and her default was so entered in the record. Steven Friend did appear in the court proceeding, but Maudia did not. On 19th Oct. 1945, a affidavit was entered to secure the entry of a final decree of divorce. The interlocutory decree of divorce had been entered on 23 Mar. 1945 after the default of Maudie. More then six months had elapsed since 23 March and the couple had not lived together or reconciled.
On 22 Oct. 1945, the interlocutory decree of divorce was made final, and the bonds of matrimony existing between Steven and Maudie were hereby dissolved. Memorandum of Journal Entry #93636
Maude's third marriage was to John F. Sills, who survived her. Maude was a diabetic and she would not take care of herself. Her husband did not help matters either. He was always buying her candy and other sweets. He said the sugar would not hurt her. The last years of her life were spent in a hospital bed that was set up in her home in Richland, WA.
In May of 1949, the family in Bremerton, WA. received word from John F. Sills, that Maude's condition was deteriorating rapidly and she was dying. Bettie and her husband, Eddie Bale and their two children drove over to Richland. Maude would live long to see her great granddaughter, Earlene Mae, and new great grandson, Eddie Lee Bale. The little baby was only 17 days old. When she was allowed to hold him in her arms, she exclaimed. . "Oh, he's got lots of black hair." Four months later she was gone.
Washington State death certificate furnished the following information; Registration # 59, State File #15106, Place of Death: Benton, Rural Rt. 1, lived there one year, city: R.1, Richland, WA., Maude Sills, Date of Death: 18 Sept.1949, female, white, married, Date of Birth: 17 Oct 1878, age 70, Place of Birth: Warren, PA., U.S. Citizen, Father: Charles Hunter Heald, Mother: Georgia Lamb, Informant: John F. Sills
Medical Certification: Diabetes Mellitus 30 yrs, , Arteriosclerotic, Heart disease 2 yrs, Generalized Arteriosclerosis, She was attended by a Physician; from Jan.1949 to 18 Sept. 1949, She was last seen alive on 17 Sept.1949 and death occurred at 10:30 p.s.t. by Dr. Albert Cinnado?, buried: 21 Sept.1949, Tahoma Cem. Yakima, WA., Funeral Director: Shaw and Sons, Yakima, WA.
Even in death the fighting Maude started years before with her daughter, Elsie (Bailey) Snow, did not end. She had created a deep rift between everyone involved. Elsie's husband, Al Snow would not allow her to attend her mother's funeral. Of course Elsie would not go against her husband's wishes.
Not until the 1980's did Elsie visit Maude's grave or even knew the burial site. Her niece, Earlene Bale drove her out to the cemetery and asked for directions at the office. Elsie was appalled, there is no bronze plate only a cement marker with the name Maude Sills and dates. All Elsie could say. "The old S.O.B. got all her money, and he couldn't even buy her a decent marker."
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