Benjamin Holstein Bailey was born June 26, 1843, in Chatham, Chester County, Pennsylvania, the son of William and Mary A. (Holstein) Bailey. His ancestors were the original Bailey Quakers who came to the American colonies with William Penn on the ship Welcome in 1682.

Benjamin had a common school education and was attending Freeland College when he left to enlist in the Civil War as a Private in Company A, 30th Infantry Regiment Pennsylania on August 4, 1861. He served two more times before he was finally discharged n 1865. After serving in the Civil War, Benjamin returned to Freeland College near Philadelphia for 2 1/2 more years.

Benjamin married Sarah Miller Ann Smith on October 4, 1866, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Sarah was born December 22, 1836, in Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of James Nelson and Sarah Ann (McClurg) Smith. Benjamin and Sarah moved to Cedar County, Iowa near Tipton with Benjamin's parents to farm. They had the following children:

1. Mary Louise Bailey
2. James Walter Bailey
3. Harry Ellis Bailey

Between 1870 and 1873 the family including Benjamin's parents all moved to Nebraska where they settled in Nemaha County. Benjamin and Sarah eventually built a white house on the lot next to the Methodist Church in Brock, Nemaha County, Nebraska, which their daughter Mary Louise Bailey lived in until her death. Benjamin died March 27, 1916, in Brock, Nemaha County, Nebraska. Sarah died February 12, 1930, in Brock, Nemaha County, Nebraska.
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After the Civil War, the Wm. Bailey family including Benjamin H. Bailey and wife Sarah A. Bailey and the James Smith family , a brother-in-law, moved from Oxford, PA. to farms near Tipton, IA. and then in the fall of 1870 moved to Nebraska in a wagon train.

B.H. Bailey was made post master at Bratton, Union Co., May 9, 1873. In 1883 they moved to Brock, NE. April 20, 1886 moved into a house they had built beside the Methodist Church on Brock's main street. Benjamin Bailey was in the lumber yard business for 14 years. His father, William Bailey was killed by a train by the yard in 1889, and in 1897 he became the Brock postmaster. Benjamin H. Bailey; d. March 27, 1916, Brock, NE. Sarah lived to be 93 years of age. and d. Feb. 13, 1930. The William Baileys are buried near their first Nemaha County home at Bratton Union. NE.

Family History provided by Dolores Hahn, (#47046254)
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Obituary from the Brock Bugle published March 30, 1916
Benjamin H. Bailey.
B. H. Bailey passed away at his home in Brock at 10 p.m. Monday, following an extended illness.
Benjamin H. Bailey was born in Chester county, PA., June 26th, 1843 and died at his home in Brock Nebr,. March 27, 1916.
Mr. Bailey was one of the older settlers of this part of the state and for a number of years has been counted among the foremost citizens of this community. In August 1863, he enlisted in the Army of the Potomac and served ten months after which he volunteered the second time and before the war was over he had offered his services three times in answer to his country's call. In 1865 he was honorably discharged from Co. D, 203 Pa. volunteers. After the war, for two and one-half years, he attended Freeland College near Philadelphia.
October 4th, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Smith of Hopewell, Pa. The next spring they moved to Cedar County, Ia., and in 1877 they came to southeast Nebraska. For some time he followed the occupations of a farmer and later moved to Brock where he engaged in the lumber business for 14 years. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster which position he held for about 10 years. Before his term was out he received a stroke of paralysis which left him a partial invalid for the rest of his life.
Mr. Bailey took an active part in all the public affairs which concerned the welfare of the community, having served at different times as a member of the town board, board of education and other organizations. He was a member of the Masonic Order No. 162, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Robert's Post 104 of the G. A. R., and of the Eastern Star, in which orders he held many of the important offices. He was raised a Quaker but about 1875 he joined the M. E. Church at Humboldt, Nebr., and in 1883 he united with the Brock Methodist church by certificate and has been an enthusiastic worker in all its departments, serving as trustee, steward, Sunday school superintendent, calls leader and at the time of his death was the regular teacher of the Adult Bible class and to the very last was one of the most faithful teachers in the school. Even when others would think he had the best of reasons for remaining at home, he would be found at his post of duty.
During his long affliction, he was seldom ever heard to complain, was always hopeful and greeted with a word of cheer all who came to sympathize with him.
Mr. Bailey leaves to mourn his loss a wife, two children, - Mrs. Louisa Huston, of Brock and Mr. James Walter Bailey of Lincoln; 6 grandchildren beside one invalid sister and a host of friends.
Funeral services were held from the Methodist church Wednesday afternoon, Rev. Hadsell preaching the sermon, followed by the Eastern Star ritual at the church and the Masonic burial services at the grave, Hon T. J. Majors delivered a eulogy at the grave, paying tribute to the memory of one had been his friend for more than two score years.
Interment was made in the Lafayette cemetery.