Bayless/Bailes/Bails E. Cherry, the son of James M. and Mary Ellen Sanders Cherry, was born ca. 1838 in Kemper County, Mississippi.
Note: From "Pioneers of Tuscaloosa Co AL Prior to 1830, p. 38: "James M. Cherry came to Tuscaloosa County AL with his father Thomas about 1818 from Franklin Co. GA. He married between 1825 and 1827 in Tuscaloosa Co. to Mary Ellen Sanders. They lived in Tuscaloosa County until about 1837, when they moved to Kemper Co. MS. They appeared in the Kemper Co. MS state census of 1837. Then in the late 1840's, he moved his family to Drew Co. Arkansas where James died in 1852. His name appeared in the will of his grandmother Elizabeth Talbert Cherry Wier dated Oct. 1831. According to John Sanders' will they were living in Mississippi in 1849.
Bayless appears in the 1850 Smith TWP, Drew County, Arkansas, census, in the household of his father, James M. Also present were his mother, Ellen, age 41, born SC, sister May M., age 22, born AL, and brothers John, age 20, born AL; Thomas, age 18, born AL; William, age 16, born AL; Algenon (Bayless’ twin brother), age 13, born MS; Bailes, age 13, born MS; James age 8, born MS; Henry, age 6, born MS; Luther age 3, born MS
Father James M. Cherry appears in the 1850 Drew County Slave Schedule with two slaves.
Bayless does not appear in 1860, but his mother, Ellen, was living in Mill Creek TWP, Drew County. His brothers John, Henry, Luther, and Acie Allis (born 1850, AR) were in the household. In addition, Ellen appears in the 1860 Drew County Slave Schedule with four slaves.
Bayless’ future wife, Margaret Malissa J. Bibb, was living in her father’s household in 1860 Clear Creek TWP, Drew County, AR. Also included, among other siblings, was her sister, Mary, who eventually married Bayless’ twin brother, Algenon (also called Adage).
Bayless, age 22, married Margaret M. J. Bibb on 20 DEC 1860 in Drew County, Arkansas
Daughter Lillian Earl Cherry born in Drew County ca 1861
Daughter Mary Etta Cherry born in Drew County, date unknown
Bayless enlisted in what would become Company A, 26th Arkansas Infantry, at Monticello, Drew County, Arkansas, on 03 MAY 1862; 50 miles from home; absent sick at Mulberry Creek 31 OCT 1862; granted 30-day furlough 21 MAR 1863 (possibly for the birth of a daughter?); Present through FEB 1864
Killed during the Battle of Jenkins’ Ferry 30 APR 1864. Buried on the banks of Cox’s Creek
Margaret eventually married Edward/Edgar P. Bush in 1881
Sources:
James M. Cherry household, 1850 U.S. Census, Smith TWP, Crew County, Arkansas Population Schedule, Stamped Page 98, Lines 20-20, Dwelling 331, Family 331, National Archives Micropublication M432, Roll 26, Ancestry.com image 3
E. Cherry (Ellen) Household, 1860 U.S. Census, Mill Creek TWP, Drew County, Arkansas Population Schedule, Page 14 (overleaf of stamped page 89), Lines 32-36. Dwelling 88, Family 88, National Archives micropublication M653, roll 41, Ancestry.com Image13
Drew County Marriage Book B, page 268. County Clerk’s Office, Drew County Courthouse, Monticello, AR
H.H. Bibb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Clear Creek TWP, Drew County, Arkansas Population Schedule, Overleaf of Stamped Page 209, lines 1-11, dwelling 740, family 740, National Archives Micropublication M653, Roll 41, Ancestry.com image 2
NARA – Compiled Service Records of Bailes E. Cherry, Microcopy 317, Roll 189
This information also furnished by Mark Miller.